The Best Restaurants in Sarasota
By Carson B. · Updated November 6, 2026
For a special night, start with Michael's On East, Indigenous, or Marcel. For the water, Marina Jack downtown or Dry Dock on Longboat Key. For seafood, Owen's Fish Camp or Walt's. For a casual meal with a Michelin nod, Lucky 8, which earned a Bib Gourmand in 2026.
The ones Michelin noticed
The Michelin Guide recognized Sarasota restaurants for the first time in 2026. Lucky 8, the New Orleans-inspired spot on Osprey Avenue in Southside Village, earned a Bib Gourmand, Michelin's nod to great food at a good value. Tralia in Gulf Gate, known for sourdough and Detroit-style pizza, and Focaccia Sandwich + Bakery, with focaccia that rises for 48 hours, are Michelin Recommended. No Sarasota restaurant holds a star.
For a special night
Michael's On East is the long-running fine-dining name in town. Indigenous in Towles Court is chef-owner Steve Phelps' restaurant, and he's been a James Beard semifinalist. Marcel does French-inspired small plates on Main Street, and Mimi Brasserie & Speakeasy in Southside Village has a hidden cocktail room behind the dining room. Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse and Kore Steakhouse, with Korean barbecue at tabletop grills, cover steak two very different ways.
Fine dining institution with catering and multiple venue options
European brasserie warmth meets 1920s speakeasy glamour
On the water
Marina Jack sits right on the bayfront downtown. Dry Dock and Mar Vista give you Longboat Key from the dock side. Tide Tables in Cortez made USA TODAY's 2026 list of best restaurants in America, with the fishing boats right there. See our waterfront guide for more.
Longboat Key dockside dining under ancient buttonwood trees
For seafood
Owen's Fish Camp brings Southern fish-camp cooking to Burns Court. Walt's Fish Market comes from a fishing family with about a century in the business, and Veronica Fish & Oyster is the stylish raw-bar option in Southside Village. Our seafood guide goes further.
Neighborhood places worth the drive
Florence and the Spice Boys grew from a food truck into a Middle Eastern restaurant with a devoted following on the South Trail. Turmeric does modern Indian, Mi Bodeguita One does Cuban, and Nikki's Greek Cafe is family-owned Greek around Gulf Gate. In Pinecraft, Yoder's is the Amish comfort-food stop, and yes, get pie.
By neighborhood
Heading somewhere specific? We have guides for downtown, St. Armands Circle, Siesta Key, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key. For everything we list, browse the restaurant directory.
Questions
Does Sarasota have a Michelin-starred restaurant?
Not in the 2026 guide. Lucky 8 earned a Bib Gourmand, and Tralia and Focaccia Sandwich + Bakery are Michelin Recommended.
Where do locals eat in Sarasota?
Beyond Main Street, look to Southside Village, Gulf Gate, and Pinecraft, where you'll find places like Veronica Fish & Oyster, Nikki's Greek Cafe, and Yoder's.
What food is Sarasota known for?
Gulf seafood above all, especially grouper and stone crab in season, which runs Oct. 15 through May 1. Pinecraft's Amish cooking is the local surprise.
What's the best restaurant on St. Armands Circle?
Columbia is the institution, the St. Armands location of Florida's oldest restaurant, which dates to 1905. See our St. Armands guide for more.