Siesta Key Beach – Visit Florida’s Best Gulf Coast Getaway
We discovered this cool Florida beach town a few years ago when we bounced around Florida’s Gulf Coast. Our trip was a little reconnaissance to a handful of towns we had yet to visit. That trip included stops at Lido Key, Longboat Key and Sarasota, and one other town we fell in love with: Siesta Key
Siesta Key juts out into the Gulf of Mexico just South of Sarasota. It’s a classic Florida beach town. Beautiful blue water, white sand beaches and a chill, fun downtown area.
Siesta Key Beach
Like many of the Florida Gulf beaches, Siesta Key features beautiful soft sand. It stretches out for hundreds of yards, and is a beautiful, cool pure white color. It’s comfortable to lie in and walk across. The Siesta Key beaches are an ideal location to catch some of Florida’s famous sunsets. The beaches have ample space and the setting is extremely comfortable.
The beach is bordered by soothing aquamarine waters that gently lap against the shore. The water in the Gulf is warm, particularly in the summertime, but thankfully the massive Red Tide events from Southwestern Florida don’t seem as impactful here, although they are certainly a risk.
Public Parking beachside features a huge lot priced right. It’s free! Near the lots, you’ll also find rest rooms, concessions, playground equipment, volleyball, showers, and shaded seating. Pretty much everything you need for a nice beach trip, which is why Siesta Key has had its beaches rated #1 in the country several times.
The climate in Siesta Key is subtropical, perfect growing habitat for many flowering trees and palms which you’ll spot everywhere. Winter highs average in the 70’s with Fall and Spring in the 80’s. It does get really warm in the Summer, with only marginal relief from the warm waters.
Check out our video visit to Siesta Key Beach:
Where to Stay in Siesta Key
When we visit Siesta Key these days, we always stay at Siesta Key Palms Hotel. It’s a beautiful resort about one mile from the beach that provides a total escape from civilization which is bustling by just yards past the front gates. The rooms are cute efficiencies spread throughout a tropical paradise. There’s plenty of white sand, hammocks, loungers, fire pits and water features, as well as two pools.
It’s a cozy place with only a few dozen rooms, and has more of a family-run feel than say a huge Marriott resort, and it’s just right for us. There are no restaurants on-site, so you’ll need to head out for lunch and dinner.
Where to Eat in Siesta Key
We’ve sampled a handful of the local eateries and most of them are solid, but there are two places that stand out.
S.K.O.B. Siesta Key Oyster Bar: This is our casual eating (and drinking) recommendation. S.K.O.B. offers a totally chill Gulf Coast beach vibe. They offer a killer happy hour with live music, daily drink specials and of course, oysters. Their food menu is pretty damn good, too: The restaurant is about a mile from the ocean in Siesta Key Village. We recommend The Black Point oysters which have a smooth buttery taste. We also enjoyed the crab and hearts of palm dip and grouper bites.
The Cottage: Our spot for fine dining in Siesta Key. The owners consider themselves foodies, and it shows on their menu. The selections offered include a lot of items you don’t see elsewhere, and everything we’ve tried has been delicious. Top the food with excellent service, and you’ve got a “go to” spot for any special occasion. As a starter we loved the Lobster Bisque, and the wonton tuna tacos. As an entrée, the Siesta Seafood Scampi and the Eggplant Parmigiana were quite tasty. And, we loved the Black N’ White truffle fries as a side! Ask any local and they’ll likely tell you this is the place you should go for dinner! The Cottage isn’t cheap, but for good reason. Check it out!
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Bob and Jackie
The Sunshine Vagabonds