Welcome to Downtown Sarasota
Sarasota’s downtown neighborhood is a cultural and civic center where patrons enjoy theaters, shopping boutiques, art galleries, trendy restaurants, and quaint cafes. Residents enjoy a walkable city lifestyle where they can frequent their favorite restaurants and boutiques, or simply sip a cocktail while taking in stunning sunset views from their beautiful bayfront condominiums, single family homes or townhomes.
Residents have so many cultural options available just a stone’s throw away, from world class opera at the Sarasota Opera, cabaret at the Florida Studio Theater, to musicals at the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. For nature lovers, Marie Selby Gardens is a favorite spot, whether you want to take a stroll in the beautiful Gardens along the Bayfront, view the most recent art exhibition, or let the kids run around the rainforest garden. Bayfront Park and Marina offers a fabulous walking trail – the path connects Marie Selby Gardens to the John Ringling Causeway, which boasts beautiful views and is great for exercise. The Selby Public Library is an oasis for booklovers and is the largest in the Sarasota County Library system.
Five districts surround the heart of downtown Main Street, and each has a unique personality: Burns Court, Palm Avenue, Towles Court, Laurel Park, and Rosemary District.
The Burns Court Historic District is an enclave of bungalows and exudes Old World charm, from brick buildings to hand painted murals on walls. The area was constructed from 1924-1925 by Owen Burns, with designs by Thomas Reed Martin of Sarasota, and includes fifteen Mediterranean Revival Style one-story bungalows housed in nine original garage outbuildings all within just a few short blocks.
Burns Court offers patrons vintage shops, art galleries, upscale boutiques such as L Boutique, and inviting restaurants like The Fountain Kitchen and Bar, and Owen’s Fish Camp, among others. One of Sarasota’s greatest secrets is hidden away here: the Burns Court Cinema, an arthouse theater which features independent films for those seeking a classic viewing experience.
Palm Avenue is known as Sarasota’s “Gallery Row,” filled with artisans offering paintings, sculptures, classic books and much more. It’s a vibrant street lined with towering palm trees, ice cream shops, fine dining, high-end hotels, and roof top bars. Just down the road at the Bayfront, boaters pull their yachts into Marina Jack’s for casual or upscale cuisine, while others walk over to O’Leary’s for live music and breathtaking views.
Freedom Boat Club is in Bayfront Park and offers a membership for those who want the convenience of renting boats they can skipper.
Towles Court is a historic courtyard filled with local artists showcasing their talents in “Old Florida” bungalows. Towles Court’s Third Friday art walks welcome gallery enthusiasts to get to meet local artists in person.
Historic Laurel Park is a vibrant, diverse area of single-family homes, guest houses and charming duplexes, many dating back to the 1920s. It is located at the southern end of downtown Sarasota.
The Rosemary District is an up-and-coming area, featuring modern hotels, hip salons, and casual breakfast cafes, a place where you are never too far away from viewing an interesting, artistic mural.
Insider Tips
Family Friendly:
Marie Selby Gardens Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a gorgeous bayfront sanctuary of beautiful gardens and exhibitions and features The Ann Goldstein’s Children’s Rainforest Garden as a favorite spot for the little ones to explore nature. Selby has fun, educational programs for the kiddos year-round. Be sure to check out Selby Spooktacular, the annual Halloween event that attracts families of all ages, as well as Lights in Bloom, the annual open-air holiday light show that illuminates the spectacular gardens in December each year.
Let the magic begin at the Sarasota Children’s Garden where your little ones connect with nature and play in the fairy garden, drive a pirate ship, climb the tire playground, and cool off as they run through the water mist in the bamboo garden, and explore many other fun features of the gardens.
Bayfront Park and Marina offers a beautiful, shaded playground for children of all ages, a park and a walking path with views of the Bayfront.
Payne Park is a colorful circus themed playground with several jungle gyms for toddlers and kids of all ages, including the popular summertime splash pad. The Park also features a skate park, a Frisbee golf course, and a half mile jogging loop. The Café in the Park is located right next to the skate park and serves fresh and healthy sandwiches, salads and sweet treats, including the delicious local and organic PopCraft popsicles!
Favorite Restaurants:
Indigenous features fresh, yummy American seasonal cuisine with a focus on sustainable seafood, with indoor and outdoor dining in charming Towles Court.
Clasico is a favorite local spot featuring Italian food while Selva Grill is known for its delicious wahoo ceviche.
Duval’s is a seafood lovers favorite, and Boca is a lively, inviting spot with locally inspired, fresh offerings.
Recreation / Culture:
Locals enjoy Sarasota’s Downtown Farmer’s Market every Saturday from 7am – 1pm, where 85 vendors line the streets and sell local produce, fresh breads and pastas, seafood, homemade guacamole, and more. It has been a tradition since 1979 and draws more than 500,000 people each year.
A gem on the Gulf Coast, the Sarasota Opera opened in 1984 as the Sarasota Opera House and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is under the artistic leadership of Victor DeRenzi, who founded the Apprentice Artist and Studio Artist programs and continues its long-standing commitment to education through the Sarasota Youth Opera program, one of the preeminent youth opera programs in the country. It has attracted international acclaim with the Masterworks Revival Series and made history in 2016 by completing the Verdi Cycle as it is the only opera company in the world to have presented every work written by Giuseppe Verdi. In 2008, the Sarasota Opera House completed a $20 million-dollar renovation and restored the historic 1926 theater to its original splendor, and features everything from opera, symphony and classical ballet to film festivals and music concerts.
Florida Studio Theatre offers cabaret, improv comedy shows, plays, a children’s theatre and the Florida Studio Theatre School, with classes in acting, dancing, singing, playwriting and improv.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe offers theatre and performances while celebrating African American history and the development of aspiring artists.
Ed Smith Stadium, opened in 1989 and renovated in 2011, is home to the Baltimore Oriole’s Spring Training season and located in close proximity to downtown. From late February to early April every year, fans can enjoy spring training games in one of the most entertaining stadiums in the Grapefruit League.
