Sarasota Gay Beach
We've compiled our exhaustive travel guide to Sarasota, showcasing the premier gay bars, happenings, activities, gay-welcoming hotels for your stay, and other attractions.
To truly understand Sarasota is to wholeheartedly appreciate it!
This is home to the notable Siesta Key Rum, the famed Siesta Key beach, the magnificent Ringling Circus Museum, and a plethora more! Sarasota is a location that many gay visitors to Florida might tend to bypass.
To be candid, we knew very little about Sarasota prior to our visit. However, it transformed into the trip's unexpected highlight, a place we'd enthusiastically revisit. Beyond being a cultural hub in Florida with such a wealth of activities, Sarasota also possesses a small, lively gay scene worth exploring, with yearly events such as the “Harvey Milk Festival” and “Sarasota Pride”.
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Sarasota's Gay District
The gay social landscape in Sarasota is rather compact, featuring only a limited number of gay-friendly establishments dispersed throughout the city. Subsequently, there's no formally recognized gay neighborhood in Sarasota.
The primary area to consider as your base is the picturesque Bayfront Park. It's conveniently close to the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, as well as several queer-friendly bars such as the Pangea Alchemy Lab and the rooftop bar at the Westin hotel.
Purple Rhino is the leading gay bar in Sarasota, situated about a ten-minute taxi trip south of Bayfront Park. Further south is the celebrated Siesta Key beach.
The other notable LGBTQ+ landmark you'll want to note is North Lido, which is the designated gay beach of Sarasota. It's situated approximately 3 miles (4.8km) west of Bayfront Park – roughly a 10-minute taxi ride.
Must-Do in Sarasota: Dolphin Spotting at Sunset!
The sunsets in Sarasota are absolutely breathtaking! It ranks as some of the finest we've ever seen during our travels. A genuinely unique and romantic method to enjoy them is by taking a Sarasota dolphin sunset cruise. The Salty Dolphin boat transports you to Anna Maria Island at sunset, sailing through the grass flats, providing views of manatees grazing and dolphins at play.
Learn more
Gay-Accommodating Hotels in Sarasota
While Sarasota doesn't feature hotels exclusively for men, such as the gay resorts available in Fort Lauderdale or Key West, there are, nevertheless, a selection of gay-welcoming accommodations. We've highlighted some of the best options below, derived from our personal experiences or recommendations from fellow gay travelers:
01
Zota Beach Resort
Why we love it
- Luxury beachfront resort on Longboat Key
- Possesses its own private beach
- Outdoor heated pool equipped with a hot tub
- Viento Kitchen & Bar serves Caribbean and Mediterranean cuisine
Zota presents as an alluring and lavish resort boasting a slice of private beach on the understated and relaxed Longboat Key.
Zota is a Native American term meaning 'blue waters,' which serves as the resort's defining feature. The interior design evokes a beach ambiance, featuring ample contemporary art, making it feel more akin to an art gallery than a hotel lobby.
The hotel revolves around a U-shaped courtyard pool area, which is overlooked by two six-story buildings housing the rooms.
Surrounding the pool are fire pits, long couches, and cabanas for rental.
There are one hundred and eighty-seven rooms, each with a balcony offering a pool, sea, or bay vista – meaning a zota view is always within sight! For a splurge, we endorse the rooms in the 'South Tower' because they feature noticeably larger balconies.
For fitness-oriented gays (including ourselves!), Zota offers an impressive, round-the-clock fitness centre, providing pool views. In terms of dining, the Cascades pool bar has an appealing cocktail menu and offers small plates, sandwiches, and healthful salads. The principal restaurant within the hotel, the Viento Kitchen and Bar, focuses on local seafood – we savored the piña colada bread and the blackened jumbo shrimp, absolutely divine!
What captivated us most about Zota is its focus on marine conservation, particularly during the sea turtle nesting season on Longboat Key beach, occurring between May and October. Considering its location, Zota is a 25-minute drive north from Bayfront Park. We strongly urge you to have your own vehicle.
