40 Best Cocktail Bars near Longboat Key

“We recently visited Lazy Lobster in Longboat Key, Florida, with a group of friends. It was my first time there, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Unfortunately, the staff didn't seem as friendly as I've experienced in other places. Additionally, our food took quite a while to be ready. However, despite these initial setbacks, the food was truly outstanding, and the drinks were equally impressive. The unexpected quality of the food definitely made up for any shortcomings in service. I was pleasantly surprised by the delicious flavors, especially considering the restaurant's unassuming appearance. I was also pleased to find that they offer gluten-free options, which is always a plus. Compared to other restaurants in Longboat Key, Lazy Lobster is reasonably priced. Overall, I would recommend giving it a try, especially if you're a seafood lover looking for a tasty meal at a decent price.Dietary restrictions: “They offer gluten-free option just ask the server”.“

“I went to Circo for food and drinks with my friend's and had a great experience. Our bartender Nik was amazing and made me a jalapeño mango margarita and it was the BEST margarita I’ve ever had! I highly recommend anyone to come here if they’re looking for good drinks, food and amazing service.“

“We tried Tripletail for the first time and it did not disappoint. Our stunning server, Lily, was very attentive and knowledgeable. My husband tried a smoked bourbon and said it was very good, I had a tasty white sangria. We shared the shrimp and crab dip app. Our entrees were delicious. We had the tripletail, and we highly recommend this. I had the crab stuffed shrimp and they were equally as good. We highly recommend visiting Tripletail Seafood in Sarasota.“

“Absolutely hands down one of the best meals I’ve had all year. Highly recommend the gnocchi, the raw scallop appetizer, and the tartine appetizer. And for the rest of my life, if someone asked me what I’d want for my last meal, I’d say “give me the gnocchi at Meliora”. I cannot emphasize how much it stood out despite everything else being so good already. On my first bite, I had to close my eyes and stop chewing so that I could comprehend how amazing it tasted and how light the texture was. Throw everything you’ve ever described as “pillowy” in the trash because this gnocchi should be the only thing in the dictionary under that word. While the drinks are pricey and the meal overall was higher than average for a night out, it is 100% worth it. We were swept off our feet.“

“Perfect addition to the Sarasota restaurant scene!We made it for dinner on a Friday night along with another couple. Parked nearby at the State Street Garage. We were warmly greeted when we arrived. The restaurant has two floors with the second floor overlooking the ground floor dining room and large rectangular bar. The entire first floor is floor to ceiling glass with a great view of Lemon street activities. Nice vibe and it's not overly loud inside.Our Initial seating upstairs was not to our liking (a little closed in) and we were able to move to a table on the sidewalk out-front (which made for great people watching). Although it's on the street the traffic is light and slow and there's pedestrians coming and going. It was also a beautiful evening out.This is a Tapas restaurant and the menu features many different to pick from along with shareable Paella dishes. To start we ordered 4 tapas to share (Pan Con Tomate, Pollo Ajillo, Croquetas, Alcahofas Fritas) and the Mariscos Paella (which takes about 45 minutes). We also ordered a pitcher of the Sangria Rusbusto which has additional 12 yr brandy to add depth to the flavor. Good portion and great flavor for 3 of us that were drinking.The tapas were delivered to the table in sequential fashion which was nice as it gave a chance to try each one with out rushing. The portions were sometimes 3, 4 or 5 pieces so with 4 of we split what what was already portioned out. Regardless, the flavors were all amazing and the portions good for a Tapa. After the initial Tapas and while waiting for the paella we also ordered the Spanish Grilled cheese. It was by far my favorite with the bread crunchy and the melted Manchego cheese and spicy aioli giving it a burst of flavor with a kick. I'd come for happy hour and just get the Grilled Cheese in the future.About this time the hot pan of paella showed up. Nice presentation with the prawns on the top and good depth of flavor on the rice portion of the dish intermixed with seafood. I've eaten plenty of paella and this one was tight up there.For desert we opted to split the Flan. It's made differently from flan I've had in the past. A lot lighter and creamy with a good flavor.About the time we were finishing up the Manager (Ashley) came by to query about our meal. After small talk and her raving about the cheesecake she comp'd us one. It was excellent.Throughout the meal Carolina, our waitress, did a great job. She was very knowledgeable on the menu and answered all our questions. She never rushed us and was attentive but not overly.We had heard a lot about Beso before coming and it exceeded our expectations. The ambiance, service and food were excellent. Kudos to the staff for making our meal with our friends memorable. Not sure who's cooking there but the Head Chef and kitchen staff should be commended for the quality, presentation and taste of everything we had.We'll be back!“

