A visit to Sarasota just isn’t complete without fresh seafood and spending time at one of the country’s top-ranked beaches, Siesta Key Beach. The coastal town boasts beautiful beaches, incredibly fresh food, and a vibrant downtown. If you’re here for a good time but not for a long time, this Sarasota weekend getaway guide is for you.

Friday: Arrive in Sarasota

SRQ Airport is the best airport for easy access to Sarasota. In addition, it’s located in north Sarasota and not far from anywhere you’ll be staying. However, there are other airports that are an easy drive to Sarasota including PIE, TPA, and PGD.

You may also like: 4 best airports for getting to siesta key

Once you’re checked in, certainly stop by the “Unconditional Surrender” statue for a photo opp.

It’s hard to miss the 25-foot-tall statue towering above Sarasota’s Bayfront in between O’Leary’s Tiki Bar and Marina Jack. The statue was bought by a late WWII veteran and donated to the city in his wife’s memory.

If you arrive in time to see the sunset, I highly recommend watching the sunset from Lido Beach or at one of the downtown rooftop bars. I’ve seen some pretty epic sunsets from these places! 

Related post: See Sarasota through the downtown rooftop tour

Dinner recommendations:

Owen’s Fish Camp. It’s tucked away in the Burns Court area of downtown and offers a laid-back and casual vibe. You’ll be taken back to old-Florida style as soon as you walk up. You’ll see a large banyan tree out front and fun fact, it was given to Sarasota developer Owen Burns by Thomas Edison. Owen’s Fish Camp features live music several nights a week in the back porch area.

Marina Jack- You can’t beat the views from this waterfront restaurant. Their menu features fresh locally sourced produce and seafood. 

Walt’s Fish Market- Seafood hardly gets any fresher than this. Walt’s Fish Market is the only market and restaurant in Sarasota and one of the few left in Florida. They operate on the slogan, “the fish we sell today, slept in the gulf last night.” 

KOJO- You’ll get a taste of Asia at KOJO. Their menu features pan-Asian-style dishes that include baos, sushi, and nori tacos that spotlight flavors from Japan, China, and Korea.

Saturday Itinerary: Farmer’s Market, Beach, Shopping, Dinner

The Sarasota Farmers Market is a great way to spend a Saturday morning in Sarasota. It’s a city tradition that’s been around since the late ’70s. It’s open year-round, every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. 

There you can find many different street vendors. A crowd favorite (read my fiance’s favorite) is the empanada stand that has awesome breakfast empanadas. I agree with him, they are very delicious.

Lunch recommendations:

If you skip breakfast at the Sarasota Farmer’s Market, there are some other spots nearby I suggest.

Sarasota Breakfast House- they’re known for their award-winning pancakes. You can’t go wrong with any flavor.

Toasted Mango- You also can’t go wrong with the award-winning toasted mango waffle here. Taste it and you’ll quickly see why it’s award-winning. 

Station 400- Want to have brunch in a restored train depot? This spot serves American-style breakfast and lunch bites in an old train depot dating back to 1852. Many famous people of the early 1900s walked the halls of this train depot. We’re talking big wigs like John Ringling and Thomas Edison.

Sunnyside Cafe- If you’re looking for something healthy, this is probably your best option for this list. Sunnyside Cafe is a breakfast and lunch restaurant with cozy seating that offers health-conscious and vegan options.

Beach Day at Lido Beach

From there it’s time for your fun in the sun to begin. 

Head out to Lido Key for a day at Lido Beach. The 15-acre beach is a great spot to enjoy beautiful, sunny days and epic sunsets. 3,000 feet of white sand leads up to the gulf waters and connects all the way into the mangrove bays along the nature preserves on Lido Key. Lido Beach is typically less crowded than Siesta Beach. 

Another great thing about this beach is that it’s within walking distance from St. Armand’s Circle. 

So if you get tired of being in the sun, that’s no problem. Walk to St. Armands Circle for a bite to eat or enjoy shopping at one of the more than 130 different shops throughout the circle.

Looking for something more adventurous?

Remember me mentioning mangrove bays? The mangrove tunnels are a great place to explore on a paddleboard or a kayak. Seriously, it’s like a whole new world exploring that area. You can find the access point within Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach Nature Park. Expect to see all kinds of birds and marine life. You can check out the different rental companies here.

Have dinner at St. Armands Circle

Shore offers al-fresco dining and unique recipes with a mid-century vibe. I totally recommend the Kung Pao Calamari. 

Columbia Restaurant- Known as Florida’s oldest restaurant. While this is not the original world-famous location in Ybor City, it still comes with all the great vibes and phenomenal flavors. It started more than 115 years ago by a Cuban immigrant and the restaurant is still owned by the same family. You can expect traditional Spanish cuisine in a warm and elegant atmosphere. 

