Gateway to India, in Southside Village

Gateway to India, in Southside Village, on Hillview Street, just west of Tamiami Trail, is a full-service Indian restaurant with an extensive lunch and dinner menu. You'll find moderately priced tandoori specialties, seafood, chicken, lamb, vegetarian, biryani, fresh baked breads including naan, paratha, and roti, special tasting dinners for two, desserts, and more.

Gateway to India restaurant, Hillview Street, Southside Village, Sarasota FL

On Tuesdays, all dine-in main curries except for seafood are half price. There's also a buffet seven days a week, from 11:30AM to 2:30PM. 

Gateway to India, Hillview Street, Southside Village, Sarasota FL

The interior decor, created by owner Sam, transports you to another world.

Gateway to India, Hillview Street, Southside Village, Sarasota FL

The hues are rich yellows, oranges, reds, and golds. Every detail, from napkins to glassware to artwork and objects of contemplation, is authentically Indian and yet quite contemporary in the atmosphere that surrounds you. Gateway to India restaurant also offers catering for parties and special events.

Arts & Crafts Supplies in Sarasota

Sarasota is a convenient place for arts and crafts supply shopping. Michaels and Joann stores are just minutes apart, and several other local stores offer unique product options.

Michaels 6659 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231
The crafts superstore. Located at Sarasota Pavilion, in the Gulf Gate shopping area. There's also a Michaels in the University Park area.

Joann Fabrics 4934 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231
The other crafts superstore. Located in The Landings shopping center. There's also a Joann Fabrics in the University Park area.

Art & Frame of Sarasota 1055 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34236
A fully-stocked fine arts supply store and frame shop. Located across Bahia Vista street from Midtown Plaza.

Picasso's Moon 1524 Fruitville Rd, Sarasota FL 34236
Owner Debra Lambert winds her own fabulous yarn combinations and carries a wide range of yarns for knitting and crochet. Knit and bitch is on Wednesday evenings.

A Good Yarn Sarasota 7418 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231
The newest of Sarasota's yarn shops, and recently expanded in size. A Good Yarn offers many yarns, pattern books, tools, and classes.

Blue Line Inc 301 Central Avenue, Sarasota FL 34236

Architectural and engineering drafting supplies, as well as art supplies. Located near the corner of Fruitville Road.

Yia Yia Beadworks 5263 Ocean Blvd, Siesta Key, Sarasota FL 34242

A small bead shop located one block from the beach in Siesta Key Village. Beads, casual jewelry, and classes.

Beadalgo 5537 Palmer Crossing Circle, Sarasota FL 34233
Gemstones, pearls, crystal beads, jewelry findings, pewter beads, watch heads, and other jewelry-making components.

Donna's Beads 2717 Beneva Rd, Sarasota FL 34232
Small local bead shop.

Beauty & the Beads 422 S. Pineapple, Sarasota FL 34236

High-end, high-style gemstone beads and jewelry. Lcoated in the Burns Square neighborhood.

Gem & Jewelry Show Municipal Auditorium, 801 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34236

In Sarasota once a month during winter season. A Frank Cox Productions show with many wholesale and retail vendors offering gemstone, pearl, glass, porcelain, and precious metal beads and findings. Also a wide range of jewelry, from costume to high end. $4 admission, $3 with ticket from previous show or if you mention the Web site.

European "Bouncies" at Sarasota Farmers Market

Nothing adds a smile to your day like a "Bouncy". In its booth at the Sarasota Farmers Market every Saturday, European Focus offers an extensive selection, ranging from animal to kid themes.

Bouncies at European Focus, Sarasota Farmers Market

Bouncies at European Focus, Sarasota Farmers Market

These adorable wood-and-fabric dolls are crafted in the Czech Republic and hang by a wooden ring that's attached to the doll by a slinky-type coiled spring. Hang it from a hook on the ceiling or a door, and watch it dance.

