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St. Armands Circle

St. Armands Circle

St. Armands Circle
4.5
8:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Monday
8:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Friday
8:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 12:00 AM
About
This outdoor mall with a coastal view is a high end retail and entertainment district home to over 130 shops, restaurants and galleries. St. Armand's Circle is built on an island in Sarasota Bay adjacent to Lido Key. Its circular shape and layout is inspired by its designer John Ringling, who is famous for shaping the modern day circus—you can learn more about it through day tours around Sarasota. The shops surround a charming green park in the center—a perfect place to relax in between a full day of shopping and dining. – Tripadvisor
Duration: More than 3 hours
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What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

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See what travelers are saying

  • Nomad
    Lakewood Ranch, Florida303 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    European Mediterranean vibe
    Gorgeous circular promenade with tropical botanical attributes and sculptures. Strolling along here after dinner evokes a strong European Mediterranean vibe. Parking can be a problem. The Columbia Restaurant seems to dominate, but there are plenty of other great places to eat. The street is lined with a variety of interesting shops.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 6, 2023
  • Mike F
    Antigo, Wisconsin580 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Really cool!
    Really cool area, we parked down towards Lido Beach(where its free) and walked to the circle. Really good shopping, of all kinds and a lot of restaurant choices. Coffee and mini donuts were very good! This is an area where you can spend a day for sure!
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written December 23, 2023
  • briannegohlke
    13 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Pleasant surprise we enjoyed visiting daily!
    When we booked a trip to Lido Key, we didn’t know what to expect when the weather ended up being unseasonably cool. Little did we know, we would absolutely love walking around St Armand’s circle once or twice per day! There’s so much to offer for any meal, including delicious gelato shops! If shopping is your thing, you won’t be disappointed.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 15, 2024
  • TravelingWithNancy
    Ormond Beach, Florida69 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An Upscale Dining and Shopping Experience
    This is quite the shopping and dining experience. There are plenty of restaurants of all types of food and pricing. There are also plenty of shops, majority high end, not your touristy tshirt/gift shops. You can walk to Lido Beach which is about 10 minutes from last of Main shopping avenue. There is a free shuttle, Bayrunner, which brings you between various stops on Main St in Sarasota to various stops in St Armands circle and Lido beach. There is app that shows you stops.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 29, 2024
  • Debbie W
    3 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must see
    Many shops with a variety of merchandise. Most stores are quite pricey. We bought candy from one store and most of it tasted bad. Waste of money. Did find a few cute pieces of clothing I could actually afford so I scooped them up. Many restaurants too. Overall great place to visit
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 18, 2024
  • AMarie525
    Oakmont, Pennsylvania217 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fun Shopping Trip
    Great place to go if you want to kill a few hours to walk, shop and eat. We were recently vacationing in Siesta Key and decided to venture here on a rain day and so glad we did. We paid two hours to park and walk the circle and it's a mix of high and low end stores with a large mix of candy, ice cream, cafes and restaurants. It's worth the trip!
    Visited May 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written May 29, 2024
  • Catherine J
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great shopping and restaurants!
    I usually do not enjoy shopping in the United States because of the redundancy of options. St. Armands Circle offers unusual, high quality, one of a kind options that far surpass most shopping areas...and I am a frequent traveler. Also, the selection of great restaurants is superb. Highly recommend the visual delights found in the various art galleries. Noel in the Art on St. Armands gallery is an especially delightful and knowledgeable professional.
    Visited June 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written June 29, 2024
  • Zoe C
    Leeds, United Kingdom108 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A charming little spot
    Staying at the nearby Lido Beach resort so this was an easy walk or shuttle ride for us. Came here each night of our stay and found it to have a good choice of restaurants and bars. The shops were also nice to browse and seem to have a good selection of clothes and gifts. There is a good vibe here in the evening with musicians playing and lots of people taking a walk around. There are several statues to look at and the area is very clean and has lots of colourful flowers making it attractive. Worth a visit and there seems to be a lot of (paid) parking available if you’re coming from further afield.
    Visited July 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written July 24, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles5,828 reviews
Excellent
3,465
Very good
1,773
Average
437
Poor
91
Terrible
62