“This was such a wonderful meal! My wife & I traveled all the way down from Tampa because we are lacking sit-down, plant-based restaurants in our area. Ka Papa did not disappoint! Everything was delicious, and the service was excellent as well. Highly recommend, even if you aren’t plant-based!“

“We have had the most wonderful experiences at Veronica’s. The food is always delectable, and the service always impeccable. The interior has a gorgeous, art-nouveau/Victorian inspired design, which is a pretty cool place on its own merit to eat delicious seafood in. But the food supersedes even the design—we particularly are fans of the little eyedroppers of special sauce for the oysters (better for microdosing the flavor with, my dear)! Finally, a note about the service—we have been lucky enough to have the wonderful Rebecca as our server multiple times. She remembers our family each year and provides the kindest, most impeccable service…outdoing herself each time. She is the highlight of every visit and we can’t wait to be back next time!“

“We were down from Clearwater for the day and did a Google search and thought this would be a nice place to try and Man was that a good decision! The food was absolutely wonderful, very healthy choices available, and the portions were excellent! If you’re in the area, you definitely need to try this place!“

“I took my nephew on a date to this incredible restaurant. We loved the atmosphere and all the lights. The food was the best I’ve had in Sarasota so far. The beef carpaccio was for sure the best I’ve ever had. I have been coming to the area for the last 22 years and I will definitely be back to this incredible restaurant.“

“Sinbad was amazing! He made our time at the tiki bar so much fun. The Jell-O shots were so tasty (and strong) and he made very good suggestions about what drink to order. He’s so friendly and sitting at his bar was a such a good time. He is a siesta key staple! Go visit him!“

“My family and I ate at Rose and Ivy for the first time last night and we will 100% be going back! We have been coming to Sarasota for many years and this is now going to be one of our favorite restaurants. We were eating at Clasico (another favorite of ours) the other night when we met the owner and he informed us he recently opened another restaurant around the corner that we should try out, so the next night we took him up on his advice and we’re glad we did! The atmosphere was incredible as was the food and service. We indulged in some appetizers, sushi, and our filet was amazing! If you’re looking for a unique menu this place is a must try as there’s something on the menu that’ll interest anybody. The patio area is beautiful!“

“A nice little cafe with patio seating in downtown Sarasota. The ambiance is very nice with the restaurant's indoor and outdoor seating - you can people watch during the farmers market. Food quality is superb here. The breakfast bowl was delicious in every way. Service was efficient but not the absolute best. Prices are a little bit inflated for the offerings, but typical Sarasota fare nowadays.“

“If I could I would give it 10 stars. We are visiting for the week but I am from Peru and was so excited to find this gem. If we were local we would absolutely be regulars. Wonderful service and the food was an experience out of the world. It’s been a few years since I have been to Lima and that ceviche took me right back. Beautiful! Delicious!!“

“Fantastic atmosphere. Drinks were great. Lucky to snag an awesome shirt and some sweet swag to remember our evening here. Captain Coree made us amazing drinks and set a fun, laid back atmosphere. If we were locals, we'd make this our everyday bar. Will absolutely be back.“

“If I could I would give it 10 stars. We are visiting for the week but I am from Peru and was so excited to find this gem. If we were local we would absolutely be regulars. Wonderful service and the food was an experience out of the world. It’s been a few years since I have been to Lima and that ceviche took me right back. Beautiful! Delicious!!“