You can also sit your Bouncy on the edge of a table, since the bottom of each one has a flat surface. They're very affordable. That's a small price to pay for lots of laughs.

Awesome Orchids, in Burns Square, Sarasota FL

Nestled comfortably in the U.S. Garage Building on S. Pineapple Avenue in Burns Square near the corner of Ringling Avenue, in downtown Sarasota FL, Awesome Orchids beckons you in with an Oriental garden entrance. 

Awesome Orchids, Burns Square, Sarasota FL

Familiar to many Sarasota shoppers from its original and continuing booth at the Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market on Saturday mornings, Awesome Orchids features reasonably-priced, hand-selected plants from local growers.

Awesome Orchids, Burns Square, Sarasota FL

Awesome Orchids, Burns Square, Sarasota FL
This family-run business also includes many other gift and home decor categories at the shop, including candles and diffusers and Mediterranean-inspired specialty food products and garden accessories. 

Awesome Orchids, Burns Square, Sarasota FL

Awesome Orchids, Burns Square, Sarasota FL

Awesome Orchids, Burns Square, Sarasota FL

As you walk around this cozy emporium, you'll see lamps and garden furniture, pillows with botanical themes, botanical prints, pottery, and even a selection of jewelry. 

If you don't have time to pick up your order, Awesome Orchids offers delivery service. This shop is a little world unto itself, worth exploring both at the S. Pineapple Avenue location and at the farmers market.

Sarasota Farmers Market (Downtown)

Open year-round, rain or shine, the Downtown Farmers Market in Sarasota FL is a local institution. It takes place every Saturday morning from 7AM to 1PM on Lemon Avenue, from the purple fountain at the south end to 1st Street on the north end, and on State Street.

Sarasota Farmers Market, Lemon Ave in downtown Sarasota FL

There's a huge selection of produce, both conventional and organic. It's economical and fun to do your Sarasota shopping locally.

Numerous flower and plant vendors offer specialties such as indoor decorative plants, climbing flower vines, fruit-bearing bushes and trees, ground cover and bedding plants, cut flowers, etc.

Sarasota Farmers Market, Lemon Ave in downtown Sarasota FL

 

 

 

Eat-and-shop prepared foods abound, including gourmet coffee and tea, breakfast wraps, seafood, pastries, and more.

Sarasota Farmers Markets

For a small city, Sarasota is very well served by a diverse array of farmers markets. Each one has its special features and appeal. It's definitely worth checking them all out. Here's your guide to Sarasota Farmers Markets:

Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market - SATURDAYS

Open from 7AM to 1PM every Saturday, year-round, this is the oldest market in Sarasota. It's also by far the largest, including over 70 vendors selling produce, flowers, prepared foods, meats, fish, baked goods, teas, coffees, organic skin care products, as well as artisan crafts. Live music at several locations in the market. It runs along Lemon Avenue from 1st Street at Whole Foods to the purple fountain one block south of State Street, and on two blocks of State Street. Leashed dogs welcome.

Siesta Key Farmers Market - SUNDAYS

Open from 9AM to 2PM every Sunday, year-round, this is a small-scale yet surprisingly complete market. Available products have developed in response to its mostly-tourist customer base, with about 20 vendors setting up during winter season. There's a large selection of produce, breakfast foods cooked to order, organic teas, organic skin care, soaps, fine art, clothing, jewelry, and artisan crafts. Live music every week by popular local musicians. Easy parking because it's on Sunday mornings. Located in the Davidson's Pharmacy parking lot at 5124 Ocean Blvd in Siesta Key Village. Leashed dogs welcome.

Siesta Key Farmers Market, Sarasota FL

Phillippi Farmhouse Market - WEDNESDAYS

This is Sarasota's mid-week farmers market. It has a balanced array of produce, prepared food, plants, and crafts. Approximately 50 vendors set up on the expansive front lawn of the Phillippi Estate on Tamiami Trail (Rte 41), at the corner of Constitution Blvd. Every Wednesday from October through April, from 9AM to 2PM. Live music every week. Leashed dogs welcome. In fact, the Sarasota Humane Society brings their adoptable dogs and pets van to the market every other week during winter season.