Speaks Clam Bar- The name says it all. It’s a nod to the speakeasy and prohibition days that impacted Italian clam bars all throughout New York’s Little Italy. Their pasta is made fresh in-house with traditional clam bar sauces also made in-house. 

Daiquiri Deck- This is a tourist fan-favorite with frozen daiquiris that line the wall when you walk in. (You can get any of them with or without alcohol). It’s a great place to let your hair down, relax, and enjoy some live music after a hot day.

Explore Sarasota Bay by water on LeBarge

LeBarge Tropical Cruises have been showing people the beauty of Sarasota Bay for more than 30 years. They offer sightseeing and nature cruises, dolphin water cruises, and tropical sunset and rhythm on the bay cruises. The latter features live entertainment, dancing, a full bar, and light bites. Cruises take off between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. depending on the time of the sunset. However, you’ll need to plan in advance for LeBarge because they often book out days, sometimes weeks ahead of time.

Sunday Itinerary

During the morning, take a run or walk across the Ringling Bridge. The Ringling Bridge is iconic to Sarasota and is named after John Ringling, one of the founders of the Ringling Circus. In fact, this is one of my favorite places to get a workout. The views of the bay and surrounding waters are truly unbeatable.

It’s a 2 mile round trip from Bird Key Point to Marina Plaza.

Breakfast recommendations:

Boca Sarasota- Boca’s mission is focused on farm-to-fork dishes and they believe everybody wins with a farm-table fare. The restaurant often sources its ingredients from local farms. 

Blue Rooster- Find a high-energy vibe and Southern comfort food here with live music when you eat here. They have a gospel brunch every Sunday and you can see that schedule here.

O’Leary’s Tiki Bar & Grill- Looking for a simple but delicious lunch with a view? Maybe even fish tacos? This fast-casual waterfront tiki bar is located in Bayfront Park. Indeed you’ll feel like you’re living on island time here with live music featured daily. 

Yoder’s Restaurant and Amish Village- You might be surprised to find an Amish/Mennonite community in Sarasota. While most people within that community are only here during the winter months, some are full-time residents. This restaurant has been around since the ’70s and is a popular location for breakfast and lunch. You can expect hearty portions and quality Amish home cooking.

Beach day at Siesta Key

From there it’s time for a beach day. Siesta Key Beach has been voted as the #1 beach in the U.S time after time. It’s known for its powdery white sand and crystal blue waters. 

Spend a couple of hours on Siesta Beach soaking up the sun and surf before hopping on the Siesta Key Breeze Trolley to go explore Siesta Key village.

Siesta Key Village is on Ocean Boulevard and is just a few blocks away from the beach. There are about 100 different shops, bars, and restaurants to choose from.

FYI: The trolley is free for all riders and runs 7 days a week 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The route follows Ocean Boulevard to Beach Road and down Midnight Pass Road.  

Lunch recommendations

Hungry for lunch? I recommend Daiquiri Deck, the Old Salty Dog, or the Siesta Key Oyster Bar, also known (to the locals) as SCOB. Make sure to have a dollar bill handy when you go to SCOB. It’s tradition to sign it and hang it on the ceiling.

If you don’t have to leave early or your reservations keep you here until Monday, I highly recommend coming back to the beach to hang around for sunset to take in the sights and sounds of the Siesta Key Drum Circle. 

The eclectic and cool vibe attracts artists, dancers, locals, and tourists alike each Sunday night an hour before the sunset. It’s a weekly tradition that’s been going on since the late ’90s. You’ll hear bongos and drums, and maybe even some instruments you wouldn’t expect. How about a bucket or a car muffler? Yeah, I’ve seen those used before and they make a pretty cool sound.

The drum circle meets on the public beach, to the left of the concession stand. It’s pretty hard to miss when they start playing. 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key, FL 34242.

If you plan to hang around Siesta Key Village after the sunset, I recommend the following locations for the best nightlife. 

Daiquiri Deck, Siesta Key Wine Bar, Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill, and The Beach Club.

You’ll want to save room for dessert!

Big Olaf- This is a local and tourist favorite since the 1980s. Their ice creams and yogurts are hand mixed by local Amish craftsmen and churned in batch freezers. They currently have seven locations throughout the Sarasota area. Bring your paper though because Big Olaf only accepts cash.

Orange Octopus- Their ice cream is handmade and slow-churned on-site with real ingredients and made without any flavor additives. They also offer milkshakes, coffee, and sorbet if you need a gluten-free option.

Conclusion: Sarasota weekend getaway guide

I hope you found this getaway guide for exploring Sarasota helpful! If so, I hope you’ll share it on social media so someone else visiting can find it. If you’ve been to Sarasota or are a local and have more recommendations, I’d love to learn about them in the comments!  If you have any questions about the area, let me know! 

Happy exploring! 

Emily