It’s not breakfast and it’s not lunch. It’s the best of both combined! Brunch has become a favorite pastime in our region and what better time to indulge than autumn, when holiday plans start to hit and the weather starts to cool. These local gems make it socially acceptable to enjoy your first meal of the day with a Bloody Mary, mimosa and anything from bacon and eggs to a hearty burger. 

Tripletail Seafood & Spirits

Nestled in the bustling Landings Plaza, Tripletail Seafood & Spirits offers a tranquil escape, earning its reputation as one of Sarasota’s hidden gems. The nautical ambiance is enhanced by lush greenery, privacy walls and a stunning 10-foot waterfall. Tripletail has been honored with multiple awards, including Best Seafood Restaurant, Best Oysters and Best Cocktails. The acclaimed culinary experience is guided by Chef Cesareo Carnesdas, who has developed the restaurant’s award-winning dishes for the past five years. Tripletail offers a leisurely Sunday brunch from 11am-3pm. Guests can choose from the refined indoor setting of the bar or dining room, or the air-conditioned, covered outdoor patio, ensuring a perfect setting year-round. Chief Operating Officer Fiona Farrell describes it as “the perfect way to round out a weekend in Sarasota.” General Manager Meagan Smith adds that “Good brunch is not just great food—it’s the way friends and families linger, laugh and create new memories together.” Guests agree, with Shaney Brasher stating, “Sundays are made for mimosas at Tripletail,” and Trish Gowan chiming in, “Love muchin’ and brunchin’ on Sundays at Tripletail. The menu features luxurious twists on classics: The crab & shrimp omelet is made with three eggs folded around delicate blue lump crab and blackened Gulf shrimp, finished with Gruyère cheese for a nutty, creamy complexity. The crème brûlée French toast is made with Brioche bread soaked in a custardy crème brûlée mixture, grilled to a caramelized with a crackly brûléed top. It is crowned with mixed berries and whipped cream and served with a side of maple syrup for a mellow sweetness. As a special welcome, the first Bloody Mary or mimosa is complimentary with the purchase of a Brunch dish. Tripletail Seafood & Spirits, 4870 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 941-529-0555, tripletailsrq.com

Cask & Ale 

Co-owned by Mike Quillen and Chip White, Cask & Ale has been a Downtown Sarasota staple since 2017, known for craft cocktails and inventive cuisine in a lively setting. Garnishes and simple syrups are made in-house, and the bar program follows the seasons, showcasing fresh, timely ingredients. Weekend brunch—especially on the patio—is a standout. The newly launched menu leans into bold comfort flavors with dishes like house-sliced Million Dollar Bacon, chilaquiles and build-your-own omelets. The “I’m Being Good” section adds lighter, health-focused options, staying true to the restaurant’s commitment to fresh, flavorful fare. Cask & Ale also embraces the low- to no-alcohol movement with a creative lineup of mocktails featuring housemade syrups, fresh juices, bubbles and playful garnishes tailored to any mood. “We love being a part of the upbeat bustle vibe of the downtown business and social scene and above all, we pride ourselves on our exceptional hospitality,” says Quillen. “Our guests are our neighbors and our friends; knowing and delivering on their preferences is a part of our culture. We truly enjoy offering exceptional, small batch spirits and the collaborative nature of developing our guests’ personal liquor lockers, which consist of limited offer spirits or their own favorites. But as important as our food, drink  and atmosphere are to us, our most valuable asset is our team who truly bring the Cask guest experience to a different level.” Cask & Ale, 1548 Main St, Sarasota, 941-702-8740, caskalesrq.com

