Any time we’re on vacation, we love eating at locally owned restaurants we can’t find anywhere else. Siesta Key has an amazing selection of restaurants to choose from, with outdoor seating, yummy cocktails and fresh ingredients. After a few trips to the area, we put together this list of the best restaurants in Siesta Key, Florida.
While Siesta Key is known for it’s bar scene, it’s just as great for families. The outdoor seating and live music we love on any vacation are plentiful in this Florida beachside town. From breakfast, lunch and dinner to ice cream places, there’s no shortage of great restaurants in Siesta Key Village.
Keep reading for some of the best places to eat in Siesta Key, from breakfast to dessert!
Updated 5/11/2021
Sun Garden Cafe
One of the best places for breakfast in Siesta Key (and lunch) is Sun Garden Cafe. The food is super fresh and locally sourced, with a huge menu of all day breakfast options as well as lunch. (We recommend the eggs benedict, avocado toast and any pancakes or French toast! This family friendly restaurant in Siesta Key also has ample seating with a great, shaded outdoor dining area.
Location: 210 Avenida Madera, Sarasota, FL 34242
Another Broken Egg Cafe
If you’re looking for a great menu with a combination of traditional and unique breakfast items, Another Broken Egg Cafe is a Siesta Key breakfast spot you need to try. Everything on the menu is yummy, and the sweet potato pancakes and savory crab cakes with fried green tomatoes are a favorite! They’re also known for their Bloody Mary’s and other brunch cocktails.
First time customers are brought a few delicious, complimentary beignets. (This is a franchise restaurant with multiple locations in Florida, but one that’s definitely worth going to!)
Location: 140 Avenida Messina, Sarasota, FL
Bonjour French Cafe
Bonjour French Cafe is another great Sarasota breakfast restaurant located in Siesta Key. This French-inspired restaurant is known for its sweet and savory crepes, and you can’t go wrong with any of them. (They even offer buckwheat crepes if you’re feeling extra healthy that day!) There’s also a great kids menu that offers both lunch and breakfast options. There’s ample seating indoors and out, and it’s the perfect spot to get a little bit of France in a relaxed, family friendly setting.
Location: 5214 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, FL
Meaney’s Mini Donuts
Looking for the best donuts in Siesta Key? Meaney’s mini donuts serves coffee, donut and soft serve ice cream- making it just as great for dessert as it is for breakfast. The donuts are freshly made throughout the day, and they’re hand dipped to order. They offer everything from the more basic donuts with sprinkles to rich, custard and chocolate topped cannoli donuts. While it’s only a stand, you can snag a spot at a nearby bench if you want to sit and enjoy your donuts.
Location: 201 Canal Road, Sarasota, FL 34242
We’ve also been told that Sun Garden Cafe and Village Cafe are great options for a healthy, fresh breakfast. We didn’t have time on this trip, but they’re definitely on our list to try next time!
Siesta Key Oyster Bar
After hearing so many great things about Siesta Key Oyster Bar (SKOB) from family and friends, it was high on our list of places to eat at in Siesta Key. The oysters are as amazing as you’d expect from an oyster bar so close to the beach. And you can’t beat the $7 price tag during happy hour! We loved the mahi fish tacos and lobster rolls, and they offer a kids menu with crayons and a coloring page as well.
One of our favorite things about SKOB in addition to the oysters is definitely the live music. The only downside is that SKOB is consistently packed, so we recommend getting there early or during off hours to avoid a long wait and huge crowds.
Location: 5238 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, FL
The Hub Baja Grill
The Hub Baja Grill has Baja-inspired Mexican and seafood cuisine and is located in the main intersection of Siesta Key Village. While there are a couple of Mexican restaurants in Siesta Key, FL, this one is by far our favorite. It’s also one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Siesta Key. The location on the main intersection makes it prime for people watching. (Or car and truck watching, in the case of our toddler.)
I highly recommend the grouper bites, tuna poke lettuce wraps and fish tacos. And you can’t go wrong with the strawberry jalapeño margarita if you’re looking for a yummy drink. The Hub Baja Grill also has live music daily.
Location: 5148 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, FL
The Cottage
Aptly named for its cottage look and feel, The Cottage in Siesta Key is a quaint indoor/ outdoor restaurant with a diverse menu. The Cottage is rated one of the best restaurants in Siesta Key for good reason. The Forbidden Salmon is amazing, and they’re also known for the Billionaire Burger made with short ribs and brisket. (A great option if you’re looking for a break from the seafood that Siesta Key is known for!)
