Welcome to St. Armands Key
Beachside resort living on an island metropolis
At the heart of the central Gulf Coast barrier islands, St. Armands Key is a designer shopper's paradise. Surrounded by several of Sarasota's other more metropolitan key islands, St. Armands places luxury lovers right in the middle of some of the most upscale amenities you'll find off the West Florida mainland. There's also no shortage of recreation to partake in, from fun and lively urban gathering spaces to an endless range of beautiful coastal hotspots and even family-friendly marine exhibits.
What to Love
- Exceptional metropolitan class perfectly arranged in a luxury island setting
- Endless outdoor recreation, from beachside fun to exotic nature trails and boating excursions
- Deluxe dining and designer shopping experiences, unlike anywhere else in Florida
Local Lifestyle
In a word, St. Armands Key is deluxe. From its fine dining and boutique shopping to its world-class ocean-side recreation, almost every feature here is absolutely decadent. Being so close to the Sarasota mainland and many other prime island-resort properties, you'll never run out of things to do living in St. Armands Key.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Even those living in the Sarasota mainland and nearby Siesta Key visit St. Armands Circle, and for a good reason — there, you'll find the core of the metropolitan island's (and even the entire region's) most well-regarded luxury shopping options. If something a little more low-key is in order, you'll also find a giant, veritable main-street spiral of other options encircling the central shopping district, with deluxe dining and shopping amenities you won't find anywhere else.
Destination Florida,
Fugate's By The Sea, and
Shore are just several of the most well-regarded clothing boutiques here, and St. Armands Key offers an equally fashionable restaurant scene.
Crab & Fin Restaurant features a relaxed but upscale dining experience with such spotless service you'll think you were on a remote island resort. You might even feel you've gone fully offshore and landed on a whole other continent at
Cafe L'Europe, with a beautifully natural stone-work design and incredibly bright, cheerful interior serving delectable Continental cuisine.
If you just need something casual with your favorite cafe drink, try
Madison Avenue Cafe and Deli. Their fresh-baked goods, breakfast fare, and cafe drinks always hit the spot — and you can also peruse their on-site wine shop. For a more laid-back shopping experience, also be sure to check out
Harding Circle Historic District, featuring incredibly quaint and charming shops, cafes, and shops.
Things to Do
The softest, most sense-enlivening beaches are also just a few short blocks away, most primarily at Lido Key.
Lido Key Beach features prime access to the peaceful Gulf waters, and it even has an on-site swimming pool, concession stand, and a gift shop. For something a little different, nature lovers won't want to miss the
Ted Sperling Park nature trail. Taking you through depthless marshland mystique, you'll see the western Florida keys in a whole new light as you explore
South Lido County Park. The area is also a superb kayaking spot, especially through the almost unreal
Ted Sperling mangrove tunnels.
Even the more young-at-heart have much to enjoy, with
Arcade Monsters Lido Beach serving up sizzling Cuban street food and iced craft cocktails in its fun-loving, full-access arcade or from its breezy rooftop patio. For something the whole family will enjoy, make your way to the
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium northwards on the Lido Shores. All who visit are impressed with its incredibly well-designed indoor and outdoor exhibits, including an ever-popular sting ray "petting zoo," manatee pool, and exotic shark tank.
Golfers also have much to enjoy, with the incredibly expansive
Links on Longboat course located just nearby on Longboat Key's southern tip. To get away from it all, you're also at just the right place to embark on a deep-sea fishing charter or just a day out on the open and tranquil Gulf Coast waves.