02
Turtle Beach Resort
Why we love it
- Waterfront resort located at the tranquil end of Siesta Key
- Stay in a spacious cottage complete with a private courtyard and hot tub
- Communal heated outdoor pool
- Just minutes on foot from Turtle Beach
The Turtle Beach Resort is a waterfront property positioned at the quiet end of Siesta Key, just a short walk to Turtle Beach. It's recognised as gay-friendly, recommended to us by fellow gay travelers and sourced from the Purple Roods LGBTQ website.
In terms of its location, Turtle Beach Resort sits along Montego Bay, which is ideal if you want to be near Siesta Key Beach – around a 10-minute drive south from the world-renowned beach. For Bayfront Park, it's about a 20-minute journey.
Turtle Beach proves ideal for groups of friends journeying together. You can reserve one of the ten spacious cottages, offering a mix of studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom options. Each unit is equipped with a full kitchen, a dining zone, and a private outdoor space complete with a sizable hot tub. No two cottages are alike. They each vary in design, from Victorian to Caribbean and French countryside styles. The Turtle Beach Inn next door serves as the optimal choice for LGBTQ+ travelers because it's the adults-only section of the hotel.
The Turtle Beach Resort features an outdoor heated waterfront pool, which provides a wonderful spot for daytime relaxation. If fortune favors you, you might even spot some dolphins. Guests are welcome to use the resort's bikes, canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, and fishing poles without charge. Pro tip: Publix provides grocery delivery for you (via the app).
STAY WITH A GAY LOCAL
Misterb&b serves as the Airbnb equivalent for the LGBTQ+ community. Unlike Airbnb, you can know your host is gay, thus avoiding any unexpected surprises when you check in. It is also a terrific opportunity to meet local gay residents and discover the concealed gay scene. Click below to avail of €10 / $10 off your initial booking.
Find a gay host now
03
Hyatt Place Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch
Why we love it
- Best medium-budget gay-friendly hotel in Sarasota
- A 24-hour fitness center
- Large outdoor pool featuring a bar and lounge
- Complimentary perks: a buffet breakfast and self-parking
We have a great fondness for the Hyatt Brand. It's recognized for being a staunch ally to the LGBTQ+ community, and it even has its own unique Hyatt HyPride initiative, which we love!
In Sarasota, there are actually three Hyatt hotels - The Hyatt Place Sarasota/Bradenton Airport, located near the airport, the upscale Hyatt Regency Sarasota, and the Hyatt Place Sarasota / Lakewood Ranch.
We like the Lakewood Ranch because it presents a viable medium-budget option, yet still includes amenities that every discerning gay individual needs, like a 24-hour gym, a sizable outdoor pool accompanied by a cocktail bar, and, it's pup-friendly! We were also pleased that they had the latest newspapers available in reception to peruse.
There are one hundred twenty-two rooms spread across five stories. The rooms provide a decent amount of space and come with all the amenities one would expect from a contemporary hotel. It's not as luxurious as Zota Beach Resort, but considering the price, it's a fantastic deal! The beds are king-sized and incredibly comfy. The staff is acknowledged for their outstanding hospitality towards LGBTQ+ travelers and gay couples, though we'd anticipate no less from the esteemed Hyatt brand!
Lakewood Ranch is situated in a 5-story building, conveniently positioned near Interstate 75, close to the University Parkway exit. Nearby, you can find a Publix, several shopping malls, and even a Whole Foods. In terms of drinking and dining establishments, the Lakewood Ranch provides a restaurant, a coffee shop, and a bar/lounge. The only downside is that it requires a solid 15-minute drive to get to Bayfront Park, and it takes longer to reach the beach or gay bars like Purple Rhino.
Gay Bars in Sarasota
The gay scene in Sarasota is so compact that even the gay locals we connected with suggested instead heading to nearby gay St Pete to join the revelry. This isn't surprising, considering that St. Pete is five times larger than Sarasota. Despite this, Sarasota still has a selection of venues worth exploring for a fun gay night out, which we've outlined below.
For specifics about the latest gay happenings in Sarasota, consult the excellent SarasotaOut. It's updated daily and also includes current news about anything gay-related happening in Sarasota.
Please bear in mind that the venue once known as Oasis, among the best gay bars in Sarasota, permanently closed its doors in 2023.
