Are you looking to discover the best bars in Sarasota?
Then we have you covered!
On this page, you’ll find the official shortlist of all the bars in Sarasota. (More in-depth further below). And, each with why it’s best to go.
Feel free to check out each bar’s official profile to find out more and to find out which is best for you.
❗Click Here To See Events in Sarasota Tonight🔥
Furthermore, you can get on the guest list or book a table with bottle service on some of the more exclusive bars. We are happy to help you out with either.
12. Mattison’s Forty-One Restaurant Bar Sarasota
An upscale and classy spot for you to drop by with your family, Mattison’s Forty-One restaurant has its roots in Italian and Mediterranean Cuisine. The place offers you appetizers, soups, entrees, salads, and sandwiches with a separate lunch and dinner menu. On average, each dish is priced between $10 to $20. So this won’t be too heavy on your pocket.
Sourcing ingredients native to the area and freshly produced, the chef brings you delicious dishes to dive into. Their chefs’ special soup and pot roast reconstructed is a true burst of flavors for your palette. They also have vegan and gluten-free options.
The bar has a few food options and specially crafted cocktails. ‘Spicy Blackberry margarita,’ ‘Paradise punch,’ and ‘South Beach Iced Tea’ are a few options. The latter mixes absolut vodka, Beefeater gin, Bacardi rum, peachtree schnapps, orange liqueur, lemon sour, sierra mist, and cranberry. So it does pack a punch in each sip you take. Although cocktails have limited options, you can try out their beer, wine, and spirits section. Happy hour from 3 to 7 pm daily gives you a discount on all house drinks.
The location is also a famous spot for hosting weddings or receptions. You can also have any other private event here. All of their customers have left great reviews afterward. This is an ideal place for a wedding with a setting of 210 people, plus the outdoor patio that would accommodate about 40 more people. The Galleria can accommodate approximately 150 people if you want to host a cocktail party with a private bar also available. The outdoor garden terrace adds a beautiful touch of freshness and color to the place.
11. The Gator Club Bar Sarasota
If you like a loud and noisy bar, step into this 103-year-old building that oozes history even with all the music playing inside. The vibe here is like a speakeasy but has a more sexy, spooky feel. You can enjoy live music with local bands and performers weekly.
Events like adult bingo, karaoke, Latin dance night, and many Dj nights will make your night out much more fun. The place was once a brothel, so there’s a corner called the ‘madams cage’ where the ladies would wait for payment before proceeding. The place is said to be haunted, and there have been a lot of ghost sightings by the staff and customers.
The bar offers you about 500 drink options. The list gets updated so that you can get surprised with your drink. You can try the most high-end liquor options even in smaller servings. You can also order unique liquors and spirits to try out if you’re in the mood to splurge. The place is dead in the daytime, so if you plan on visiting, then go at night.
There is no cover charge during the day, but it is $5 at night. The bartenders wear corsets and fishnet and are experts at what they do. The menu is so long that you will want to take a while to go through it, or you can ask the bartender to get you something according to your taste.
You can boogie to the live band that plays at night. On the second floor, many older men are surrounding the pool table while smoking their cigars. The area can get a bit full of smoke at times. In the background, you will have a Dj playing their beats every Friday and Saturday night.
10. Legends Sports Pub Bar Sarasota
Do you want good drinks while watching any game of your choice? Then Legends Sports pub is the place to be at. You can request any game channel, and they will put it on for you on TVs scattered across the pub. It is a casual sitting area where the vibe is super chill.
You can drop by any time of the day. The bar is crowded on game days, with lots of people coming in to have a drink with their friends while supporting their favorite team. The game spirit is high those days.
They have 26 beers on their tap list. There are also 51 bottle options for you, including your all-time favorite Budweiser and Corona. Their cocktail options are limited to ‘Hillview Passion Fruit Smash’ and ‘Osprey Pomegranate Smash.’
The latter mixes pomegranate, pineapple, coconut, lemon juice, ginger juice, honey, filtered h2o, fresh blueberry, rosemary, agave nectar, and white claw pure. The wine list has 19 different tastes for your palette. They have Coastal Vines Pinot Grigor and Freakshow Chardonnay that you can sip on while you chat with friends. You can get any of these options Monday through Sunday from 12 pm to 2 am.
