Welcome to Siesta Key
A quick drive from downtown Sarasota is Siesta Key, a barrier island famous for its white, powdery soft, quartz sand beach, crystal-clear waters, and year-round sunshine. Home to the country's best beach, Siesta Key Beach, this tropical destination is all about relaxation. From beachfront bungalows to luxurious, gated communities featuring lush landscaping, beachfront properties, and exclusive amenities, Siesta Key has something for everyone. Heavily influenced by the Sarasota School of Architecture movement, Siesta Key's architectural diversity makes this suburban retreat stand out among its neighboring islands. Ultramodern estates, historic beach homes, and single-family properties with open floor plans and spacious porches perfect for taking in the outdoors can be found hugging the island coastline and nestled along well-maintained streets in quiet neighborhoods..
What to Love
- Home to the #1 beach in the nation
- Famous “Siesta Key Village” offering retail shops, restaurants, live music and bars
- Variety of ways to explore the island including a free trolley
- Outdoor recreation availability like parasailing and mangrove kayaking
Local Lifestyle
Siesta Key residents and guests appreciate the laid-back, vacation lifestyle their community is known for. Salt air, gulf breezes, and white sand beaches are lifelong staples in this Sarasota suburb, transforming this glittering barrier island into a tropical oasis. Locals can be found soaking in the Florida sun, floating in the turquoise waters at world-renowned Siesta Key Beach, eating locally-caught seafood or taking advantage of the many waterways by boat, jet-skis, kayaks, paddle boards or private yachts.
Dining, Shopping & Entertainment
Siesta Key Oyster Bar, informally known as SKOB by locals, is everything you could want in a restaurant: a laid-back, beachy atmosphere moments away from the most beautiful beach in the world, signature cocktails to chase away the Florida heat, and an expansive menu chocked full of both delicious seafood and land cuisine. Grab an order of garlic parmesan oysters or chipotle lobster tacos and enjoy live music from local and national bands at this longtime favorite in Siesta Key Village. Experience a full-service tiki bar and theme thatched roof at
Giligans Island Bar. Classic bites like tacos, burgers, shrimp and bottomless nachos are found at this local gem where guests can enjoy a beach patio with a fire pit, live music every weekend, and handcrafted cocktails served out of a custom tiki mug. Then there's Summer House with the traditional ambiance of a steakhouse coupled with a seafood flair for an elegant evening out. Sustainable steaks can be found alongside marine bites like grouper, Scottish salmon, and Maine lobster tails to create an unforgettable dining experience that will have guests coming back time and time again.
Things to Do
What better way to enjoy Siesta Key than to experience all of the wonders its beaches and coastline have to offer? Boating, kayaking, and jet-skiing are great ways to get out on the water, but if you're looking for a thrill with a view, booking a parasailing experience is a perfect option. Siesta Key is home to a wide range of festivals and events, including the Siesta Beach Seafood & Music Festival and world renowned Crystal Classic Sand Sculpting Festival. Take part in one of the community's deepest traditions with a twice-daily flag ceremony at Patriot's Pier. Every Sunday at dusk, locals and tourists alike flock to the Siesta Key Drum Circle, a community-wide event full of live music, dancing, and stunning sunsets right on the beach.
Schools
The community of Siesta Key is served by Sarasota County Public Schools, rated as the second-best school district in Florida by Niche. Nearby institutions of note include:
- The Out-of-Door Academy, a private college preparatory school serving grades pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in two nearby locations, is home to an ultramodern STEM Center and holds a 100% four-year college acceptance rate for graduates
- Philippi Shores Elementary, a public primary school serving grades kindergarten through fifth, is a distinguished Five Star School for its active community involvement and consistently earns an “A” ranking in Florida’s A+ For Education program
