Culture, Art & Great Food at Sarasota’s Museums and Attractions

From fancier dishes to casual bites and alfresco eats, Sarasota’s food scene has a table for every mood and occasion. If you’re looking for a side of art and culture with your meal, look no further than these eateries that share space with some of Sarasota’s most notable galleries, gardens and more. Discover the unique museum bistros and quirky themed cafes you can enjoy at local attractions on Florida's Cultural Coast®.

The Ringling

Known for its Old World art exhibitions, circus museums and Ca’ d’Zan, the opulent home and grounds of John and Mable Ringling, The Ringling also offers an array of food choices for your day-time exploration. Want some coffee and maybe a sandwich? Mable’s Coffee & Tea, located in the John M. McKay Visitors Pavilion and above the gift shop, is your place. In fact, you can get to Mable’s through its entrance in in the gift shop. That gives you the chance to check out the gift shop’s eclectic offerings. 

If you’re wandering around The Ringling and its various attractions, you may find that The Wandering Chef Food Truck is a quick and convenient option. It offers casual and kid-friendly fare like hamburgers, sandwiches and street tacos that you can enjoy at several nearby picnic tables.

When you really want to take a break and snag some A/C, The Ringling Grillroom in the Visitors Pavilion is the place to go. This indoor/outdoor restaurant is casual but classy, focusing on modern American fare. Dig into substantial New York strip steaks, as well as lighter dishes like seasonal vegetable pastas and Caesar salads for lunch or dinner.

Sarasota Art Museum

Housed in the former 1920's-built Sarasota High School building, the Sarasota Art Museum (SAM) is operated by the nearby Ringling College of Art and Design and features rotating contemporary exhibitions from global artists. Whether you want to admire thought-provoking installations or shop artful pieces in the gallery boutique, you can find them both at SAM.  

Lunch entrees, courtesy of Bistro at Sarasota Art Museum

When you’re done checking out the exhibitions, make your way over to Bistro, where you’ll find retro interiors mixed with forward-thinking menu items. Executive Chef Peyton Leffingwell aims for food inspired by Florida’s local produce, healthy proteins and artisanal specialty items, according to Bistro's website. Menu highlights include the Avocado Tartine, Pimento BLT and Southwest Cobb Salad. You can sit inside the cheerful, bright cafe or take in the view from the outside, which sometime features live music.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

The always beautiful Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in downtown Sarasota features lush plant installations and an unbeatable view of Sarasota Bay. It bills itself as The Living Museum for good reason. As you walk around and take it all in, make sure to stop by the Selby House Café for lunch, beverage or snack. It’s located in the historic Selby House. Enjoy espresso drinks, salads, soups and sandwiches inside, or take your food and drink outside for views of the Children’s Rainforest Garden and century-old banyan trees.  

Rooftop rosemary and calendula blossoms, courtesy of The Green Orchid

At the entrance of Selby Gardens, you'll find The Green Orchid, the world's first net-positive energy restaurant. This stylish spot keeps its high-end menu ultra-local, serving sustainably-sourced entrees and seasonal produce from the restaurant's own rooftop garden. An innovative cocktail menu and a curated list of organic wines round out the offerings. Both of Selby Gardens' eateries are operated by the locally famous Michael’s on East Restaurant.

Café Barbosso

Café Barbosso is actually a bonus listing, as it’s not a museum, but it is an attraction in its own unique way. That’s because this restaurant features live painting artists nearly every night, along with fabulous Italian food and a chef's table experience. It hosts live music Thursday–Saturday and gets busy enough that you’ll want to make reservations. 

While enjoying dishes like Spaghettini ‘n Meatballs or The Ultimate 10-Layer Eggplant—all cooked by Chef Joe DiMaggio Jr. (yes, he’s related to the baseball legend)—you can watch artists create on canvas right in front of you. Or, take in the hundreds of hanging artwork adorning every square-inch of wall in the restaurant, from portraits of Frank Sinatra and Audrey Hepburn to more funky, abstract styles.