The place is family-friendly and has a lovely outdoor sitting area where you can sit if the weather is nice. You can also text “Pub2” to 51612 to get a Buy 1 Get one same drink offer! This is a great deal if you plan on watching the whole game here. The bartenders are a good sport and strike up a great conversation if you’re in there alone. There are also games like darts, pool, and Golden Tee that you can try out and see if you will be lucky today!
9. Livingston’s Amusements Bar Sarasota
Livingston’s Amusements has 30 years of experience with fun games, food, and drinks packed under one roof. Open 365 days a year, it offers you billiards, bumper cars, go-cart racing, bazooka ball, rock climbing, and many arcade games. You can book this place for birthday parties, corporate game days, and a fun party with your friends. The location is generally smoke-free, but if you’re 21+, you can smoke outdoors or in the Royal room and play billiards in the 21+ environment.
The decor is classy and vintage, with wooden furniture all around. The carpet in the billiard room is funky and colorful, adding character to the whole place. The wall is painted green and yellow to match the colors of the floor. Frames are put up as decor on them. The chandeliers hanging above are made of stained glass with colorful paint. Old school televisions hang from the ceiling.
Cocktails include ‘The 8 Ball,’ ‘Purple Nerd, ‘Hennything,’ and ‘Starburst.’ The 8 Ball is a mix of their top secret blend of 8 liquors, featuring Southern Comfort 100 proof, Sailor Jerry spiced rum, and a combination of 6 other flavored liquors topped off with a sweet & sour and Sprite. There is also rum, brandy, vodka, cognac, gin, tequila, bourbon, whiskey, and scotch. There are also a few wine options. Draft beer and bottles are also available to sip on while watching a game. If not alcohol, you can grab a lemonade or a red bull.
8. O’Leary’s Tiki Bar & Grill Sarasota
One step away from the ocean, O’Leary’s Tiki Bar & Grill gets you to experience winds from the Gulf of Mexico while you sip on some yummy drinks. Its palm thatch roofs and open-sided deck remind you of a Californian-style tiki bar. The kitchen opens at 8 am to serve breakfast. After taking your dog for a walk along the beach, you both can drop by here for an excellent breakfast. From Sunday to Thursday, the bar is open 8 am to 10 pm, and on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s open from 8 am to 11 pm.
A resident guitar player named Dan has been playing here since 1977. He plays tunes and songs for you to sing and dance to daily. There are Tuesday nights Dave where he plays for some beer and tips. Other than these, Albert Noe and Impulse Reggae also play here now and then. More local musicians and bands, along with those traveling, also have their performances which you can check out on their website.
The food menu has appetizers, handhelds, soups, entrees, hot dogs, and salads. The prices range from $5 to $20 in general, so you can bring your friends in with you and not end up broke by the end of the day. There are local beer options like J Dubbs Passion wheat, or you could have one of the domestic or imported options. There are also a few wines, rum, tequila, and vodka options. The cocktail menu offers frozen drinks like ‘Island Oasis Daiquiri’ and margaritas like ‘O’Learys Gold Margarita.’ There are many pina coladas mixes available here too.
7. Daiquiri Deck St. Armands Deck Sarasota
Overlooking the picturesque view of St. Armands Circle, Daiquiri Deck offers the best daiquiris in the area. Accompanied by live music and tasty bites to eat, the daiquiri is a mix of lime juices squeezed over sugar with a few ounces of rum. Previously this was all poured over ice, but now it is shaken up with shaved ice. This drink became more popular in the 1940s and has been one of the all-time favorites since then.
Facing the street, there are tables placed outside and indoors as well. Purple-colored umbrellas stand above each table. The chairs are a pale yellow with purple tables indoors. The marble top bar runs through the length of the whole place on one side. A few TVs are placed all around the bar and even behind it.
Some walls have huge photographs of drinks to add color to the place. Lights hang from the high ceiling. The second floor has even more tables, and booths placed all around the place for bigger groups. There are also tables set on the terrace for an open-air experience. There is another bar on this floor so you can place your orders here too.
