The Best of Sarasota
I’ve been fortunate to have lived in Sarasota for more than 40 years. For those of you who are visiting or have just moved here, I’ve listed favorite merchants, restauranteurs and interesting places in and around the city. For more recommendations visit johnswinecellar.com and two other helpful websites: yelp.com and chowhound.com.
MERCHANTS & GALLERIES:
Artisan Cheese Company – Purveyor of amazing cheeses and a fantastic lunch!
Artisans’ World Marketplace – Fair Trade Shop
Jim’s Small Batch Bakery – In Gulf Gate
Madeby Gallery – On the campus of Ringling College of Art & Design
Restore – Habitat’s terrific resale shop in Sarasota
Studio of d.a.gordon dart – On historic Palm Avenue
The Burns Court Neighborhood Guide
William Hartman Gallery – Museum framing & Sarasota’s historic photo collection
Woman’s Exchange – Not-for-profit resale shop in the Laurel Park Historic District!
Originally the Edwards Theatre – Now the Sarasota Opera House
RESTAURANTS:
Burns Court Cafe – Corner of Pineapple and Dolphin
Fresh Start Cafe – Breakfast and lunch
Indigenous – Seasonal foods located in Towles Court
Lolita Tartine – Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner – In the old Ace Theatre at 5th & Central
Main Bar – Lunch – since 1958!
Owens Fish Camp- Next to the Burns Court Theater
Perq Coffee Bar, 1821 Hillview St. Outstanding coffee, amazing confections & incredible yogurt parfaits!
The Bijou Cafe – At Five Points
Toasted Mango Cafe – Breakfast and lunch on Rt. 41
Nancy’s Bar-B-Q – At Pineapple and Ringling
SERVICES:
Camp Bow Wow – Doggie day care and boarding
Sit, Stay & Obey Dog Training – Linda Woodbury, email: RunJumphi@gmail.com
PLACES TO VISIT:
Burns Court National Register District – 400 Block of Pineapple Ave. and Burns Ct.
Caples’-Ringlings’ Estates Historic District – Ringlings’ Residence and Caples’ Residence
Central Cocoanut National Register Historic District – North of 10th Street
Downtown Sarasota Historic District – Main Street and Palm Ave. area
Harding Circle Historic District – St. Armands Circle, Lido Key
Overtown Historic District – Rosemary District including the Rosemary Cemetery
Rigby’s La Plaza Historic District – South Osprey Avenue
Rosemary Cemetery – Sarasota’s pioneer burial ground. A National Register of Historic Places site- 801 Central Av
Visit Sarasota – Arts and Cultural listings
Myakka River State Park– Watch alligators sunning at the 1st bridge from the entrance on Park Drive.
Lower Main Street at Palm Avenue – looking up to Five Points
Laurel Park Historic District 
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future.
Many thanks
My husband and I will be moving into Laurel Park this fall. Excited to learn about our new home and become part of the community!
I hope you have found the website to be informative and helpful to your relocation.
Yes, and feel certain it will be even more so as we look to settle in. Thanks!