“This is a great little hidden-away speakeasy!! The staff are all very friendly, and were super helpful explaining the menu items. They have very creative cocktails, all fantastic. We ordered the French fries, which were served in a generous portion, and were crisp and thin. They were served with a garlicky aioli of some kind, along with ketchup. Fantastic atmosphere, great staff, and amazing food and drinks! I would definitely recommend for a date spot, dinner with a friend, or anyone wanting a nice cozy place to talk and have a few drinks.“

“Visited on a mid April Saturday night. They don’t take reservations, so you go first come first serve. We waited an hour and a half for a table. The bar is cramped and it was filled with people eating their meals at the bar since they didn’t want to wait for a table. The bartenders work slow. It took us 20 minutes to get a drink, then had to leave the cramped bar.The food was great. The presentation was very nice. Our server must have been having a bad night. She wasn’t very personable or friendly. Sort of a Joe Friday type of personality. Just the facts ma’am.Next time, we will put our name in and go for a walk across the street to take in the view of the bay. It’s really nice.Overall the food will bring us back. We will come back in the off season when maybe it’s not so packed.“

“everything is wonderful ! we had lunch there, ordered the Brussel sprouts(a must) the bao bao buns and the chicken Tikka also a goat cheese pie for dessert. every single thing was perfect ! our server Ethan was great, very attentive and knowledgeable about every item. ! will definitely go back !“

“This was my first time here. Words can’t describe how amazing the Pulled Pork sandwich was. I ordered it with the Pimento Mac and Cheese, which was also out of this world!! I sat at the bar and Stephen was bartending and took great care of me. The service by was top notch. My glass was always full and he was super friendly. I can’t recommend this place enough and I would give them more than 5 stars if I could!!! Keep up the great work!! :-)“

“Must have been an off night. We heard the bacon wrapped scallops were good and fresh. We ordered them and unfortunately they were small and dry. Everyone else at the table tried different burgers. They were good and the portions were very generous.“

“We came to this location for the first time! When walking in it seemed very unorganized, but once we were seated we were hopeful. We sat in RJ’s section- what a friendly super welcoming waiter. He made us feel very welcome even made us laugh a few times. He continued to check on us and was exceptional at his job. We will definitely be back and ask for his section next time. We ordered the chef special boil with medium heat, omg everything was so delish. Muah“

“This is true dining. The food is always exquisite with decident flavors. Some of the best food we have ever had. The salmon I had tonight was cooked perfectly, which included carrots & turnips. Absolutely delicious. I’ve also had the pork chop, my friend enjoyed the filet mignon, my husband had shrimp linguini …all delicious. Even the desserts are great. Try the crème brûlée. The service is top knotch. Our waiter, Michael, was excellent. He k ew the menu as though he created it himself. He offered suggestions, was attentive & personable. He even brought a small cake for my friend’s birthday. There are many other servers who take care of your needs. It is the best service ever. I say this without hesitation: it is the best food & service around town& well worth the visit here. You won’t be sorry.“

“Beautiful decor and ambiance embrace you at Sage restaurant. I was eyeing this place for months. Would it stand up to my expectations?Started out the evening on the rooftop bar with a fireplace. The bar was casual, mostly covered, and nice.Surrounded by family, lifelong friends, and new acquaintances, we celebrated my 50th birthday!When we walked into the restaurant, the "air" filled with beautiful music from a solo violinist. He played soulful modern tunes, which encapsulated the memories.The Thai Bouillabaisse and Porter house steak were a MUST! The porter house steak was HUGE. More than enough to feed two. My only wish was a side of risotto, less butter, and more vegetables. Otherwise, the steak was cooked to pure perfection.Honorable mentions were Seared Halibet with Wasabi Plumb Sauce and Yakisiba Noodles with grilled chicken.Thank you to the Sage restaurant for cooking up a wonderful 50th birthday ?“

“Can't say much except for the drinks as we did the walk up bar. The Miami vice was great. Our friends ate lunch there and we asked them to bring us something if it was good. They said the food was mediocre and the service was incredibly slow.“

