LIDO BEACH RESORT 
700 Benjamin Franklin Drive, (941) 318-2161

If any Sarasota hotel could receive a “Best Makeover” accolade, it would be the Lido Beach Resort. Built in 1969, the resort has attracted visitors from around the 
world for decades, including Europeans who still don their best sunburns in the late summer months when their generous government-mandated paid time off kicks in. In 2016, the Lido Beach Resort underwent a significant facelift that extended from the common areas to the rooms, where warm wood tones accent shades of cool blue.

The resort has always had a reputation for its laidback, unpretentious atmosphere, which begins at check-in when reception hands over a frozen piña colada to sip while the host outlines a property map and other “need to knows.” Locating the pools is of utmost importance—they’re the resort’s primary draw, where families splash in one and grownups unwind in the other, clearly labeled “adults only.”

Guests retreat from the sun under an adjoining thatched-roof tiki bar where rum runners and mai tais abound. Stop there first to replace that lobby piña colada ($14), and to make a few friends, eager to chat about where they’re from and how they found our slice of paradise.

With a refreshed tropical concoction, head upstairs where many guest rooms overlook the sparkling Gulf. If sticking to a budget is a priority, “Standard View” rooms offer a pleasant peek at nearby mid-century architecture; or, if you’re lucky, a glimpse of Sarasota Bay. Each room is outfitted with a microwave and refrigerator at a minimum, and most have a kitchenette or full kitchen complete with a cooktop and dishwasher. In Sarasota’s slower summer season, rooms range from around $300-$450 a night for one-bedroom suites, and $500-$750 a night during our busy spring.

Staying in to cook, however, is not a requirement, as the resort offers two on-site restaurants, in-room dining and a grab-and-go market. Drift, the resort’s signature restaurant on the eighth floor, exudes coastal casual dining vibes, with its 180-degree views of the water, optimized by a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s open for breakfast and dinner so that you can catch the sky’s pinks and purples at both sunrise and sunset.

Drift’s breakfast menu includes standard morning fare like oatmeal ($9), eggs Benedict ($17) and a customized omelet ($16). Or order “Cuban Eggs” ($17) made to your preference atop skillet potatoes tossed with chorizo, salsa and jalapeño-
cilantro pesto. If last night’s piña coladas hit too hard, room service will bring anything you’d like from the same menu.

Work up an appetite for lunch by taking full advantage of Lido Beach Resort’s namesake beach. To the north is the long, undeveloped public beach, which you can see from the hotel’s umbrella-shaded beach chairs and pool. Sip on a rum runner ($14), brought to you by personal attendants, while waiting for handhelds like a poolside burger ($18), caprese sandwich ($14) or chicken quesadilla ($16). Have you even gone to a tropical resort if you’re not waterlogged and snacking on a quesadilla? We think not.

Return to Drift’s dining room for a casual upscale dinner with a camera at the ready for a coveted sunset reservation (5:30-6:30 p.m. during standard time and 7:30-8:30 p.m. during daylight savings time). Everyone looks best during golden hour, after all. Dine on crispy crab cakes ($18), pan-seared snapper over cauliflower risotto ($45) and the restaurant’s staple braised-beef short ribs over mashed potatoes ($36). Lighter bites like flatbreads ($17-$19) and salads ($12-$17) are available, too, if you’d like to grab a happy hour snack before dinner at nearby shopping and dining district St. Armands Circle (Lido Beach Resort provides a shuttle to the circle if you’re not up for a stroll).

As bedtime approaches, crack the sliding glass doors that open to the room’s private balcony. You’ll hear sounds of soothing waves and seagull caws; these are Florida’s lullaby and the reason you want to be here.

Things to Do

Circle the Circle

Lido Key’s primary draw is its souvenir-filled St. Armands Circle. Think less tacky gift shops and more elevated designer beachwear and décor. The Circle (as the locals call it) has loads of great places to eat, too, like the historic Columbia Restaurant that specializes in Cuban sandwiches and its “1905 Salad” made tableside—it’s a must try.

Tiki Timeout

Stay on the property for at least one lazy afternoon. Historically, locals have loved sneaking up to the tiki bar, and while it’s a little more closely monitored these days, you’ll likely still meet someone with stories of yore.

Scooter to Downtown 

Escape island life and hop on a Veo e-scooter to downtown Sarasota. Take in the water views from the top of the 65-foot-tall Ringling Bridge, otherwise known as Sarasota’s only mountain (we know, it’s not a mountain). You could also use the resort’s shuttle service, but we prefer an adventure.