Downtown Sarasota contains a small, walkable shopping and restaurant district a few blocks from the Sarasota Bayfront, east of the Tamiami Trail. Even though Sarasota is a city, the sidewalks aren’t busy like most cities, unless there’s a farmers’ market or arts festival going on downtown. So it feels more like a small town during the day. At night, however, downtown Sarasota comes alive with people enjoying the many live music venues and restaurants.
Here are the highlights of the various districts that make up downtown Sarasota.
FIRST STREET
The Sarasota Opera House, the Selby Library and the Whole Foods Market Center create a shopping and cultural backbone along First Street. The Opera House, in soft shades of peach and cream, was completely renovated last year. It sets a classic European tone and is very popular during the season. Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant, First Street Chop House, Bijou Cafe, and Florida Studio Theater (on Palm Ave at First Street) are housed in old buildings with character, forming a cozy downtown theater district.
Diagonally across from the Sarasota Opera House is the Selby Public Library, designed by Hoyt Architects. It floats like a large white circus tent supported by columns with elephant legs. At least that’s how this observer sees it. Inside there is a very modern, airy and light filled library with lots of computers with internet access, free wi-fi to use your own laptop, a large children’s section entered through an archway exotic fish tank and large collections of books, CDs, DVDs, periodicals, fiction and non-fiction books.
Whole Foods Market Center incorporates upscale ground floor retail, upstairs condominium apartments, a parking lot, and a Whole Foods Market with plenty of outdoor seating. This is one of the best places in downtown Sarasota to enjoy a bite to eat while watching the scene go by. There is also a takeaway bar and indoor cafe. Whole Foods Cafe and the Main Street corridor offer free wi-fi in downtown Sarasota.
MAIN STREET
Stretching from Rte 301 in the east to the Sarasota Bayfront in the west, Main Street is the backbone of downtown Sarasota. The section between Route 301 and Osprey Avenue is busiest during business hours Monday through Friday, as most of its business comes from clerks related to banking, law firms, and courts, which are concentrated in that part of the center. At the corner of Main Street and Rte 301 is the Hollywood 20 Movie Theater complex. There is a Sarasota YMCA branch in the same building.
From Orange Avenue west to Gulfstream Avenue, you’ll find an eclectic selection of international cuisine, from Greek to Spanish, Vietnamese to Thai, Chinese, Italian, American, French, Pan-Asian and fusion. There’s a health food store with supplements and a post office, art galleries, an Apple store with a coffee shop, bakeries, and clothing stores from women’s fashion to Brooks Brothers.
During the season, Main Street hosts many arts and crafts festivals, a bike rally, and major holiday celebrations with carnival rides and food vendors.
At night, you can bar on Main Street and listen to live music at numerous venues like Mattison’s City Grille, Sarasota Vineyard, Pastry Arts, The Box Social and The Gator Club.
LEMON AVENUE
Every Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. year-round, Lemon Avenue from First Street to State Street is the epicenter of the Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market, where about 50 vendors offer tons of fresh produce, including many organic; flowers and plants; arts and crafts; prepared meals to take home or to go; Baked goods; gluten-free foods; meats; and cheeses. It’s one of the best people-watching and dog-showing events in town.
The main downtown bus station for SCAT (Sarasota County Area Transit) is located at the corner of Lemon Avenue and First Street.
STATE STREET
It’s easy to miss State Street, quietly located one block south of Main Street. The State of the Arts gallery showcases the work of artists who are all local and self-sufficient with their art. Much of the work shown there is large-scale, museum-quality. On S. State Street, one block west, European Focus is a colorful store with many intriguing gifts made by artisans in Europe. From “booties” (dolls that bounce up and down on springs) to French linens, Bavarian “smokers,” pottery, and tours of Europe, this is a one-of-a-kind Sarasota store. Next door to European Focus is Sarasota Candle, a local manufacturer that also has a booth at the downtown Sarasota Farmers Market.
PALMA AVENUE
This is downtown Sarasota’s “Gallery Row,” with everything from hand-blown glass to elaborate jewelry, paintings, sculptures and hats. There is a First Friday Artwalk that takes place along Palm Avenue from 6 to 9 pm, when the galleries stay open late and offer refreshments and live music. Caragiulo’s restaurant is on Palm Avenue, with indoor and outdoor dining. At the corner of Main Street and Palm Avenue, Epicure is a favorite spot to sit outside and relax with friends over lunch or dinner.
BURN SQUARE
Burns Square, at the southern end of Pineapple Avenue, is part of downtown Sarasota, but it’s separated by a two-block promenade alongside nondescript office buildings, so it feels like a separate district. Share the First Friday Art Walk with downtown. The buildings here are low and charming with brightly colored stucco and an ever-changing array of intriguing shops. Awesome Orchids, Parkland Art Gallery, Malika’s Imports, L-Boutique, Jack Vinales 20th Century Classics, and Citrus Cafe are worth a visit. Behind Pineapple Avenue, Burns Court reveals Sarasota’s arthouse movie house, Burns Court Cinema, and Owen’s Fish Camp restaurant. On Saturdays, there is a small independent outdoor artists’ market on Pineapple Avenue in Burns Square.
FACING SARASOTA BAY
At the eastern end of Main Street, Marina Jack Restaurant and Marina links downtown Sarasota with Sarasota Bay. The restaurant is surrounded by picturesque Bayfront Park, which includes a walking trail, playground, O’Leary’s Tiki bar and restaurant, plenty of free parking, a yacht harbor, and a small beach for launching rowboats. You can sit on a revolving bench and watch the tide rise and fall, look out over the impressive John Ringling Bridge, or watch the glorious Gulf sunset.