Dyllan Furness

If you’ve ever visited Sarasota, you’d be forgiven for thinking the best restaurants in this city only serve seafood. After all, every establishment seems to offer a catch of the day and most streets are populated by at least one beach-themed restaurant blaring Jimmy Buffett through outdoor speakers. But, of course, you’d also be wrong. Sure, Sarasota locals and snow birds love their fresh fish, but the city’s best meals are served by chefs who look seaward and inland, sourcing their ingredients locally from nets as well as nearby farms. When in Sarasota, add these top restaurants to your list of things to do. 

Looking for the best things to do in Sarasota? Perhaps you’ve heard that this city of 50,000 people is a tad sleepy, but that couldn’t be more wrong. Though it’s laidback like many west coast Florida cities, Sarasota has a slew of cultural attractions, including world-class museums, local theater shows and sunset drum circles. An internationally acclaimed aquarium lies just across the bay from downtown and one of the most beautiful beaches in America runs along the city’s southwestern coast. For the foodies among us, the restaurant and bar scene is a refreshing mix of upscale and casual—with no shortage of fresh Florida seafood. No wonder people like Stephen King and Jerry Springer choose to winter in Sarasota (seriously). Here are some of the best things to do in the area. Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.

Let’s face it: No matter how many Painting with a Twist parties you attend, your chances of becoming the next Salvador Dalí or Pablo Picasso are slim. But for those who can at least stay within the lines, and who demonstrate a real artistic inclination before the wine kicks in, ArtCenter/South Florida offers opportunities to further foster your skills. Since 1984, the multipurpose Miami Beach space has acted as a cultural hub and learning center focusing on contemporary art. In the ’90s, ArtCenter strengthened its community ties by introducing its now-signature community classes to engage local aspiring artists. “If you are making art, you’re one step closer to understanding the artistic process,” says Natalia Zuluaga, ArtCenter’s artistic director. “It goes right in line with our idea of understanding contemporary art.” And so ArtCenter’s curriculum, which comprises more than 20 different classes, was designed not only to educate but also to bring awareness to the art world as a whole. Students choose from structured six-week workshops or drop-in classes, with an average of 10 to 12 participants, on topics like painting and photography. Both multiweek and short-term courses are led by professional artists, some in residency at ArtCenter, and often feature options in both English and Spanish. But the longer sessions allow for more personal attention from instructors, says Zuluaga: “You really get to see people’s skills develop over time.” At an affordable $12, the figure-draw