Lido Key
Lido Key
A pristine white beach unmatched in its beauty; bucolic kayaking and deep sea fishing on crystalline waters; dolphin and manatee watching; an eco-friendly lifestyle that marries quiet to an energetic, intellectual and artistic community; easy access to two of the top farmers’ markets on the Gulf of Mexico (including the critically acclaimed Sarasota Farmers’ Market) and proximity to more than 25 local farms and growers producing everything from honey to grass-fed beef; unparalleled shopping and gourmet dining; magnificently varied real estate running the gamut from architect-designed LEED masterpieces to sweet, simple cottages.
If you think this sounds vaguely like Fantasy Island, you’re actually very close: Lido Key, right off the coast of Sarasota, has something for everyone drawn to the Edible lifestyle. Laid-back but sophisticated and dramatically beautiful, Lido Key appeals to residents of all ages who adore its sunny, warm climate, laid-back Gulf Coast attitude and balmy breezes. This jaw-droppingly beautiful barrier island draws residents who are passionate about their home.
Why we like it
Lido Key, which encompasses the upscale shopping/dining destination of St. Armands Circle, provides the best of both worlds for fans of the Edible lifestyle: tranquil, beautiful, and devoted to maintaining its stunning natural environment, the gorgeous barrier island offers easy access off the Ringling Causeway to your choice of Sarasota’s top farmers’ markets, nearby CSAs and wineries, the Suncoast’s famed Forks & Corks food festival, the Suncoast Food & Wine Festival, and more than 25 local farmers and growers, offering residents countless possibilities for enjoying the glorious, abundant bounty of the area. Here, residents and visitors from nearby communities can celebrate the beauty of the Gulf over platters of the region’s freshest fish; shoppers can window shop amidst some of the hippest boutiques in the area; swimmers, surfers, sport fisherman, and sailors can spend hours on and in the brilliant blue water; and if it’s beach you want, Lido Key offers one of the region’s most pristine.
The charm factor
Lido Key, with its innate Southern tropical charm, its varied real estate ideal for every budget, and its easy access to more bustling Sarasota, offers the perfect blend and balance. Hugging one of the top beaches in the world, this scenic paradise begs you to stay put and spend the day dining on St. Armands Circle, or pop over the causeway for visits to top-notch farmers’ markets, organic farms, museums, and hugely popular restaurants
The edible life
Easy access to the critically acclaimed Edible lifestyle hub that is the Sarasota Farmers’ Market, Lido Key provides a solid connection to the heart and soul of the Edible lifestyle in this blissful Sarasota community. Here, visitors will find everything from the freshest seafood imaginable to brilliantly hued produce stands selling the region’s most magnificent local, seasonal fruits and vegetables, plants and flowers, olive oils, fresh pasta, local grass-fed beef, and much more. Merely steps away from the sugary shores of Lido Beach lies The Met day spa, posh restaurants, martini bars, gelato parlors, and cafés. When the sun dips into the Gulf, beachgoers slip on casual attire and head to the Circle’s hotspots for cocktails, fish tacos, and elevated tropical cuisine, as acoustic island melodies fill the atmosphere. It is a pedestrian-friendly landscape with locales like the Columbia Restaurant, Tommy Bahama, the Daiquiri Deck Raw Bar, and Shore Diner, as well as culinary boutiques such as the Spice & Tea Exchange, which has enough sugars, salts, and freshly cracked peppers for both the professional and the amateur chef.
