Downtown Sarasota Restaurants
By Carson B. · Updated November 6, 2026
Main Street and Lemon Avenue have the highest concentration: BESO Tapas, 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen, Duval's, and Marcel are all within a few blocks. Walk to Burns Court for Owen's Fish Camp, or to the Rosemary District for Wink Wink and Arts & Central.
Main Street and Lemon Avenue
1592 Wood Fired Kitchen does Mediterranean over wood fire, BESO does Spanish tapas on South Lemon, and Duval's New World Café is the seafood regular. Mediterraneo has been on Main for years with contemporary Italian, and Marcel does French-inspired small plates.
State Street and Burns Court
Comida cooks modern Latin American with weekend brunch, and State Street Eating House pairs New American plates with serious cocktails across the street. Over in Burns Court, Owen's Fish Camp is the Southern seafood stop with an oyster bar.
The Rosemary District
Wink Wink does playful modern comfort food inside The Sarasota Modern, Arts & Central pairs creative plates with live music, and Lefty's is the oyster-and-cocktail room on North Lemon. Kojo and Rosemary & Thyme round out the north side of downtown.
Playful modern comfort food inside The Sarasota Modern
Best Oysters 2025, live music, and craft cocktails downtown
Breakfast and lunch
The Bakero bakes sourdough on Main, C'est La Vie and Mademoiselle Paris are the French bakery-cafés, and The Breakfast Company on North Orange is family-owned and scratch-baked. See our brunch guide.
Award-winning French bakery bringing Paris to multiple locations
With a view
Marina Jack is the classic bayfront pick. Evoq at The Westin looks over the marina, and Rufa at The Ritz-Carlton is the shareable-bites-and-cocktails spot with Sarasota Bay views.
Craft cocktails and shareable bites with Sarasota Bay views
Questions
Is downtown Sarasota walkable for dinner?
Yes. Main Street, Lemon Avenue, and State Street are a few minutes apart on foot, so you can eat in one place and have a drink in another.
Where can you eat on the water in downtown Sarasota?
Marina Jack, Evoq at The Westin, and Rufa at The Ritz-Carlton all look out over the bay or marina.