Sarasota has been dubbed the cultural coast because of its arts scene, but theaters aren’t the city’s only entertainment venues. Destination shopping is a pleasurable pursuit, and the region abounds with seductive retail diversions that are just as engaging as the best concerts, movies and plays.

Fabulous finds await in nooks and crannies along back streets and in sophisticated malls, quaint beach village shops and big-box discount stores. You’ll find the names you know, the brands you covet, and a whole lot of local-artisan-originality thrown in. Best of all, shopping comes with a special bonus here: the extraordinary service you’ll receive from our retailers, many of them big-city transplants who opened shop in Sarasota to live their dreams. Here’s our guide to making the most of your shopping experience.  

MAIN STREET, SARASOTA
It’s the quintessential Main Street U.S.A., smack in the middle of downtown Sarasota and retaining small-town charm yet valiantly stepping up to the consumer needs and wants in the 21st  century. Sarasota’s Main Street renaissance is better than most because its shops are set alongside (or beneath) luxurious new high-rise condos, built in anticipation of the mega-trend to retirement living in urban homes. The influx of sophisticated consumers is attracting high-end restaurants, galleries and stores, including a Yuppie food market (Whole Foods, off Main Street on Lemon Avenue) that’s become the go-to take-out place for busy young professionals.

Main Street has something for everyone, from snorkel gear to fine antiques, from fashion-forward boutiques to restaurants with European-style al fresco cafes. Some of the eateries are even open late at night if you want a stroll and a snack after a movie, the opera or theater.

PALM AVENUE & LOWER MAIN STREET
Every city has its own Palm Avenue, the stretch of shops that exudes luxury from its architecture and window displays to the quality of merchandise inside. In Sarasota, this district—located off U.S. 41 (also known as Tamiami Trail), just south and east of Main—is home to the finest art galleries, designer fashion emporiums and upscale jewelers and spas. When you’re ready to take a lunch or dinner break, choose a charming café or bistro; if you’re lucky, you’ll have great weather for people-watching as you dine outside. The parking situation, a bit discouraging during the condo construction boom, is easing up—but be prepared to walk a bit if you come during rush hour.

BURNS COURT & TOWLES COURT
Enough diversions can be found in Burns Court, a historic part of downtown Sarasota just off Pineapple Avenue, to keep you occupied for days. Burns Court is home to the region’s three-screen art-house cinema and a sophisticated mélange of restaurants, antiques shops and gift galleries. The funky secondhand shops are pure retail entertainment; the consignment shops are brimming with the discards of the rich and (locally) famous.

Nearby Towles Court, located off Morrill Street east of Osprey Avenue, is a genuine artists' colony that features live and work studio spaces for artists in a collection of restored 1920s cottages. If you’re here for the regularly scheduled Friday night art walk, you’ll meet and greet new talent in a lush tropical setting.

ROSEMARY DISTRICT
This up and coming part of town (along Central Avenue north of Fruitville Road) is reminiscent of warehouse districts across the country reborn as chic, avant-garde meccas for shopping and dining. Great stores for gifts, contemporary and modern home furnishings, and the latest beauty products are offset with a mix of restaurants that run the gamut from soul food to the newest trends in international cuisine. Don’t miss the region’s most intriguing architectural salvage shop and a tasting at a unique emporium of olive oils and imported treats.    

MIDTOWN PLAZA
Locals know this mall as the home of Michael’s On East, one of the region’s most acclaimed restaurants, with its full menu and prime steaks that are world-class. Just off U.S. 41, a bit south of downtown off Bahia Vista, this generic-looking shopping mall is patronized by locals for everything from café au lait to groceries. The mall houses a hair salon and the landmark Davidson Drugs, which stocks gift and souvenir items as well as a pharmacy and post office. A connoisseur’s selection of wines is available in an intriguing cellar that’s used for private parties and tastings.

SOUTHSIDE VILLAGE
You’ll want to peruse the entire length of this picturesque shopping and restaurant haven along Osprey Avenue a little south of downtown. Be sure to check out Morton's Market, a gourmet’s paradise filled with fine meats, fish, produce, a bakery and prepared foods. Many of the area’s other shops specialize in home décor and kitchen accessories; there’s a new lighting and furniture store featuring Danish design classics, as well as boutiques that offer imported art and gift items, including fine gold and diamond jewelry. Located in a residential part of town, the village is replete with service businesses that make life easier for those living and vacationing nearby. It’s also fun to tour the surrounding neighborhoods, which provide delightful examples of "old Sarasota" types of residential architecture.