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 local's favorites.
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Top Doctors

Top Dentists
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

Wine, Beer & Cocktails

Food News

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Last Call

Two Local Breweries Are Shuttering

It's been a tough few months for the local craft beer scene.
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.
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

The Environment

Business

In Their Own Words
Suncoast Searchlight

Developers Push Massive Data Center Complex in DeSoto County Amid Backlash

Florida-based DCIP Group has already secured rezoning approval for an initial 34-acre site at a decommissioned power plant near Arcadia, but company executives say the project could eventually expand to roughly 1,300 acres.
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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Books & Talks

Music

Performing Arts

Television & Film

Visual Arts
Things to Do

What to Do in Sarasota and Manatee Counties This Week

Summer gets an early start this weekend with live jazz, reggae, roller derby, a Pride Month kickoff concert, outdoor art, family pool parties and a few quieter ways to spend the day, from birding to handmade cards and Florida-inspired art.
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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Editor's Picks

Outdoor Activities

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Tourism Update

Sarasota Tourism Rose in March. Visitor Spending Didn’t.

More travelers came to Sarasota County during peak season, but shorter stays and softer restaurant and entertainment spending kept March’s economic impact nearly flat.
Magazine
Magazine

Browse current and past print issues, explore our digital flipbooks, and dive deeper into the stories that define our award-winning publication.
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Current Issue - May 2026
Only the Locals Know
Secrets, shortcuts and off-the-radar spots.

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Saving Old Florida
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Travel & Outdoors

Turtle Power

It's Sea Turtle Nesting Season. Here's How to Keep Turtles, Nests and Those Tiny Hatchlings Safe.

It's important to be aware of your surroundings over the holiday weekend.

04/28/2025 By Staff

🌎 🌎 🌎

How to Celebrate Earth Day in Sarasota This Year

From a sensory-friendly event for kids with disabilities to forest bathing at Historic Spanish Point to a weekend extravaganza at The Bay, here's how Sarasota is celebrating the planet this week.

04/21/2025

Just for Kids

Your 2025 Sarasota Summer Camp Guide

These fun activities will keep kids healthy, happy, sharp and social while school is out.

04/21/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Branch Out

The City of Sarasota Will Give Away 100 Trees April 25-26

City residents can select one of 100 trees to take home, including gumbo limbo, bald cypress, longleaf pine, mango, royal palm and more.

04/14/2025 By Staff

Scent-Sational

A French Perfumer Is Inspired by the Many Fragrances of Florida

Paris-based Anastasia Sokolow has captured our state's unique essence in fragrance form.

04/03/2025 By Lauren Jackson

The Big Top

A New Hotel Has Opened on Lido Key

Cirque St. Armands Beachside has replaced Lido Key's Holiday Inn—and it's a major upgrade.

03/25/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Only in Sarasota

Coquina Beach Getaway

Let’s take a moment to remember the beauty and joy that surround us.

03/18/2025 By John Pirman

Good News

Six Months After 2024's Catastrophic Hurricanes, Ted Sperling Park Has Reopened

The park sustained significant storm impacts and was also used to help manage storm debris from the Lido Key community.

03/17/2025 By Staff

Rescue Mission

Julie Morris and Jim Strickland Are Out to Prove That Preservation and Agriculture Go Hand in Hand

With their 1,300-acre Lost Girl Prairie, the couple want to show that business owners and environmentalists can work together to preserve Florida’s dwindling parcels of untamed land.

03/17/2025 By Lauren Jackson

Longboat Love

Longboat Key Named a Top 2025 Travel Destination by Travel + Leisure and Forbes

The island was named "Best Island to Visit in the South for 2025" by Travel + Leisure and ranked as one of Forbes' top 12 travel destinations of 2025.

02/26/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Life's a Beach

Siesta Beach Named No. 1 Beach in the U.S., No. 4 in the World by Tripadvisor

Beloved for its powdery quartz sand and clear Gulf waters, Sarasota’s Siesta Beach was named the best beach in the U.S. and ranks No. 4 in the world, according to Tripadvisor.

02/19/2025 By Kim Doleatto

Fighting Fire With Fire

Florida Is Burning, Too. But It's on Purpose.

“We set good fires, or else we get bad ones."

01/17/2025 By Isaac Eger

No Wake Zone

Sarasota's Powerboat Grand Prix Canceled for 2025

Organizers cite budgetary and safety concerns as the reasons why and say that a scaled-down event wouldn't do justice to the race's 40-year legacy.

01/14/2025 By Staff

Let It Flow

Hurricanes Milton and Helene Reopened Midnight Pass

Now the question is: Should it stay open?

01/13/2025 By Megan McDonald

2024 Year in Review

A Look Back at Some of Our Best Stories of 2024

Editor in chief Cooper Levey-Baker selects his personal favorites.

12/19/2024 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Young at Heart

An Action-Packed Sarasota Family Fun Guide

Get ready to feel like a kid again.

12/01/2024

Just for Teens

Our Favorite Go-To Activities for Teenagers

It can be difficult to find fun things to do with older kids—but we've got you covered.

12/01/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Sick Ripper

Hotshot Teen Skater Shiloh Catori Credits Growing Up in Sarasota’s Skate Scene for Much of Her Success

Catori was inspired to pick up a board by watching her older brother, who liked to compete for fun around Sarasota.

12/01/2024 By Lauren Jackson

Up, Up and Away

Allegiant Adds Eight New Nonstop Flights From SRQ

Plus, SRQ's new Concourse A will open on Jan. 15, and the airport's longtime leader Rick Piccolo will retire next June.

11/20/2024 By Megan McDonald

Outdoor Adventures

It's Election Day. Let's Go Take a Hike.

Stop refreshing your social media feeds and recharge in nature at Oscar Scherer State Park or Myakka River State Park.

11/05/2024 By Allison Forsyth

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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