Central Sarasota Farmers Market - SATURDAYS

This is One of Sarasota's newest markets. Open from 8AM to 1PM on Saturdays, with vendors including produce, knishes, baked goods, flowers, and several food trucks with interesting offerings. Live music every week. Very easy parking, because it's located just off Proctor Road near the corner of Beneva, in the parking lot of Sarasota Community Technical College (SCTI). There's room for 70 vendors, so this market is just beginning. If you patronize it now, your attendance will help it to grow. Leashed dogs welcome.

Bookstores in Sarasota

I know, I know, who reads books anymore, what with e-books all the rage. And yet, sometimes you just want to relax and browse in a real bookstore. Along with the requisite Barnes and Noble, Sarasota has a nice selection of independent bookstores, too:

A. Parker's Books
1488 Main St, Sarasota FL 34236
Located in downtown Sarasota for more than thirty years, A. Parker's Books specializes in rare and antiquarian books. Since merging with Book Bazaar, which was located next door, the shop also offers used, out-of-print and scholarly books.

Bookstore1Sarasota
1359 Main St, Sarasota FL 34236 
At Main St & Palm Avenue in downtown Sarasota, Bookstore1Sarasota is relatively new on the scene. It has the feel of the traditional independent bookstores that used to be the norm. In addition to books in all categories and a small magazine section, look for author signings and other events.
  

Elysian Fields 
1273 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34239
This shop combines personal and home decor gifts with a fully stocked metaphysical and spiritual bookstore. Comfortable reading area and special events. Located in the Midtown Shopping Center on S. Tamiami Trail at Bahia Vista Street. Elysian Fields entrance is around the corner from Panera Bread.

Barnes & Noble
4010 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231
The book superstore with cafe.

Books-A-Million 
591 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34236
A plain-Jane version of Barnes & Noble and the now-defunct Borders Books, Books-A-Million has comfortable chairs for reading, a spacious kids book area, a large magazine selection, and a cafe. Located in the Sarasota Pavilion shopping center in Gulf Gate neighborhood, around he corner from Panera Bread.

Brant's Books 
429 N. Lime Ave., Sarasota FL 34236
One of a chain of independently-owned used bookstores in Florida. Brant's Books actively buys, sells and trades books. Located on N. Lime Avenue, north of Fruitville Rd. (N. Lime is between Tuttle Ave. and Rte 301.)

Natural Foods in Sarasota

In addition to traditional supermarkets like Publix, located in many shopping strips around town, Sarasota supports a variety of medium and large natural foods markets. Interestingly, Whole Foods has not turned out to be a category-killer in this area. Here's a sampling to select from:

Earth Origins (formerly The Granary)

• 1930 Stickney Pt Rd near the SW corner of S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231
• 1279 S. Beneva Rd, at Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota FL 34232

Richards Food Emporium

• 2856 Ringling Blvd at Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota FL 34237
• 8207 Cooper Creek Blvd, University Park, Sarasota FL 34201
• 3226 Clark Road, east of Lockwood Ridge Rd, Sarasota FL 34231
• 4053 Cattlemen Road at Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL 34233

Whole Foods Market

• 1451 1st St at Central Avenue, Sarasota, FL 34236

Super Value Nutrition

• 4892 S.Tamiami Trail, The Landings, Sarasota FL 34231
• 5842 Bee Ridge Rd near Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota FL 34233

Trader Joe's (technically, a "specialty retail grocery store", rather than a health food store, Trader Joe's offers many healthful shopping options and the best prices in town to judge by its instant popularity)

• 4101 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota FL 34231

Burns Square Shopping District in Sarasota

Technically part of downtown Sarasota, but separated from the Main Street area by Ringling Boulevard, Burns Square is a quaint, stylish shopping and dining district worth exploring. Because Burns Square is hidden from view when you're driving along Tamiami Trail and downtown, you have to know where to find it.

