25 Great Outdoor Dining Spots

Sidewalk dining, beer gardens, cool patios, waterfront decks, kid-friendly spaces. Our 25 favorite places for outdoor dining. Plus: meet the winners of our 2018 Unity Awards; gunfighter Greg Steube stands his ground; a peek at Bello Nock's East Sarasota "funny farm"; gorgeous outdoor kitchens—and more.

In this issue:

Arts & Entertainment

Only in Sarasota

Only in Sarasota: Lido Dorset, Lido Beach

This month: a mod moment at Lido Dorset.

01/25/2018 Illustrations by John Pirman

That Manilow Magic

Barry Manilow Comes to the Van Wezel

The singer makes his Sarasota debut on Feb. 16, at the Van Wezel Foundation's annual gala.

01/25/2018 By Kay Kipling

The Funny Farm

Inside Daredevil Bello Nock's Sarasota Retreat

Superman has his Fortress of Solitude. Batman has his Batcave. And Sarasota’s own Bello Nock—who is about as close to a superhero as you can get and still be human—has his Funny Farm.

01/25/2018 By Robert Plunket

Holy Writ

Brandon Farris Is Rising in the World of Christian Rap

Farris is better known by his stage name, YB.

01/25/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Strictly von Schmidt

Remembering Longtime Sarasotan Eric von Schmidt

If you’ve loved folk music from the 1960s on, you probably owe a debt to Eric von Schmidt.

01/25/2018 Photography by Kay Kipling

Best of Sarasota

Al Fresco Favorites

The Best Outdoor Dining in Sarasota-Manatee

The best place to eat in Southwest Florida? Outside, of course.

01/25/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Unity Awards 2018

Meet the Winners of Our 2018 Unity Awards

Our champions of diversity inspire us every day.

01/23/2018 By Anu Varma, Susan Burns, and Cooper Levey-Baker

Eat & Drink

Roadside Attractions

Watch the World Stroll by at These Sidewalk Dining Destinations

Great food and great people watching? Count us in.

01/25/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Plein Air Plenty

The Best Farmers Market Eats

Along with ready-to-eat options, our region's bustling farmers markets offer some appealing places to enjoy a quick lunch or snack, from outdoor tables to the Phillippi market’s beautiful park with water views.

01/25/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Road Trip

A Taste of Nirvana: Tampa's Wat Mongkolratanaram Buddhist Temple

You'll find stunning flavors at this Buddhist temple’s outdoor market.

01/25/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Where the Wild Things Are

These Outdoor Spaces Welcome Kids

Kids and adults alike will enjoy these six great spots.

01/25/2018 Photography by Cooper Levey-Baker

A Campfire Tale

"My Most Memorable Outdoor Meal"

After we lost the backpack full of gourmet food, dinner became Plan B.

01/25/2018 By Laura Reiley

On the Waterfront

Water Views are The Reason We're Here

Enjoy a great meal and a gorgeous view at any one of these seven spots.

01/25/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Made in the Shade

Six Patios We Love

Take a seat on a pretty patio or deck and dig in.

01/25/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Made in SRQ

Made in SRQ: Lickity Splits Ice Cream

Owner Matthew Eastman hopes to soon move from his 1,400-square-foot space to a 20,000-square-foot facility.

01/25/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Restaurant Review

Restaurant Review: Napulé Ristorante Italiano

This new South Sarasota hotspot will transport you to Italy.

01/24/2018 By Marsha Fottler

Fashion & Shopping

Red Brigade

Trend Report: Red

This powerful pigment will add a notice-me-now element in more ways than just your wardrobe.

01/25/2018 By Heather Dunhill

Health & Fitness

Unity Awards 2018

These Three Doctors Want to Make Healthcare Accessible to All

Newtown residents now have access to regular, affordable health care in their own neighborhood at Sarasota Memorial’s Health Care System’s Jean & Alfred Goldstein Health Center.

01/23/2018 By Susan Burns

Home & Real Estate

Take It Outside

Three Gorgeous Outdoor Kitchens

These spaces are bigger, bolder and better than ever.

01/25/2018 By Ilene Denton

News & City Life

Don't Tread on Me

Greg Steube Fights for Guns and Individual Rights

The state senator is stirring up controversy.

02/27/2018 By Tony D'Souza and Pam Daniel

What I've Learned

Former Wyeth CEO Robert Essner Shares the Secrets to His Long Career

Essner and his wife, Anne, now split their time between their Lido Shores home and an apartment in New York.

01/25/2018 By Susan Burns

Mr. Chatterbox

Mr. Chatterbox: Farewell to Our Fearless Leader

Mr. Chatterbox pens an ode to Pam Daniel.

01/25/2018 By Robert Plunket

Showtime

Venice Equestrian Tour Presents Grand Prix Jumping Competitions

The height of season runs now through March 2.

01/25/2018 By Kay Kipling

From the Editor

From the Editor: A Farewell to Sarasota Magazine

I have loved this job—and this city—every single day of my tenure.

01/25/2018 By Pam Daniel

Unity Awards 2018

A Small Group of Dedicated Sarasotans Wants to Create a More Humane System for Dealing with Sarasota's Homeless Problem

Creating an Effective Crisis Response to Adult Homelessness distills the complicated needs of the homeless by creating a coordinated entry system so that all agencies dealing with the homeless are using the same data and strategies.

01/23/2018 By Susan Burns

Unity Awards 2018

Vickie Oldham Wants to Preserve the History of Newtown

Oldham and a team of professionals and volunteers have produced a book, a report, installed 15 historical markers, conducted oral history interviews and inventoried 150 historic Newtown structures.

01/23/2018 By Susan Burns

Unity Awards 2018

Easter Seals CEO Tom Waters Follows His Passion for Philanthropy

“When money does good things, it’s amazing."

01/23/2018 By Anu Varma

Unity Awards 2018

After Hurricane Maria Devastated Puerto Rico, a Group of Sarasotans Got to Work

The need remains great, and the group has no plans to stop.

01/23/2018 By Anu Varma

Unity Awards 2018

Meet Tarnisha Cliatt, CEO of the Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce

Cliatt surveyed the local landscape for African-Americans in business and decided she would found a black entrepreneurs club “to network with people who look like us.”

01/23/2018 By Anu Varma

Unity Awards 2018

Judge Charles Williams and Attorney Charlie Ann Syprett Stand Up for Diversity

Williams and Syprett launched the Sarasota County Bar Association Diversity Committee. Their efforts earned them one of our 2013 Unity Awards; here's an update.

01/23/2018 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Travel & Outdoors

They're Back!

After Nearly 12,000 Years, Coyotes Return to Florida—and Sarasota

Coyotes are so established in Florida that they've become naturalized—meaning they're a part of the ecosystem.

06/14/2022 By David Hackett