“Best sushi I've had in a while. Service was great and catered to our pace. Started with the lobster and crab rangoons. HOLY MOLY. If that is up your alley, please order. After talking with our server, he mentioned that it is one of their employees' only jobs, and I can definitely tell it is made with love. Best rangoons I've had. As far as sushi goes... mango definitely goes on sushi! Also appreciated the presentation with the orchid on top. I enjoyed this meal so much, left feeling full and happy!!“

“Music was great, people in attendance are all about having fun and letting loose... All while being non pretentious, yet stylish...Katie was a great server...Too bad her fellow bartender tarnished Katie's effort after she stepped put of the bar. That's the only reason for not giving this place a 5 stars review...“

“Great dive bar attached to a liquor store. Great drink prices! FYI you can smoke inside the bar, it felt like 1985! My daughter (21) had never been to a bar where people were able to smoke! Lol! They have a pool table which is a $1 to play! We had some cheap entertainment last night. The crowd is laid back and many were hanging out playing cards. I would definitely go back!“

“BEST RIBEYE in town. The seafood is fresh from the local fish house!!! The staff was outstanding and the manager Jason was extremely helpful with my wife’s complicated order! Modern Chop is our favorite restaurant in Bradenton.Dietary restrictions: My wife has a very sensitive stomach and they were able to cook everything she ordered without oil, butter, or seasoning! Not many restaurants will do this in Bradenton.“

“My girlfriends and I had a wonderful dinner at Made. The service was great and the food was so good. We started with the cornbread appetizer. The cornbread was light and fluffy with a great flavor. Our meals varied from the taco salad to the ribeye special of the day. Everything was delicious. We will definitely be going back.“

“So I’ve been coming past this place for a while and we’ve been wanting to try. First of all, I have to admit when we entered, the hostess was “not the hostess with the mostest” and I decided to not name her by name. In fact, she honestly was a bit arrogant. Maybe they felt because I had a hat on shorts that I did not fit a certain profile and she was frankly just arrogantly rude. While I called it out to her directly and I think she did recognize her rudeness, outside of that the food was absolutely spectacular.We highly recommend the chicken, Parmesan, the meat, lovers, pizza, and the tortellini. All of them were absolutely amazing. Great flavors, not heavy, and the side salad is a perfect salad to share for three or more people if it’s a large. The pasta was hot and perfectly al dente along with the pizza.I would give it five stars had we just not been rudely approached by the hostess this would be 5 star. I will adjust my review in the future if we experience anything different but you just can’t be the representation of a great restaurant for one of the best experiences you will have in downtown Sarasota for the money and quality. Thanks to Kendall going above and beyond as our server she saved the review and the total experience. Well done Kendall for recognizing and adapting. Pleasure engaging with you.Look forward to an updated review.“

“One of the best restaurants in Sarasota. We eat at many places but this one is truly at the top of our list. The food is excellent, the service is superb & the atmosphere is exceptional. We were there to celebrate my friend’s anniversary & the restaurant truly helped us make it a surprise. Edwardo was the most attentive server. He was excellent & we observed all servers doing such a great job.FOOD: Try the Brussels sprouts for appetizers. It fed 5-6 of us & had a great flavor. Dinner: I highly recommend the yellow fin tuna steak. Oh my gosh, the flavors that are married into this main course dish were delicious. They blended so well into the tuna steak (which was cooked perfectly & not overdone) melted in my mouth. Others at our table ordered the filet mignon which they said was excellent. My husband had the open-faced shrimp on pita bread which gave plenty of shrimp, perfectly cooked & the dressings were a delight. Even the coffee after dinner was great.SERVICE: These servers were so attentive, & as noted, Edwardo was excellent. He is bilingual, speaking Spanish & English. He anticipated all our needs, from drinks to food, to checking that we were happy with the way our food was right after it was served. He handled many tables without leaving us to ask for anything. How do they do all of that? A perfectly organized kitchen, chef, management & all that put this restaurant at the top.ATMOSPHERE: Seating includes inside & outside, both of which packed quickly but no one was left standing to wait. It is decorated perfectly, making great use of space, was clean as a whistle (even the bathrooms), & outside area.Overall, we love coming g here & will continue to do so. A great place to eat, shower your guests with the great flavors of Sarasota & terrific dining.Edwardo: Gracias!“