Purple Rhino
Purple Rhino serves as Sarasota's oldest gay bar. It possesses a local, dive-bar ambiance, where everyone is acquainted with each other. From the moment we walked in, people immediately welcomed us and made us feel at ease. Purple Rhino also presents entertaining drag shows. We visited on a Saturday evening and caught a couple of shows, which you can view in our video.
On Sunday evenings, keep an eye out for their gay drag “Bingo Bash” event. Purple Rhino is situated at 2920 Beneva Road. It remains open every evening until 10 pm (midnight on weekends).
Drag Queen Bingo Bonanza at McCurdy's Comedy Theatre
Miss Beneva Fruitville is not only a star in her own right, but she also has her very own iconic Drag Queen Bingo show over at the McCurdy's Comedy Theatre once a month – going strong since 2010. Believe me when I say, you have not lived until Miss Beneva Fruitville has heckled at you after you've cried out “BINGO!”. Miss Fruitville also performs a hilarious show after the Bingo has finished, often joined by some of her stunning friends!
Consult the Events section of her Fb page for specifics about the next one.
Pangea Alchemy Lab
The Pangea Alchemy Lab presents as an intimate and very trendy gay-accommodating speakeasy lounge in downtown Sarasota. It's known for its craft cocktails and an award-winning team of (highly attractive!) mixologist bartenders, who concoct delicious seasonal drinks. Pangea creates the perfect setting for a date night, and also a great place to grab a bite to eat. We recommend their Cajun fries, the exceptional duck spring rolls and their grilled cheese – 'for your inner spoilt brat'(!) – their words, not ours!
Pangea is situated at 1564 Main Street. It remains open every evening until 2 am.
Gay Group Happy Hour Events
On the first Thursday of each month, be on the lookout for the “G2H2 Gay Guy Happy Hour” event designed for gay professionals throughout Sarasota. They converge at upscale lounges and eclectic restaurants located around the city. You can sign up by clicking here to receive notifications about the next event. It's also the ideal event to connect with all the local LGBTQ-welcoming businesses. Each event entails a small entry fee and includes appetizers and competitions.
Explore more information on the G2H2 website.
The Roof Bar and Eats at the Westin Sarasota
The Westin boasts a romantic gay-welcoming rooftop bar located on the 19th floor of the Westin Hotel. It serves as an ideal spot to come for some truly remarkable panoramic views of the city skyline and Sarasota Bay. All of our local associates endorsed this as the 1 rooftop bar in Sarasota, particularly at sunset, of course! In terms of beverages, they present an ever-changing assortment of craft cocktails. You can also obtain food here, such as burgers, wings, fish tacos, and lamb meatballs.
The Roof Bar is located at 100 Marina View Drive and is open daily for lunch and evening drinks.
Gay Beaches in Sarasota
Sarasota certainly isn't lacking beaches! It possesses many miles of white, sandy beaches, including the most well-known: Siesta Key and an official gay beach located at North Lido. Here's our condensed overview:
Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key Beach is conceivably the reason most people recognize Sarasota. Besides being the title of a notorious(!) MTV reality show, it was ranked as the 1 beach in the US by Dr. Beach. One of the justifications is that the sand is powdery white, much like icing sugar. The sand consists of 99% pure Quartz, resulting in a perpetually silky texture. We adored Siesta Key Beach because, as a gay couple, we didn't feel out of place here at all. We found it to be laid-back and tremendously relaxed. Locals didn't appear to show any surprise at seeing two guys enjoying themselves in the water.
North Lido Beach
North Lido serves as Sarasota's official gay beach, also acknowledged as among the best gay beaches in Florida! Unlike Siesta Key beach, North Lido is favored by LGBTQ+ locals. It's more isolated and private, flanked by sand dunes and a significant forest. The gay area is situated at the northern end. To reach it, turn right (heading north) from the lifeguard station and continue walking for around a quarter mile to the dunes nearest Longboat Key and New Pass. Remember: although North Lido Beach is so secluded, it is no longer a nude beach, hence you risk a penalty if you're caught unclothed. Anti-nudity regulations are strictly enforced!
Regardless of which beach you choose to visit in Sarasota, we guarantee that you will experience a remarkable sunset every evening.