Open all seven days of the week; happy hour is every day from 3 pm to 7 pm. Frozen daiquiri options are divided into fruity, creamy, tart, sweet, and virgin options. The ‘Rum Runner’ is the island favorite. It’s a rum base with strawberry, raspberry & banana. It is topped with 151-proof rum. There are also combos of these drinks available, which will surely pack a punch of flavor. They also have specialty shots, mocktails, and their take on classic drinks.
6. The Mable Bar and Grill Smokin Sarasota
The Mable is edgy and funky from the inside, even though you will never be able to guess that if you pass it by. On the outside, it just spells out PUB, which means you’re at the right place in the strip mall. The place is vintage and old school with a twist to it. You have sofas, exciting patterns, wooden furniture, red curtains, and patterned wallpapers.
There are paintings of people hanging around on one wall. The art style is fascinating. There is a very ghostly-looking head of a horse with a horn like that of a unicorn which looks super creepy. There is an antique-looking chandelier hanging from the ceiling. There are tables with stools all around the place.
Located beside Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD), the customers are a lot of students or professors from here. So many artists, exciting people, and conversations can be found here. Every Tuesday, there’s an open mic at 10 pm, Wednesday team trivia at 7 pm, every other Friday, there’s compass rose at 9 pm, and Saturdays are for live music at 9 pm. They promise that the place will always stay the way it is and you won’t have to dress up.
There is a fantastic selection of local beers(around 30) and microbrews. Weekly there is a schedule of what drinks come in. There’s also a kitchen that now offers you small bites and even vegan menu options.
5. Smokin Joes Pub Sarasota
Open for more than ten years now, Smokin Joes is a lowkey place that mostly just locals know of. The place does live up to its name, so it gets a bit smokey here. However non, smokers do not need to worry about that; they will still have a pretty good time here. It is an authentic bar in its essence. There is no food, fancy ingredients, or bartenders in their fancy dresses. As no food is allowed, you can smoke indoors and outdoors. They even have a cigar shop which has a wide variety for you to choose from.
Its open Monday to Sunday from 12 pm to 2 am. The atmosphere is a lot of fun here. The bartenders are easygoing and are great at their job. You will never complain about lousy service here, that’s for sure. Whatever season it may be, this is where you would want to go after work, either alone or with a bunch of friends.
The whole community comes together here. Many events are happening throughout the year, like Veterans day Parades and even events sponsored by liquor companies that offer you a taste of their drinks. So you can come and celebrate at the bar, and you might get a chance to taste something great and win a prize!
The drinks keep flowing here; whether you like beer, spirits, or cocktails, the staff will find you the best option according to your taste. Their inventory has a great selection of local and imported drinks, which their mixologists will use to get you a martini of your preference.
If you want to watch a game or tournament on one of the numerous televisions spread across the wall, you can grab a cold lager and sip on it. Titos, Jager, and Fireball are the most popular orders here, and if you’re in the mood to party, order some shots.
4. Cask and Ale Sarasota
As soon as you step in, wooden furniture welcomes you from all ends. The tables, chairs, bar and stool, and even the shelves are in a deep wood. The wall on one side has a geometric design made of wooden panels. The lights are yellow and add softness to the eyes. On the back end, there’s an interesting mural painted on the wall. There’s live music here where local performers and bands play tunes for you.
What makes this place a must-visit is that their yummy drinks also offer fantastic food, from tacos dripping with sauce to juicy burgers and colorful salads for you to pour the dressing over and enjoy. The menu is carefully curated with specific ingredients. The drinks are served on a wooden board. They are served aesthetically with salt-rimmed glasses and lemon wedges with vibrant colors so vibrant it’s hard to resist taking a photograph.
There are local craft and artisan beers and some imported options. They are made with chocolate, honey, wheat, and many more. You are also offered sample shots for those confused about what to get. You have ‘Dragons Breath,’ ‘Linda Listen,’ ‘Cask Old Fashioned,’ and ‘Sidestep.’ ‘Dragons Breath’ is a mix of Vida mezcal, redemption rye, brown sugar, sweet vermouth, bitters, and smoke. Priced at $12, it’s a blast of flavors. There are also wines by the glass, bottle, or keg.
