St Armands Circle is a cultural and dining hub in Sarasota. At every turn hides a new and enthralling local or international restaurant experience to indulge in when you vacation in your St. Armands Circle rental.
Take a left down a side street and find the door to a casual French bakery, where the scent of fresh crepes, macarons and other and treats floats out onto the sidewalks. Walk a block over and enjoy a relaxing, healthy and tasty Mediterranean lunch or enticing fine seafood for dinner.
The center of the circle is a park and community area where you can relax, walk off your meal and take in the sights of the statues and lush tropical plants or see the “Ring of Fame” honoring contributors to the circus.
Head out from one of our nearby Lido Key vacation rentals to St Armands Circle, and experience a spectacular afternoon and evening of shopping, live music and, of course, some of the best multi-cultural dining in Sarasota.
Columbia Restaurant
This restaurant offers plenty of reasons to stop by. This is just one of many restaurants owned by the same family for 110 years. Southern Living notably said that Tampa may have the original, but Sarasota has the prettiest. This space is decorated in a Spanish style with hand-painted tiles and large windows.
Enjoy outdoor seating under the shade, or indoor seating overlooking the Circle. That might be the easiest decision when faced with the extensive menu inspired by South American cuisine. Choose from expertly crafted cocktails or one of the house wines representing the 5 generations of the founding family. Separate dinner and lunch menus offer a staggering selection of seafood with Latin influences including mojo-marinades, chorizo, and empanadas. The dessert menu is just as intriguing with guava pastries, churros, flan, and more.
Cafe L’Europe
This French-inspired St. Armands Circle restaurant offers a romantic with live piano music on Friday and Saturday nights. Opening its doors in 1973, this restaurant was originally the location of John Ringling’s real estate business.
The beverages and entrees are a feast for the eyes and the palate. With options like honey-curry glazed sea bass, brandied duckling, and filet mignon with black truffle butter, you might want to visit this restaurant several times over the course of your stay. Our luxury vacation rentals are within walking distance, so it will be a tempting offer.
Open for lunch and dinner. As a bonus, they have a patio where you can dine outdoors with your pet.
Crab & Fin
Location: 420 St Armands Cir, Sarasota, FL 34236
The Crab & Fin one of the top-rated upscale seafood dining options on St. Armands Circle for good reason. If you want to attentive service with some of the most impressive seafood dishes in a classy and upscale eatery, this is where you want to be.
Enjoy the customer-focused experience from the wait staff. They are all enthusiastic and helpful towards guiding you to the perfect menu selections for the night and ideal accompanying wine choices from the extensive wine list.
The Gulf Golden Tilefish, the Coconut Crusted Chicken, Gulf Pompano, Lump Blue Crab Cakes, Grouper Sandwich and the Alaskan Giant Red King Crab only scratch the surface of the exquisite menu.
Visit the Crab & Fin from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Blu Kouzina
Location: 34236, 25 N Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota, FL 34236
Blu Kouzina is an upscale Greek eatery that features the most exquisite cuisine from the country and unrivaled dedication to quality from its founders.
It is classy but accessible and traditional but unique, delivering dishes that embody the spirit of authentic Greek cuisine.
Options include a variety of Mediterranean salads, hummus and eggplant dips, spinach pie, dolmades, wraps, lamb kebabs, steaks, octopus, prawns, grilled fish and more.
Although the produce and seafood are 100% locally sourced with no freezers on site, imported seasonings are utilized when appropriate such as their Tsakiris Family Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil, exquisite sea salt from the Mani Peninsula of the Mediterranean Sea, organic Thyme Honey from beehives in Mani, Greece.
It is open from noon to 3 p.m. for lunch and then reopens again from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m for dinner service every day.
The Terrace at Surf Shack
Location: 328 John Ringling Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34236
The Terrace at Surf Shack is an upscale eatery, hidden in the upstairs of the Surf Shack. It is an eccentric mixture of laid-back surf culture and high-end class. This piano bar features cocktails, rooftop dining with amazing views overlooking the circle, and music virtually every night.
Menu options are versatile and reasonably priced from an array of small plates such as buffalo chicken egg rolls and calamari to fresh seafood or vegetarian salads, a variety of coastal entrees made with cod, swordfish, grouper, shrimp and other local delicacies, and even burgers and their famous $4 gourmet custom tacos.
The Terrace atop the Surf Shack opens every day at 11 a.m. it closes around 11 p.m. on weekdays, midnight on Saturdays, and 10 p.m. on Sundays. Happy hour specials are available from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.
Catrinas Tacos and Tequila Bar
Location: 40 S Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota, FL 34236
For an all-around good time filled with festive memories, amazing Mexican cuisine and tequila, check out Catrinas Tacos and Tequila Bar. The outdoor patio overlooks the circle, with Mexican-tropical music radiating from the tequila bar.
Options range from addicting guacamole topped with pico gallo, grilled jumbo shrimp and quesa fresca, or generously portioned chicken and beef nachos, tamales, fajitas, fish and shrimp tacos, and many other Mexican delicacies.
Seafood items are all guaranteed to be locally sourced, along with local vegetables and imported spices – offering the best of both worlds.
The energy is high here. It is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, and 8 p.m. on Sundays. It is closed on Mondays. Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Book Your Lido Key Vacation Rental
You have to eat right on vacation. This means massive seafood portions, international cuisine, and unique entrees you may have never tried before. Joey, your personal concierge, is standing by to help you pick out the perfect restaurant.
But first, you need an amazing place to stay near St. Armands Circle. Learn more about our Lido Key vacation rentals or luxury homes on Lido Key by calling us at 941-349-1125. We can get you connected to a world of wonders, tucked away on Florida’s gulf coast.
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