Sophisticated, fashion-savvy residents fill our consignment stores with coveted designer apparel, fine jewelry and home décor at amazing prices. The thrill of the hunt at these shops is pure entertainment. Local artist colonies abound in hand-crafted gifts, and fabulous finds await in quaint beach village emporiums. Every shopping district is punctuated with dreamy outdoor cafes, ice cream parlors and gourmet shops with all the fixings for romantic dinners or leisurely beach picnics. In fact, there’s so much to offer, we’ve compiled this district guide to the region’s world-class shopping.

PALM AVENUE & LOWER MAIN STREET
Picture postcard perfect, Palm Avenue is at once jet-set glamorous and brimming with laid-back charm. With architecture defined by a historic Med-Rev hotel, this stretch of shops exudes luxury. The district—located off U.S. 41 (also known as Tamiami Trail), just south and east of Main—offers fine art galleries, designer fashion boutiques, upscale jewelers and high-end home furnishings. You won’t need to travel far for a lunch or dinner break: This lovely section of town offers charming cafés where you can people-watch as you dine outside. Downtown’s new valet parking system is a boon for serious shoppers; your car will be returned to you at any drop-off spot, regardless of where you left it.

MAIN STREET, SARASOTA
This is not your mother’s Main Street: Sarasota’s downtown residents are sophisticated consumers with educated palates. This crowd has influenced the upscale direction of shops and restaurants lining Main Street, many of them tucked into retail space on the ground floors of beautiful new high-rise condos. Sarasota’s Main Street renaissance was prompted by the demographic shift to downtown living, and continues to attract more and more luxury brand stores and eateries to the city.

You’ll find wine bars, French patisseries, and restaurants serving up the ethnic diversity of much larger cities. A stroll down Main will reveal experts in rare books, estate jewelry and antique furniture (from exquisite Biedermeier to rustic country finds). There are art galleries to explore and chic apparel boutiques with coveted European brands. Main Street has something for everyone, from snorkel gear to late-night pubs, a multi-screen movie theater and easy access from the opera or theater.

FIRST STREET, WHOLE FOODS CENTER
The international natural foods leader, Whole Foods Market, has infused new life into this section of town with a complex that’s home to an array of chic shops as tantalizing as the yuppie food emporium. The new enclave encompasses First Street, Lemon and Central Avenues, with stores catering to the tastes of downtown’s luxury condo dwellers, tourists and after-dinner crowds. You’re welcome to browse and chat with knowledgeable shop owners whose assortments of furniture, home accessories, giftware and tableware are upscale and unique. There’s the requisite Starbucks, a hip cosmetics shop, stylish pet gear, Italian ceramics and more. The district’s go-to dining spots offer European-style outdoor cafés and lavish interiors.

BURNS COURT & TOWLES COURT
Some of the chic-est shops, restaurants and galleries in town are nestled in historic Burns Court, a mélange of 1920s bungalows and low-slung landmark buildings, most owned by developer Owner Burns back in 1925. Outside, you feel you’ve traveled back in time … but don’t be fooled. Edgy fashion, films and funky treasures will be discovered inside. Burns’ namesake district (bounded by Pineapple and Orange Avenues between Ringling and Mound) still retains its vintage charm, now with a notable art-house cinema, antiques shops and art galleries with international flair.

To experience the charm of a genuine artists’ colony, venture to Towles Court, off Morrill Street and east of Osprey Avenue. Sculptors, craftsmen, painters, potters, muralists and more inhabit a collection of restored 1920s cottages. Artists live and work here; tourists and residents come for fine and casual dining and gallery tours. Regularly scheduled Friday night art walks are fun opportunities to meet and greet artists in a dramatic tropical setting

ROSEMARY DISTRICT
Though it’s touted as Sarasota’s up-and-coming neighborhood, the Rosemary District has arrived. Reborn as a hip new shopping destination, the historically designated area is reminiscent of warehouse districts around the country that have been infused with new life by artists, adventurous chefs and innovative retailers. With Central Avenue its hub, the Rosemary District spreads from U.S. 41 to Orange Avenue and from Fruitville Road to 10th Street. From contemporary furniture shops to one of the country’s most inspiring architectural salvage warehouses, the Rosemary District abounds with apparel and curio shops brimming with treasures. Dining is eclectic and includes gourmet restaurants and a food boutique that encourages sampling.