August turned out to be one of the biggest months of the year for restaurant openings in Sarasota and Manatee counties , largely due to the luxurious, beachfront St. Regis Longboat Key Resort debuting multiple new dining and drinking venues .
There were other exciting openings as well, including restaurants in downtown Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch. Unfortunately, August also saw us report several restaurant closures in Sarasota-Manatee.
On a positive note, in addition to the openings, an iconic Sarasota establishment was named one of the best bars in the country by USA TODAY , and one of the region’s most popular waterfront restaurants unveiled a new patio and bar, along with a daily happy hour menu brimming with deals on drinks and food.
Here are the biggest restaurant openings, closings, honors, and renovations we reported on during August in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
The Gator Club named one of the best bars in the country by USA TODAY
Among 27 drinking destinations from across the country, with only one other from Florida, The Gator Club in Sarasota earned a spot on the 2024 USA TODAY Bars of the Year list .