Now let's head over to Burns Square and see what you'll find: Coming south from downtown, take Pineapple Avenue, crossing Ringling Boulevard, and you'll be at the northern end of Burns Square. On the right, Awesome Orchids is a beautifully merchandised gift shop crammed with locally grown orchids, jars of condiments and gourmet treats, horticultural art, some jewelry, furniture and lighting. (Awesome Orchids also has a booth at the Downtown Sarasota Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.)

Scott James Salon will keep you coiffed for all your social events, with their convenient location in the yellow building on the left side of Pineapple Avenue.

If you're coming to Burns Square from south of downtown on Orange Avenue, cross Mound Street (Tamiami Trail), and you'll come upon a "V" where Orange Avenue and Pineapple Avenue intersect at Osteria Restaurant. There's a fountain in front of the cafe, and it's housed in an historic "Herald Square" apartment building with stores on the ground floor.

Herald Square building at south end of Burns Square 

Across from Osteria, L Boutique is a department store for women, girls, and boys, with clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories from casual to formal. This is a real upscale quality lifestyle shopping experience, not your regular department store. The service is very personal and attentive. Next door is L Spa.

Parallel to Pineapple Avenue, to the west, is Burns Court, home of Burns Court Cinema, which shows art films in its can't-miss-it purple building. Next door is Owen's Fish Camp restaurant. Also in Burns Court is I-Optics, a popular source for eyeglasses that are as fashionable as they are functional.

On Orange Avenue, one block east of Pineapple Avenue, The Woman's Exchange is a well-organized bazaar of consigned furniture, rugs, dishes, glassware, lighting, and miscellany, with all the sales going to local charities that help women. There are additional shops on Orange Avenue, across from the Woman's Exchange.

Besides enjoying the various shops and restaurants, notice how relaxed you feel when exploring Burns Square. It's an island of historic and contemporary charm, and the local business owners will really appreciate the time you take to discover what they offer.

Southside Village Shopping District in Sarasota

Known by locals as "Hillview Street", Southside Village is a shopping, dining, and Sarasota live music district located at the intersection of Osprey Avenue and Hillview Street, behind Sarasota Memorial Hospital just west of Tamiami Trail. 

During the day, Southside Village is a popular lunch spot for hospital staff, tourists, and locals driving through. At night, it's a magnet for socializing, with dining, dancing, and drinking choices for various tastes. 

Morton's Market, on Osprey Avenue, is a cornucopia of gourmet treats, from fresh-made hot foods, deli, salads, and soups to grocery items, baked goods, meats and cheeses. Across from Morton's, Libby's restaurant is a destination for lunch and dinner, with lots of outdoor tables along Osprey, perfect for seeing and being seen. On Hillview Street, Pacific Rim has a loyal following, with its menu of pan-Asian specialties. 

Closer to Tamiami Trail, on Hillview Street, Gateway to India transports you to the exotic east, with its colorful decor and delish menu of Indian cuisine. A few doors down, Chutney's, celebrating 22 years in this location, competes with Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. 

In Southside Village, there are also restaurants offering French and Italian cuisines, American deli, and coffees, as well as a Hungarian tea house on Hillview Street. The Serving Spoon, on Osprey Avenue, is a popular breakfast and lunch diner. 

There are several boutiques in Southside Village. For instance, you can accessorize the outfits you find at Fifi's Consignment shop on Osprey Avenue with with jewelry from Silver Obsession, on Hillview Street near Pacific Rim. If you're a knitter or needlepointer, you'll find a store full of colorful yarns and supplies at Eye of the Needle on Osprey Avenue. 

In addition to the shops and restaurants, Southside Village is a convenient location to get your hair styled at one of several salons on Hillview Street. 

