Insider Tours: Eat, Do & Shop

Siesta Key
The world’s whitest sand isjust one of the many attractions.

Sarasota on the
Half Shell Taking its name from the briny bivalves, the Siesta Key Oyster Bar serves up the freshest in town. Equally titillating are the fish tacos served with your choice of grilled grouper or shrimp and an irresistible cilantro cream sauce ($12).  Arrive early for an umbrella-shaded table on the outside deck where local bands serenade from lunchtime ’til late. Siesta Key Oyster Bar, 5238 Ocean Blvd., (941) 346-5443

West Coast Vibe
Blake Parsons captures the essence of both west coasts (California’s and Florida’s) in his CaliFlorida Surf Clothing store. Tucked in a corner of the back yard at Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill, this tiny beach shack is big on style, with Parsons’ edgy designs for T-shirts, sundresses, board shorts and locally designed Brazilian bikinis. Look for his soon-to-be-launched line of stand-up paddleboards, sure to be a hit on the calm waters of Siesta Key. CaliFlorida Surf Clothing Co., 5253 Ocean Blvd., (941) 544-1649

Pub Crawl in Paradise
Ocean Boulevard is nirvana for party people: It’s barefoot casual, less than a mile long and home to some of the hottest bars in the region. Start at Gilligan’s for a voodoo lounge, a Rhino Room, and DJs so hot they draw crowds from Tampa year-round. Gilligan’s serves a full menu, as does the Daiquiri Deck, where diverse versions of its namesake cocktail come with a great raw bar, live music and Apalachicola oyster shooters—a single Florida oyster, vodka and Bloody Mary mix for $3.99. Celebrate happy hour all day and dance into the wee hours at the Beach Club, which (along with SKOB) rounds out the scene.
Gilligan’s Island Bar & Grill, 5253 Ocean Blvd;  (941) 346-8122; Daiquiri Deck, 5250 Ocean Blvd., (941) 349-8697; Beach Club Siesta Key, 5151 Ocean Blvd., (941) 349-6311

Sunset Stakeouts
Soak in the sunset spectacular on what Dr. Beach (Stephen Leatherman of Florida International University) named the No. 2 beach in America (just after Hawaii’s Hanalei Bay). Leatherman says that if powdery white sand were the only criteria, he’d rank Siesta Key Beach best in the world.  You can park at the public beach or look for a dozen public entrance points (with blue numbered signs). Insiders favor the romantic access paths where Beach Road meets Avenida Navarra (No. 4), Columbus Boulevard (No. 3) and Avenida Messina (No. 2)) a few blocks from the nightlife on Ocean Boulevard. Here, the sun fades from bright orange to pink and purple, with Sarasota’s glorious downtown skyline in full view.

A Different Drum All walks of life flock to Siesta Key Public Beach’s Sunday night ritual: a drum circle right outside the pavilion to hail the approaching sunset. Rub tanned elbows with an eclectic crowd of surf, sand and music lovers, as you sway to the spirited sound of drums, bongos and maracas. The rhythm is African, Latin, Caribbean, dance, rock ’n’ roll—or, if you bring a cowbell, shaker, flute or anything that makes noise, your very own. Siesta Beach, 948 Beach Road, (941) 346-3207

Early Bird Specials
After a power walk on the beach, early risers refuel with breakfast in Siesta Key Village. Two local hot spots are the Broken Egg and Patisserie Café Continental. Known for its egg creations (try an omelet named for Casey, Siesta or Longboat Key), Broken Egg also serves yummy whole wheat pancakes as big as your plate. Despite the French moniker, Patisserie is owned by a British couple; and the menu includes mouth-watering scones and a full English breakfast including bangers and “bubble and squeak” ($8.99). The Broken Egg, 140 Avenida Messina (941) 346-2750; Patisserie Café Continental, 5221 Ocean Blvd., (941) 346-3171

On the Waterfront At the southern end of Siesta Key, Ophelia’s on the Bay may be Sarasota’s most enchanting alfresco dining experience (you can also dine inside). Lovers come to watch the moon rise over Little Sarasota Bay; boaters moor at Marker 48; and adventurers come by kayak, inches from dolphins gliding by. It’s been named the best restaurant in the U.S. for dock and dining by Power and Motoryacht Magazine; try Chef Dan Olson’s Chilean sea bass with lobster broth reduction or Australian barramundi with spice-charred jumbo shrimp. Ophelia’s On the Bay, 9105 Midnight Pass Road, (941) 349-2212