Our 10 Most Popular Stories of 2025
As the door swings shut on 2025, we're taking a look back at our 10 most popular stories of the year according to you, our readers.
It was a big year for our region, especially in the wake of last year's devastating storm season. While we avoided hurricanes this year, recovery continues for many, and the real estate market, in particular, continues to find its footing post-pandemic and post-storms. Still, that didn't stop new restaurants from opening, new developments from breaking ground, old landmarks from being razed, or our arts and cultural centers from continuing to produce new shows and even expand their facilities.
Here are the stories you clicked on the most this year. We had fun revisiting them, and we hope you will, too.
Image: Courtesy Photo
Sarasota's Best New Restaurants
Every year, Sarasota’s culinary scene grows with new and exciting offerings—but over the past 365 days, it’s soared to new heights with fancy food, epic sandwiches and overall good vibes. Here's our list of the best new restaurants in the region—and the No. 1 most-read story on our site this year.
Image: Hannah Trombly
The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch Was Just Recognized as the Best Farmers Market in the U.S.
The Farmers Market at Lakewood Ranch was ranked No. 1 in American Farmland Trust’s 2025 American Farmers Market Celebration. The national online event, in which the public voted for their favorite markets, ran from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30, with a total of 1,263 markets nationwide participating this year. More than 60,000 people cast votes; in recognition, the market will receive a $2,500 prize. Readers had a lot of opinions on this ranking, ranging from congratulatory to cynical—but no matter what, they still read the heck out of it.
Image: Courtesy Photo
The Best Restaurants in Downtown Sarasota
Downtown Sarasota has long been the heartbeat of our region, for everything from shopping to dining. Lucky for residents and visitors alike, there's something for every palate, from French to Vietnamese. Here's our list.
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What to Do in Sarasota and Manatee Counties This Week
Editor Kim Doleatto hand-picks this weekly list of arts, events, food, sports and culture happenings across the region provides. No matter the time of year—even in the slowest summer months—there's always something fun happening here. We recommend bookmarking this link and checking back often.
Image: Everett Dennison
The 10 Most Expensive Homes in Sarasota
Who doesn't love to peek inside the fanciest homes in town? We do, and we're not alone, based on the popularity of this story. (Stay tuned for the 2025 update this week.)
How Wealthy Do You Have to Be to Live in Sarasota?
The flow of money and prosperity has accelerated in the last decade, bringing to more millionaires, multimillionaires and even billionaires to our region and sending home sales and listing prices skyrocketing. The paradox, of course, is that many households and systems are under strain.
Image: Courtesy Photo
Lakewood Ranch Is About to Break Ground on a Huge Expansion
Plans for a major expansion of Lakewood Ranch have cleared legal obstacles, paving the way for thousands of new homes in Sarasota County. County commissioners in February approved a rezoning request for more than 2,200 acres, and a Florida appellate court ruled in favor of Lakewood Ranch’s developer, Shroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR), in a lawsuit that sought to limit growth in the area. The up-to-5,000-home project, spanning 4,100 acres west of Verna Road and north of Fruitville Road, falls within a zoning category called the “village transition zone,” which applies only to Lakewood Ranch Southeast. The court’s decision allows for up to 3.5 units per acre—a shift from previous restrictions, which permitted just one unit per 10 acres in some areas.
Image: Hannah Trombly
The 25 Most Powerful People in Sarasota
What is power? That’s we found ourselves asking again and again as we set out to compile a list of the region’s most influential individuals. Does power mean the ability to sway local government? Or does it come from having a huge national following? Does being wealthy make one powerful? Or does real power come from donating to causes important to you? Did our readers agree with every name on this list? No way. It’s intended as a snapshot of where power lies in our community today.
Image: Courtesy Photo
The Hyatt Regency Sarasota Is Being Torn Down. You Can Own a Piece of It.
Sometimes, when one door closes, you can buy it and take it home with you. The Hyatt Regency Sarasota, which was built in 1975, announced a liquidation sale this summer—with everything from pillows to furniture to shower heads up for grabs—and shoppers flocked to the 50-year-old hotel to snag a good deal. As for what's next for the being torn down and will be replaced by two 18-story condo towers with 117 luxury units starting at $1.4 million, with plans for ground-floor retail space and space for an independent restaurant.
Image: Hannah Trombly
The Best of Sarasota 2025
We asked our readers to vote on their favorite restaurants, bars, shops, businesses, arts groups and much, much more in our annual Best of Sarasota awards—and a record number of you weighed in. The result? A comprehensive review of everything you love about living in Sarasota.