Michele M
St. Petersburg, FL107 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
If you are going to be visiting Sarasota, then St. Armands Circle is sort of a must do part of your itinerary. It's located about 2-3 miles west of downtown on the far end of the Ringling Bridge and Causeway. They used to have free parking in and around the circle, but recently started metered parking, which we found to be disappointing and another way to fleece the tourists. The shops here tend to ebb and flow with the seasons, with many of them going out of business after their first or second year because all the "Snowbirds" go home in the summer months, and the shopkeepers have to keep paying their rent, even when their business dries up. There are a few great restaurants that seem to make a go of it all year long (Tommy Bahama Cafe, Cafe L'Europe, Crab and Fin, Columbia), but the shops seem to change back and forth every time we go back. It's still a fun way to spend an evening or afternoon strolling around the circle, and stopping in the shops or confectioneries to sample their wares.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Orlando
Miami, FL5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020
This is a must-visit place in the Lido key. All the statues are in a very good state of conservation and the roundabout has parking around it which is very convenient. I ate at the Crab and Fin across it. It was a pricey lunch and my girlfriend did not have the steamed lobster as she requested but a grilled one which did not taste very good. We became distracted by protestors in the roundabout and did not ask to correct the order. I ate the King crab which was delicious. The server was professional as well as the host. The key point, check your order.
This place also has a pianist outside which plays nice jazz and can accommodate your requests.
Written July 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dhanan
Framingham, MA690 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
St. Armands Circle, a shopping, restaurant and sightseeing place surrounding a circle of fame that honors over 100 people who made Sarasota the place it is today, with plaques. Additionally, there are statues and sculptures, including one of John Ringling, the circus Magnet who first came to the area in 1911 and laid the foundations for not just St.Armands but the entire Sarasota area.

The nice thing about the restaurants in this area is the absence of fast food entities and the presence of many very good local food establishments. Retail stores are unique, very good and above average (but worthwhile) on the price scale.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Fraser H
Carlisle, PA7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Despite the traffic slowdowns (due to volume) a stroll around The Circle is a great way to spend a few hours or an entire day. You can try a meal in one of the many excellent restaurants, or just enjoy a coffee or a gelato. Lido Beach is only a few blocks off The Circle. There is a new parking garage just off the circle for those who don’t want to wait for a spot right on The Circle itself. The centre of The Circle has plaques commemorating circus stars from days gone by. A statue of John Ringling is on the edge of The Circle itself. In the evenings there are often street musicians serenading the strollers.
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike D
1 contribution
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
The City is taking full advantage of fleecing the public with highly unusual parking rules. You are not allowed to back into parking spaces without getting a ticket. It's obvious that this is a money maker for the city and they don't care about the unsuspecting tourist by using poor signage.

Hopefully this message gets out to the public to help others and as far as my family and friends who I was with we will not return.
Written April 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

podrozniczka60
New Jersey16,812 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Friends
St. Armands Circle in real life was so much better than just reading about it. I loved the energy and the atmosphere of a Monday afternoon here. People strolling, just hanging around, dining in multiple restaurants and cafes, visiting the boutique stores, enjoying the statues and shady trees. It felt like sampling the joys of life. And even parking was relatively easy.
I have the feeling we will be coming back here...
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RobertLivonia_MI
Livonia, MI106 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2019 • Couples
A lot of overpriced shops and over the top traffic congestion are what await you if you come here. True, there are some really good restaurants, but that is the case all over Sarasota. If you come to watch the sunset at Lido Beach, plan on staying for dinner or it will take you over an hour to get over the causeway. I didn’t find the shopping experience worth the hassle.
Written March 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LorSun
79 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Friends
With the many shops around the circle there's something for everyone. Great place to browse. A decent mixture of mid and high price shopping. Plenty of local items to take something home. Great eateries throughout with plenty of places for a sweet treat. Definitely worth the time there. Negative is they've gone from free parking to $1.50 per hour metered parking.
Written March 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kurt B
Canton53 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
Nice area, and they do a wonderful job of having safety restrictions in place against Covid. Other than that, it’s just an area filled with high-end shops where most people can’t afford much of anything. I experienced a first there, I’ve never seen a $20 hamburger before. I think the area was built on parking fees, be prepared to drive around and then pay once you find a spot.
Written April 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gina
Lake Wales, FL109 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Couples
This is always a busy place to visit. If you love a rich taste of shopping and food this is your place to go. It has lots of multiple cultural influences in the tastes and fashions. Kilwin's Fudge is fantastic! You have to grab a bite if you go. They charge for parking in most areas now and have a parking garage if you don’t want to park on the street. Watch for cars when crossing the street!! Lots of traffic and lots of people!! La Macaroon is another place we have to stop at every-time we go since one of us can eat a box of them in a sitting. We don’t normally stay to long walking since In the summer time it’s so hot. Just be sure to wear your sun screen and walking shoes. It is something you have to do if you’ve never been.
Written August 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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St. Armands Circle - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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