St. Armands Circle on Lido Key is one of Florida's most distinctive destinations — a circular park ringed with upscale boutiques, galleries, and excellent restaurants, designed in the 1920s by John Ringling as the commercial heart of his Sarasota development vision. Today it's one of the Gulf Coast's premier outdoor shopping and dining experiences.
What's at St. Armands Circle
The Circle contains approximately 140 shops and restaurants arranged around a circular park:
Shopping
- Tommy Bahama — Flagship store and restaurant
- Chico's — Women's fashion, regional institution
- Several independent galleries — Florida art, sculpture, photography
- Colombo's Italian Deli — Legendary local sandwich shop
- Jewelry galleries — Multiple upscale jewelry retailers
Dining Highlights
- Café L'Europe — St. Armands institution since 1973, European-influenced fine dining
- Tommy Bahama Restaurant — Second floor with excellent views of the Circle
- Cha Cha Coconuts — Casual tropical, good for families
- Hemingway's Island Grill — Consistent seafood and cocktails
- Mozzarella Fella — Italian classics
Lido Beach
St. Armands Circle is on Lido Key, a short walk from Lido Beach — one of Sarasota's most accessible public beaches with free parking (limited), restrooms, and concessions. Lido Beach lacks the extraordinary quartz sand of Siesta Key (15 minutes south) but offers a more central location relative to the Circle and downtown Sarasota.
The Lido Key Experience
The classic Sarasota day: morning at Siesta Key or Lido Beach, lunch at St. Armands Circle, afternoon at the Ringling Museum or downtown galleries, dinner at a Sarasota Bay restaurant. A private car makes this rotation seamless.
Getting to St. Armands Circle
- From SRQ Airport: 15-20 minutes, from $40
- From Downtown Sarasota: 10-15 minutes (across the Ringling Causeway), from $30
- From TPA Airport: 75-90 minutes, from $90
- From Siesta Key: 15-20 minutes, from $35