Location: 153 Avenida Messina, Sarasota, FL
Summer House Siesta Key
Next to The Cottage is its sister restaurant, Summer House, that’s the perfect restaurant for dinner in Siesta Key. Summer House is slightly more upscale than The Cottage and is consistently rated the best restaurant in Siesta Key on TripAdvisor. If you’re looking for an amazing steak restaurant in Siesta Key, Summer House is known for its steaks. Although, you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!
While it’s our top recommendation for a date night restaurant in Siesta Key, it’s also surprisingly kid-friendly. The restaurant offers a kids menu and also has an aquarium in the center of the restaurant that’s a hit with our kids. (Be sure to look out for the puffer fish who will follow you everywhere!)
Location: 5148 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34242
Walt’s Fish Market Restaurant & Tiki Bar
Walt’s Fish Market is just over the bridge from Siesta Key, and it’s a local Sarasota institution known for having some of the freshest fish around. The regular menu and daily specials are plentiful, and you really can’t go wrong with anything, including the kid’s menu. Like many restaurants in Siesta Key, they don’t take reservations. I definitely recommend getting here early, especially if you’re dining with kids.
Location: 4144 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL
Local Chill Artisan Ice Cream
Local Chill is our favorite of several ice cream shops in Siesta Key to choose from. The flavors options are amazing, including the Salted Caramel Swirl and Cookie Dough flavors we tried. And if you’re really having a sweet tooth that day, be sure to try Local Chill’s yummy sundae options. The Cookie Colossus and Extra Spectacular Awesomeness both have freshly baked cookies with tons of toppings. (And they are worth every calorie!)
Local Chill also has a large seating area outside that’s in a prime location right on Ocean Boulevard. It was the perfect spot for people watching while enjoying your ice cream.
Location: 5140 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, FL
Big Olaf Creamery
This place has been around for over 25 years and it’s no surprise that it’s one of the best places for ice cream in Siesta Key. The ice cream at Big Olaf’s is handmade in batches with super fresh ingredients. The line was to the door every time we walked by. And I could see why after just one bite. There are tons of flavors with some rotating specials, and we loved the blueberry cheesecake ice cream.
Location: 2001 Cattleman Rd., Unit 123, Sarasota, FL
More Recommendations for Great Restaurants in Siesta Key
There are so many good restaurants in Siesta Key that it’s hard to narrow down the list of THE BEST! Below are more great places to eat in Siesta Key that deserve a mention as well!
- Flavio’s Brick Oven Pizza for one of the best Italian restaurants in Siesta Key
- Ripfire Pizza & BBQ for wood fired pizza and bbq in Siesta Key.
- Sarasota Lobster Pot for the yummiest lobster rolls and seafood in Siesta Key.
- Made in Rome Gelato for the best gelato made with organic ingredients.
Planning a Siesta Key Family Vacation?
While we have family in the area that we stay with, Siesta Key offers a number of bungalows and hotels with a beachy feel. The Hyatt Beach Residences and Siesta Key Beachside Villas are two places to stay in Siesta Key that have been recommended to us. You can also search Siesta Key vacation rentals here.
While you’re in Siesta Key, we highly recommend checking out the surrounding Sarasota area. There are so many fun things to do in Sarasota, Florida for the whole family.
Related Posts:
- 8 Awesome Things to Do at Siesta Key, Florida
- Florida Keys With Kids: Islamorada Family Vacation Guide
- Planning a Vacation in Sandbridge, VA
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we were supposed to hit up siesta key last year – when driving from Orlando to Naples. BUT my son had been sick in Orlando with a stomach bug so we for-gos the stop Need to get down there!
Oh no! You definitely need to get there, Siesta Key is such a great laid back beach town and so much good food!
Yay! Any tips for picky eaters is a good list. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome! My son just started eating chicken at almost 2 but up until now it’s been pizza, quesadillas and grilled cheese when eating out! Gotta love places that have really good food AND a kids menu! Siesta Key was the best for kid-friendly yet fun places to eat!
What I love about this article is the Siesta Key Oyster Bar (SKOB) and also there are a lot of restaurants and food stalls to choose from. The good thing is that all of them are child friendly restaurants, little ones will not only enjoy the scenery and activities but also the foods.
Definitely agree with you on the that! So many great kid-friendly places to eat in Siesta Key. Thanks for reading : )
Yummy! We started looking for Christmas break spots and my in laws just suggested Siesta Key. So much more affordable than Key West!
Completely agree! The beach is beautiful and there’s so much to do in the Sarasota area on top of the beach. Be sure to check out our post on fun things to do in Sarasota with kids as well!
I love places that prep little things like crayons for kids. It’s all in the details isn’t it? Also, I like to colour myself haha. All of these places look great!
Right?? Anything that helps allow us to actually enjoy a meal is good in my book. The restaurants in Siesta Key are all great with kids or without!