3. Evie’s Tavern and Grill Sarasota
Stop by Evie’s Tavern and Grill if you want to have some fun during your lunch break. You can grab a bite or a drink and then take a chance at bowling. Take off your blazer and roll your sleeves up! Here you can get some fantastic homemade pizza, American cuisine, and 24 beers on tap. There’s liquor, wine, and their famous specialty cocktails. Drop by any day between 11 am, and 2 am and try something out from their menu.
Each day has something unique to offer you. Nacho Mondays, taco Tuesday, wine down Wednesday, pizza Wednesday, $8 burger Thursday and fish and chips Friday; you can drop by any day. There’s also a trivia night on Tuesdays at 7 pm. Want to host a private event? You can book the place all for yourself. The menu is extensive, with lots of food options for you.
There are starters like the classic mozzarella sticks and nachos, and if you want a bit of everything, you can have their sample platter. Theres fish, hot dogs, wings, soups, and salads on the menu. Their wraps, pizza, and sandwiches are a big hit, and you can even build your burger! Every day from 11 am to 7 pm there’s a happy hour where you can get a good deal.
The ceiling is high and thatched, giving it a tropical feel. Televisions are put up to watch games. The tables and chairs are wooden, and plush leather booths are also available. There is a pool table on one side as well. Lights hang low from the ceiling making the area glow. You can also sit outdoors if the weather is comfortable.
2. Melange Bar Sarasota
Melange offers you a mix of cuisines with a creative twist. Open since 2007; the dining experience is very well curated for all its customers. It is open from Wednesday through Sunday from 5:30 pm to 10 pm. The name itself is a French word that means a mixture of things,’ and the place lives up to its name.
Inspired by traveling, the chef offers you dishes from around the world with their flair. The menu isn’t too vast, but they offer soups, salads, appetizers, and entrees. Tier classics are beef short ribs and duck brie crepes, which have been on the menu since 2007. Each dish and dessert is beautifully plated.
Their cocktails are made with fresh ingredients, and the skills of their mixologists are unbeatable. They know just the right ingredients to bring together in a cocktail. Some cocktails are ‘Blue Mule,’ ‘Melange,’ ‘Not Michael’s Twist,’ and ‘Cat Daddy Flip.’ The Melange mixes bourbon, fresh lime juice, demerara sugar, aromatic & Peychauds bitters, fresh mint, and Dr. Loosen sparkling riesling. It is priced at $12, the average price in the area.
Your next date night, get-together, party, or birthday can be here. The place is casual yet elegant. Small plant pots sit on each table. You see black and white in decor all around you. Local artists’ work is put up all around you. The place also supports local farmers by getting their produce from them directly.
1. State street eating house + cocktails Sarasota
Located on the quiet side of the town, State Street offers you comfort while being chic. It is famous for its contemporary twists on classic comfort food like macaroni and cheese. The place is closed on Mondays, and timings vary daily, so look at their website before you drop by. Happy hour is daily from 5 to 6 pm.
The ceilings are high, with lights hanging from the top. There are big glass windows with wooden furniture around you. The decor is minimal and fresh, with lots of open space. There are printed wallpaper and cane-like bar stools. It looks like a supper club and is very warm and inviting. The bar area is big with lots of sitting and mixologists waiting to get you something of your taste. Cocktails, beer, spirits, and other non-alcoholic drinks are available.
The staff is very knowledgeable and will make your choice more straightforward if you’re confused. Order any drink, and they will make it with housemade syrups, muddled fruit, and craft liquor. It is a very fantastic experience. Their signature ‘Bramble’ uses muddled blackberries, simple housemade syrup, lemon juice, lemon gin, and creme de mure, which results in a sweet yet sour drink. Perfect pre-dinner.
For food options, you can try their lobster rolls or fried okra. Their entrees range from fresh salads to flounder to gnocchi. Their slow-roasted whole chicken is a classic! They also have dessert options like carrot cake or a peanut butter pie, fulfilling your cravings for something sweet. Just know that you won’t be able to finish it independently.
Conclusion:
Sarasota offers you its beaches and some fantastic sights with it. What better than a few bars to go to after a nice warm day at the beach? There are many options for you to choose from the list above. Some are more beach style, while others are classic and more elegant.
You can plan a night out at any of these bars, and you will have a great time alone or with friends. You can try out some karaoke or dance to your heart’s limit to some cool tunes by the DJs. The local cocktail mixes will make you come back for more!