“This place has a very unique selection of cocktails. I was with a group of 4, and we each ordered something different. We tasted each cocktail that was ordered, and they were each 10/10. Not the cheapest place to drink, but you definitely get your money's worth. Bartending staff were a lot of fun, and the presentation of each cocktail was outstanding.“

“My wife and I were going to a show at Van Wezel and this was the closest restaurant we could find so I made a reservation on OpenTable because they would not answer the phone at the restaurant. We had 730 tickets we went there at 10 to 6 and ordered two salads, which were very good very tasty. The waitress was terrific. The salads took 60 minutes to be made, we barely made the show. Otherwise I would be giving them five stars. The service was terrible slow just salads and they couldn't get them out to us.“

“It is an absolute classic!The oldest restaurant in Florida and what a treat it is. Great selection of dishes. Always fresh and delicious and the service is superb.I do recommend for everyone to try it.I love both locations the Yvor city and the St. Armand’s circle.“

“Best nightlife in Siesta Key Village in my opinion! Wife and I ended our night here every night we were there. Martinis were great, maybe the best Dirty Martini I've ever had. Those bleu cheese olives are ?. She enjoyed trying the Peanut butter and chocolate martinis, they were awesome too.Live bands were great, we even got pulled out there on the dance floor by some good people.Our favorite part was the staff though! Sam and Corey were extremely quick and a blast to talk to. I can't remember all their names unfortunately for...various reasons, but everyone there was great.Oh and they're affiliated with the 3.14 Pi Pizza next door as well. We grabbed one to soak up some alcohol on the way back to the hotel, was excellent.Definitely make a pit stop here for a drink or 3.“

“10 stars! My Fraternity hosted a 90th Birthday party attended by twenty-five brothers at the Lounge. The service was impeccable; the food was hot and perfect; the staff went above and beyond to ensure that everything went on without a hitch. I would give them "10" stars, if I could.“

“"Jack Dusty's at the Ritz Carlton in Miami exceeded all expectations. From the moment we stepped onto the outdoor patio overlooking the picturesque waterway, we were enveloped in an ambiance of luxury and tranquility. The gentle breeze, the soft glow of string lights, and the soothing sounds of the water created an unforgettable dining experience.Now, let's talk about the food. The fish tacos were simply divine – perfectly crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside. Each bite was a burst of freshness, with the fish perfectly complemented by vibrant salsa and crisp veggies. And the cocktails? Sublime. Expertly crafted and beautifully presented, they were the perfect accompaniment to our meal.But what truly sets Jack Dusty's apart is the impeccable service. Every staff member we encountered was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, ensuring that every aspect of our dining experience was flawless.Whether you're looking for a romantic evening or a memorable meal with friends, Jack Dusty's at the Ritz Carlton in Miami is the ultimate destination. Trust me, you won't be disappointed."“

“My sister and I had the pleasure of having Dawn as our server. She was exceptional in every way ! The food and atmosphere were amazing too ! Everything about our experience at Beach House exceeded our exception. I highly recommended The Beach House!“

“Excellent blood orange margarita to start. Started with Asparagus Fries and Fried Brussel Sprouts (both good but quite filling). Then Bungalow Salad and Macadamia Nut Crusted Fresh Fish mains. The fish was nice but again quite filling (simple fried or grilled fish would've been a lighter option, but I don't think that was on the menu). Attentive service. Great location (close to Lido Beach).“

“The crowd is awesome. The bartenders are definitely on their game.Management is world class. Everyone treats you like they've known you forever. The bingo is extremely fun, not to mention the payouts are great. Drinks are definitely worth the price. Beautiful view as well.Parking: They have parking and a very good attendant.“