St. Armands Circle is a ring of boutiques, galleries, and restaurants on Lido Key, built in the 1920s as part of John Ringling's grand plan to develop his holdings along the keys. The development stalled when Ringling's fortunes collapsed in the Depression, but the circle survived and eventually became Sarasota's most visitor-friendly shopping and dining destination.
It's touristy, but pleasant — the architecture is uniform and low-rise, the palms are well-maintained, and the outdoor tables fill up reliably on winter evenings. The quality of restaurants ranges from solid to overpriced, so choose carefully. A short walk or bike ride from Lido Beach.