At night, Hillview Street gets lively with rock and blues music floating out the door of the 5 O'Clock Club. Other nightspots come and go, but the 5 O' provides the backbone of live music and dancing in Southside Village. On Monday nights, the Blues Jam draws talented musicians from all over town, who take the stage to show off their chops. Thursday night is reggae night with Democracy. You can arrive in casual or fancy dress to dance in front of the band. The volume is loud, so get there early and bring ear plugs if you're sensitive. Nevertheless, it's fun to join in the fun.

Gulf Gate Shopping and Dining District

Gulf Gate, Gateway, and Superior Streets comprise a neighborhood of one-story stores, restaurants and bars hidden behind the Sarasota Pavilion shopping center near the intersection of Stickney Point and Tamiami Trail, in Sarasota FL.

You can do your Sarasota shopping easily on foot in Gulf Gate, with its concentration of international restaurants and gift shops that bring a taste of home to Sarasota's many European visitors. For instance, you can sample Polish, Thai, Scandinavian, British, Italian, Irish, Middle-Eastern, and Moroccan cuisines.  

Healthy and vegetarian-oriented restaurants include Veg (on Gulf Gate Drive) and Zest (on Superior Avenue). For breakfast and lunch, Word of Mouth is busy and satisfying. Panificio Restaurant on the corner of Gulf Gate and Gateway is a popular Italian cafe. The shopping in Gulf Gate ranges from consignment shops to gifts.

In addition to restaurants and gifts, Gulf Gate provides lots of service businesses, such as the Vacuum Doctor, Uptech Computer Repair, Seascape Aquarium, dentist offices, chiropractors, and more.

At the Sarasota Pavilion, you'll find TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls, Michael's Crafts, Books-a-Million, Bed Bath & Beyond, video games, a Publix supermarket, Steinmart, and other brand name clothing and shoe stores, along with Chinese food. Panera Bread, which has a varied menu and free wifi, is a pleasant spot for sitting, sunning, and noshing.

Downtown Sarasota Shopping Streets

Downtown Sarasota FL offers several shopping streets, each one with its own character. 

There's a lot to discover at Whole Foods Market Centre on First Street, which is a mixed-use complex with stores and restaurants on the ground floor and condominium apartments above. Looking east from Selby Public Library, you can stop into each shop along the way to see what's new and interesting. 

At the end of the block is Whole Foods Market, with convenient parking on ground level across from the entrance. You can select tasty items from the hot, cold, and soup bars inside and enjoy eating and people-watching from the cafe tables located out front. 

Main Street is a multi-block Sarasota shopping district that runs from the Sarasota Bayfront Park to the west, to Rte 301 (Washington Blvd) to the east.

The blocks in the immediate downtown area are lined on both sides with local shops and international restaurants. In recent years, some high-end mall stores--such as Brooks Brothers, Sur L'Table, Reasons Shoes, and Eileen Fisher-- have been integrated into downtown Sarasota's existing eclectic mix.

Sarasota is an outdoor cafe town, from the ever-popular Mattison's City Grille at the corner of Main and Lemon, to Pastry Arts diagonally across Main, to Epicure at the corner of Main Street and Palm Avenue.

Lemon Avenue and State Street are the site of the weekly Sarasota Farmers Market on Saturdays from 7AM to 1PM, year-round. 37 years old, this popular market is chock-full of fresh local produce from 70 vendors, including a lot of organics, flowers, crafts, prepared foods, baked goods, etc. 

State Street has retail shops, including the State of the Arts gallery, and a new parking garage with car showroom on the ground floor.

During Season, to add variety to your Sarasota shopping, there are numerous arts and crafts shows on Main Street, as well as street fairs and festivals.

Palm Avenue, which runs perpendicular to Main Street, is the center of the gallery scene in Sarasota FL, with a regular First Friday evening art walk that takes place during Season.