With 38 different places to get food and drinks there's something for everyone from pricey restaurants to hamburger joints, great sunset spots to beach bars. Not all the places are Yelp unfortunately so hard to get reviews on some. The complete list follows with my commentary but here some of the best IMHO.
Best Sunset - Drift Kitchen and Bar (Lido Beach Resort)
Best Indoor Bar - Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar
Best Seafood - Crab and Fin
Best Italian - Speaks Clam Bar
Best Sports Bar - Daiquiri Deck
Best Trendy Spot - The Shore
Most Romantic - Crab and Fin
Best For Kids - Cha Cha Coconuts
Best Breakfast - Madison Avenue Café and Deli
To help get around I've broken St. Armands Circle into quadrants rather then colors like the official circle map. Enjoy exploring the Circle and if you want to take a guided food tour you can always check out Key Culinary Tours Stroll and Taste Tours for something different. Eating should be a journey not a destination so enjoy yours!
Click on the headers to open a quadrant map
The Shore - Trendy upstairs spot with trendy food, dining room has a retractable roof
Starbucks - You live under a rock if you don't know this one, few tables outside
Cha Cha Coconuts - Open air bar food with good people watching some entertainment
The Cilantro Grill - Mexican food hidden above Cha Cha's - good quiet spot
Café L'Europe - $$$ but good, limited outdoor; Location of Ringling Real Estate office in 1926
Columbia Restaurant - Mojitos & Cuban food; best outdoor seating on the circle
Madison Avenue Café and Deli - Local sandwich & locals spot; sells bottles of wine to go
Speaks Clam Bar - Seafood and Italian; pasta made daily
Blue Kouzina - Greek food for those who like it
Lynches Pub and Grub - Irish Whiskeys and beers and grub; sells beer and wine to go
Venezia Italian Restaurant - Pizza and Italian on the sidewalk; most popular pizza spot
Settimis Gelato - Gelato and smoothies tucked into tiny storefront
Daiquiri Deck - 2 levels of oysters, seafood and music; Most TVs on the Circle
Chulala Pastry Shop - Pastries but for some unknown reason don't open till 11 AM
Big Olaf Creamery - Around the corner ice cream place, limited outdoor
Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar - 2 story Caribbean themed restaurant with 2 bars
Kilwins - Best ice cream and sweets on the island
Rico's Pizzeria - Good for takeout, some outdoor seating
La Macaron - Stuffy French deserts
Meaney’s Mini Donuts - Tiny donuts and coffee
Ben and Jerrys - More ice cream
Le Colonne - Old Italian with outside seating; small bar inside
Vernona Gourmet Market and Restaurant - They have small market inside
The Whiskey Barrel - Whiskey and pizza, limited outdoor
Crab and Fin - $$$ seafood and steaks, outdoor seating is the best
Blue Dolphin Café - Good breakfast spot with big portions
Green Zebra Café - Smoothies, organic vegan - no meat here
North Lido Key
New Pass Grille and Bait Shop - B'fast & lunch at a bait & tackle shop; you can always eat the bait
Old Salty Dog - Bar food on the water; nice spot to watch boats go by
The Sarasota Sailing Squadron - End of road in the middle of sailboats, small cafe
Deep Sea Diner (Mote Aquarium) - You gotta pay admission to eat here
South Lido Key (most are located in hotels)
Kokonuts Lounge and Tiki Bar (Holiday Inn) - Pool bar food with a great view of the beach
The Lido Grille - Located at the Lido Beach pavilion; good food selection and full bar
Drift Kitchen and Bar (Lido Beach Resort) - Bar and dining with the best sunset views up island
Poolside Tiki bar (Lido Beach Resort) - Drinks, food and sunshine doesn't get any better
The Lido Tiki Bar (Ritz Carlton Beach) - Out of the way spot with no parking
Candlelight Restaurant And Lounge (Sandcastle Resort) - I've never eaten here; I'm sure it's ok
Sandcastle Tiki Bar (Sandcastle Resort) - Pool food and bar
Share your thoughts on the food options and the places that you found are the best.
More blogs on the area food and drink scene
List as of Blog Posting and subject to change
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