Gay Events in Sarasota
Despite its size, a number of gay-centric events take place in Sarasota year-round, encompassing multiple Pride festivals, a film festival, and an exhibition celebrating diversity:
Embracing Our Differences Exhibition (January-March)
This is an international, outdoor juried exhibition at Bayfront Park, employing art to champion diversity. The exhibition showcases forty-five works of art of billboard size, each accompanied by an inspirational quote. Awards are presented for 'Best-in-Show Adult', “Best-in-Show Student” and “People's Choice” categories, with the latter selected by attendees of the exhibit. The exhibition has occurred in Sarasota each year since 2004, during the months of January and March.
Manatee Pride (March)
Manatee is a neighboring county situated north of Sarasota, encompassing Bradenton. Since 2014, Manatee Pride has been held across the Bradenton Riverwalk Pavilion every March. It's a family-friendly event with lots of entertainment and vendors. Local businesses also get involved. For example, the Manatee County's craft brewer, 'Darwin Brewing Co', crafted a 'Manatee Pride' beer in honor of Manatee Pride.
Harvey Milk Festival (May)
This week-long arts festival in Sarasota pays tribute to gay activist and politician Harvey Milk, who served as one of the initial openly gay Americans elected to public office in California during the 1970s. The yearly celebration comprises live music, films, speakers, and performance art. It was inaugurated in 2009 and occurs every May in downtown Sarasota. Discover more in the video below.
Fabulous Independent Film Festival (September)
The FIFF was inaugurated in 2010 and has experienced growth each year. It's managed by the same team behind the Harvey Milk Festival and takes place in several venues in Sarasota, primarily at the Burns Court Cinema. It unfolds near the end of September and highlights the latest LGBTQ+ films, as well as the victor from the Youth Scholarship program.
Sarasota PrideFest (Oct)
This recent addition to the Sarasota gay scene has become a resounding success. Each October since 2014, Sarasota's official pride event has been held over a week with various activities and gatherings, such as LGBTQ+ bowling. The festival culminates on the final Saturday of the week with a significant celebration at the JD Hamel Park.
Where to Eat in Sarasota
Sarasota is home to numerous outstanding restaurants across the city. Below, we've detailed some of our personal favorites that we sampled and relished.
Euphemia Haye Restaurant
Euphemia Haye is another reason to head out to Longboat Key. Inquire with any local, and they'll regard it as one of Sarasota's finest restaurants. It's housed in a wooden cottage, concealed within tropical greenery, with palm trees adorned with twinkling lights. In short, very romantic! The downstairs area is designated for fine dining patrons who can select one of the chef's specialties. The Haye Loft section upstairs is more casual, where the renowned 'Dessert Bar' can be discovered. This was our favorite part – an entire section of freshly made cakes to make your mouth water!
Harry's Continental Kitchen
Harry's is another local favorite, also on Longboat Key. It's been in operation since 1979 and is open all day for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Harry Christensen is the award-winning head Chef, who has also been a fine-dining staple in Sarasota for over 40 years - so you know you're in capable hands here! Specials include local fresh cuisine like crab salad, alongside German pancakes, Key Lime Pie, and banana bread. They even offer more elaborate dishes such as Escargot and lobster risotto.
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill
Dry Dock was our preferred restaurant in Sarasota for freshly caught fish. It is also unique for its location directly on the riverfront on Sarasota Bay. It's secured several Open Table Diner's Choice Awards, including '100 Best Most Scenic Restaurant in America' and '100 Best Al Fresco Restaurant in America'. Culinary appetizer highlights from Dry Dock consist of Grouper Bites, Crispy Calamari, and their oysters. For mains, we suggest sampling their fresh fish, notably the Florida Grouper – delish!
Kilwin's Chocolates
Kilwins is THE ultimate destination in all of Sarasota for desserts and ice cream! The toasted coconut ice cream was my top pick, and Seby adored the peanut butter. The sole drawback is that Kilwins is well-known in the area, so there is always a queue that wraps around the block outside. Nevertheless, that gives you an idea of just how outstanding it is, and the queue moves relatively quickly, absolutely worth the wait!
