Best of Sarasota
Best of Sarasota

Our annual celebration of the people, places and businesses that make Sarasota exceptional—voted on by our readers. From dining and shopping to services and experiences, this is the definitive guide to locals' top spots.
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Top Doctors Directory

Top Dentists Directory

Best of Sarasota 2025
Eat & Drink
Eat & Drink

Your insider's guide to Sarasota’s food and drink scene, from standout restaurants and buzzy new openings to chefs, cocktails, and dining trends shaping the way we eat and gather.
Sip, Savor, Repeat

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Best Restaurants

Editors' Picks

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Food News

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Bread Winner

Savor Sarasota Brought in More Than $1 Million in Restaurant Revenue This Year

Diners noshed on a 25,466 prix fixe lunches and dinners across 68 Sarasota County restaurants.
News & City Life
News & City Life

Local news, profiles, and lifestyle features that capture the pulse of our community and the people shaping it.
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Politics

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In Their Own Words
We're No. 1!

CNN Names Sarasota Its 'Best Town to Visit' for 2026

We're kind of a big deal.
Home & Real Estate
Home & Real Estate

A curated look at how Sarasota lives, including real estate news, exceptional homes, design inspiration and the professionals redefining luxury and livability in our region.
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On the Market

Real Estate News

Architecture & Design
The Hot New Neighborhood

The Limelight District Is the Next Cool Place to Live

This gritty up-and-coming neighborhood is filled with manufacturers, secondhand stores and affordable housing. Bob Plunket takes us on a tour.
Arts & Entertainment
Arts & Entertainment

A front-row seat to Sarasota’s vibrant cultural scene. We cover theater, visual arts, music, festivals and the creative forces that make our city a cultural destination.
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Review

FST's Production of the New Comedy 'Dog Mom' Mixes Laughs With Heart

Elizabeth Hanyok’s play reminds us of how we humans can benefit, not only from being with a dog, but from learning from them
Travel & Outdoors
Travel & Outdoors

Explore the places and experiences locals love most. From hidden gems and outdoor adventures to weekend getaways, celebrate Sarasota’s natural beauty and sense of discovery.
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Heat Wave

It's Hot and Getting Hotter. Here's How to Stay Safe This Summer.

A trauma nurse shares her top tips for staying safe outside.
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Performing Arts

The Greatest Show on Earth

The Circus Ring of Fame Will Induct New Honorees This Saturday

They include Peggy Williams, the first female graduate of Clown College, and "circus chaplain" Father Jerry Hogan.

02/02/2023 By Yasi Bahmanabadi

Far From Home, High Above Earth

Circus Sarasota Welcomes Ukrainian Aerialists to Its 25th Anniversary Season

The female duo from the war-torn country will add both beauty and drama to this year's performances, Feb. 10 through March 5.

02/02/2023 By Kay Kipling

Mad As Hell

Paddy Chayefsky’s Network Comes to Florida Studio Theatre, and It’s More Relevant Than Ever

Nearly 50 years since its debut, it feels like little has changed—which makes the story ripe for a revisit.

02/01/2023 By Kay Kipling

Review

FST's Network Makes for Compelling Viewing

Paddy Chayefsky's 1970s tale of a newsman and a world on the edge proves as timely as ever.

01/30/2023 By Kay Kipling

Review

Disney's Aladdin Dazzles On Tour at the Van Wezel

The Broadway musical adaptation makes some successful changes to the classic animated film version.

01/25/2023 By Kay Kipling

Review

Silent Sky Shines at Asolo Rep

Lauren Gunderson's play springs from the real life of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, and it's something of a relevation.

01/23/2023 By Kay Kipling

The Play Is On

Venice Theatre's Pinkerton Theatre Will Reopen Today

After facing devastation from Hurricane Ian, the theater has been issued a certificate of occupancy. The Cemetery Club is its first show since the storm.

01/20/2023 By Staff

Preview

Sarasota's Own Tori Byrd Tours in Disney's Aladdin at the Van Wezel

It's her first national tour, but she may be familiar to local audiences from roles here.

01/18/2023 By Kay Kipling

Review

Asolo Rep's The Three Musketeers Goes for the (Comic) Gusto

A lot of swash gets buckled in Ken Ludwig's adaptation of the "all for one, one for all" story.

01/17/2023 By Kay Kipling

Review

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Flyin' West Tells a Surprising Story with History Behind It

Black settlers in 19th-century Kansas struggle for land and freedom in Pearl Cleage's play.

01/10/2023 By Kay Kipling

A Year of the Arts

Sarasota's Top 10 Performances of 2022

We pulled together a short list of the best of the arts, theater and performance in Sarasota this year worthy of reminiscing or catching before they close.

12/27/2022 By Kay Kipling

Review

FST's 'What the Constitution Means to Me' Asks the Big Questions

The award-winning play by Heidi Schreck is believable, entertaining and thought-provoking, all in one.

12/12/2022 By Kay Kipling

Preview

FSU/Asolo Conservatory Grad Stars in My Fair Lady at the Van Wezel

Jonathan Grunert plays Henry Higgins in the classic musical, now on tour.

12/05/2022 By Kay Kipling

Season Preview

The Best Plays, Shows and Exhibitions in Sarasota This Season

Artistic directors have planned all sorts of exciting shows and performances for us.

12/04/2022 By Kay Kipling

Dance Dance Revolution

At The Ringling, Elizabeth Doud Is Committed to Showcasing Diverse Performances

The final show of the fall 2022 season runs Dec. 1-3.

11/30/2022 By Andrea González

All That Jazz

'Chicago' Stars Say the 2022 National Tour Is More Inclusive Than Ever

A conversation with actors Christina Wells and Logan Floyd.

11/28/2022 By Andrea González

Review

Asolo Repertory Theatre Opens Its Season With an Often Stunning Cabaret

Put down the knitting, the book and the broom and enter the world of the Kit Kat Klub.

11/21/2022 By Kay Kipling

Review

FST's 'Something Rotten!' Delivers Lots of (Intentionally) Silly Fun

The musical comedy brings us playwright brothers inventing a new art form in Elizabethan England.

11/14/2022 By Kay Kipling

Where the Magic Happens

The Hermitage Artist Retreat Has Become an Incubator for Artists from Around the Country

More than 600 artists have found inspiration there, and the work they have done at the retreat has gone on to stages and museums around the world.

11/12/2022 By Kay Kipling

Review

Texts Tell a Tale in Urbanite Theatre's The Burdens

Matt Schatz's two-character play is often LOL funny, but there's emotion behind it.

10/31/2022 By Kay Kipling

At Sarasota Magazine, we celebrate Sarasota’s vibrant culture, rich history, and bright future with award-winning, high-quality content that captures the spirit of our community.

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