Top things to do in Sarasota
Siesta Key Beach probably constitutes the primary reason most individuals are familiar with Sarasota, courtesy of that infamous MTV reality show! However, this beach is a top highlight of the city for good reason, as is the Ringling Museum – previously the site of the world's largest circus. We encapsulate these below, along with several of our other favorite Sarasota highlights to inspire your gay vacation:
Siesta Key
Siesta Key showcases a truly stunning beach, and we recognize why so many people rank it as one of the finest in the US. We felt incredibly at ease here as a gay couple, which contributed to our enjoyment of it. The sunset is equally captivating. We advise coming here simply for this, or a more exclusive method of experiencing it is via an Electric Bike Siesta Key Sunset Tour. Another tip is to head here on a Sunday at sunset and watch out for the drum circle that takes place between lifeguard stands 3 and 4.
Ringling Museum
The Ringling presented the most captivating museum in Sarasota. It comprises an extensive complex with a museum devoted to this historically renowned circus. At its peak, the circus was enormous! They would travel across the country by train, setting up a ‘mini-city' to accommodate staff and performers before moving on to the next city. There is a striking miniature replica of the entire circus housed within the museum. We suggest taking a Circus History Tour guided by a historian, who offers comprehensive insights into the circus. Top tip from us: every Monday, entry to the Ringling complex is free!
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
One of the best places for floral backdrop Instagram shots right here! The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens previously served as the home of Marie and William Selby, owners of the Selby Oil company. After their passing, the house was converted into this splendid floral museum. Notable attractions encompass the Ann Goldstein Children’s Rainforest Garden – an elevated rainforest display, the Towering Bamboo Garden, and the Mangrove Bay. Tip from us: it can get remarkably busy here, especially on weekends, so aim to arrive on a weekday and pre-book your Marie Selby Botanical Gardens entry ticket online to bypass the lines.
Dolphin Sunset Tour
The sunsets of Sarasota are magically beautiful! Whether you witness them from Siesta Key Beach or from Bayfront Park, we assure you that you'll be astonished, just as we were. One of the more unique ways we savored the sunset in Sarasota was on a dolphin sunset cruise. We boarded a boat that journeyed into the Gulf of Mexico and spotted dolphins at play, with the sunset as a backdrop. We also got fortunate and caught sight of a few manatees grazing. Highly recommended!
Mangrove kayaking
If you relish activity and adventure on your holiday, we propose trying a kayaking tour through mangrove tunnels. This is a guided eco-tour conducted by kayak, which, if you're a couple, will truly challenge your relationship as you endeavor to paddle in unison… the number of arguments we had over this…! If chance favors you, you might even encounter a few dolphins and manatees. For us, the highlight was kayaking through the distinctive scenery of the mangrove tunnels.
Plan your trip to Sarasota
We've provided some helpful advice and guidance to assist you in organizing your own trip to Sarasota. Continue reading to discover all that the gay traveler should be aware of before their visit.
Travel insurance: Do not leave home without it! Whether it concerns a cancelled flight, a stolen bag, or unforeseen medical expenses, having adequate travel insurance will make certain you are covered. We suggest Heymondo. We have been utilizing them for years and cannot recommend them highly enough. Their coverage is very comprehensive, and making a claim online is very user-friendly.
How to get there: Most will either arrive independently by flight or via a road trip, as we did. If you're flying in, you can prebook your airport pickup online, which we definitely endorse doing to lessen stress.
Getting around: To be candid, a car is essential here. The distances are substantial, and while Sarasota does have public buses, their frequency is not very high.
Accommodation: We use Booking.com as a starting point when organizing our trip as they provide the best offers. They also offer complimentary cancellation for most listings, which is handy when you desire flexibility with your travel planning.
Sightseeing and adventure: For further inspiration on activities to do in Sarasota, check out the tours available on GetYourGuide. They always stimulate fresh ideas, and the booking process is incredibly effortless.
When to visit: Sarasota is a destination you can visit all year round. It's consistently warm and tropical! While June to November constitutes the hurricane season, we arrived in late October, and it was perfectly fine.
Gay map of Sarasota
Here's our gay map of Sarasota illustrating where to discover all the gay bars, clubs, hotels, and sightseeing highlights we've referenced in this post. Utilize it to plan your own remarkable gay vacation to Sarasota!
Read more travel adventures like this in our book!
We've published our very own gay travel book entitled, ‘Out in the World'. It encompasses all our practical safety tips, firsthand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.
We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!