Sun Garden Cafe

A beloved Siesta Key Village fixture for over 18 years, Sun Garden Café is a family-owned and operated gem, just steps from Siesta Key Beach. Sun Garden offers a relaxed escape for breakfast, lunch and brunch, served in their bright, bungalow-style dining room or outdoors, in their flower-framed outdoor garden patio. “What sets us apart is a culture our team built around music,” explains Chef Rick Munroe, who owns the Café with his wife Suzanne. “Every breakfast and lunch dish on the menu is named after a song or an artist who shaped the island lifestyle—Mississippi Queen, Ziggy Stardust, Ramblin’ Man, Carlos Santana, Baba O’Riley, Travelling Wilbury. The menu opens with a Mick Jagger lyric and closes with Glenn Frey. It started as a love letter to the records the kitchen plays every morning, and 18 years later it is still the heartbeat of the place.” The kitchen is genuinely from-scratch. Pancakes are made with a custom mix milled by Adluh Mills in South Carolina. Hollandaise is whisked fresh every morning. Biscuits, muffins and breads are made in their in-house bakery. “We source local and organic where we can, and we cook everything to order—which is why guests will tell you the wait outside the gate is part of the ritual,” adds Munroe. The café is celebrated for its signature dishes, all infused with a distinctive Southern, soul-inspired flair. The Cajun Benedict showcases a house hollandaise made fresh every morning. For those seeking a spicy kick, the Huevos Rancheros remains a long-running guest favorite, offering citrus notes and abundant texture. Team member Ashley inspired her namesake, Ashley’s Avocado Toast, designed to be the benchmark for all others. The menu also features unapologetically generous and crispy plates, like Elvis’ Fried Chicken Plate, a popular nod to the King, and the ultimate comfort food: Helen’s Biscuits & Wavy Gravy, a true taste of Lagrange, NC, straight from Grandma Helen’s recipe. Moving to the sweeter side, the decadent Cookie Butter French Toast, menu-dubbed “a biscoffapalooza for your mouth,” is easily the café’s most-Instagrammed plate. “It really feels like family here,” shares Manager, Kim Bard. We’re right by the beach in this little garden spot, the food is amazing and people just come to relax and be taken care of—that’s what keeps them coming back.” Sun Garden Café is open daily, 7:30am – 1:30pm. Breakfast and lunch are served all day. Pets are welcomed in the outdoor garden area. 210 Avenida Madera, Siesta Key, Sarasota,  sungardencafe.com

Café on St. Armands

A Mediterranean-inspired dining destination in the heart of St. Armands Circle. Reimagined for 2025 under Oysters Rock Hospitality (ORH), Café blends vibrant Southern European and Middle Eastern influences with a fresh Sarasota feel. Guests can enjoy coffee and pastries from Café Soleil, a full brunch experience in the main dining room, and a lively bar scene at The Wet Bar. The team is led by General Manager Abby Elliott, culinary leadership from Chef Sevin Aksamit and ORH Head of Culinary Will Parard, while Café Soleil’s pastry program is led by Chef Jayna Saulo. Some of the café’s best-known brunch offerings include baklava pancakes with cardamom caramel and pistachio walnut crumble, the flight of three Benedict featuring lobster, mushroom and traditional Benedict styles, quiche lorraine, steak and eggs, the Apollo pita and house-made pastries from Café Soleil. Soleil also offers Buddy Brew coffee and breakfast beverages, which have quickly become part of the daytime experience. “Café on St. Armands was created to feel vibrant, welcoming and a little different from anywhere else on the Circle. Brunch here is about slowing down, enjoying good food with good people, and taking in the energy of St. Armands,” says ORH Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy, Kim Cartano. Whether guests are taking a break from shopping, meeting friends for coffee, or settling in for a leisurely brunch, the Café offers an inviting indoor setting, bright flavors and a daytime experience that feels both easy and elevated. “What makes brunch at Café on St. Armands stand out is that it never feels rushed. There is this energy on the Circle where people are already in a good mood, strolling, shopping and enjoying the day, and we get to be part of that,” says Assistant General Manager, Jason Simpson. “Brunch here can start with coffee and pastries, turn into a great meal and maybe lead to bottomless mimosas with friends. It feels like a little daytime escape, and our team does a great job making people feel welcome and taken care of.” Cafe at St. Armands, 431 St Armands Cir, Sarasota, 941-761-7797, OystersRock.net 

Simon’s Coffee House 

Any local who loves clean, nutritious and delicious food is likely familiar with Simon’s Coffee House, the local shop on Tamiami Trail that has been serving Sarasota since 2001. “It all got started up by my mom and dad after they had moved to Sarasota from England in 1991,” explains Tyler Kirby, who runs the restaurant with his wife, Maya. “My parents owned a breakfast restaurant on Siesta Key for a couple of years, but wanted to serve more locals. They opened Simon’s with the ethos of serving the local community healthy, creative food made with love. Since then, we have been known for offering a variety of food from vegan/vegetarian to gluten-free to omnivore items as well. In 2024, my wife Maya and I were able to take over the restaurant and keep my family’s legacy alive.” Simon’s serves a solid lineup of “house favorites” daily (except Sundays, 8am–3pm). Standouts include vegan blueberry pancakes with house-made jam and coconut whip and avocado toast on Bread Bandits sourdough with pickled onions and a choice of eggs or tofu eggs. Skillets and omelets are crowd favorites, too. For lunch, the Zorba the Greek pairs sesame hummus with spanakopita and a Greek salad. The Bollywood Burger—a beet patty with cashew cheese, Indian pickle sauce, carrots and spinach on Sami’s millet lavash—is a top vegan, gluten-free pick. Traditionalists can opt for the London panini with braised beef, horseradish, mustard, mayo, tomato, onion and cheddar—“you can never go wrong with that,” says Tyler. Salads are fresh across the board; the French salad with apples, craisins, walnuts and goat cheese in house balsamic is a standout—especially with Tyler’s tip to add chicken salad. “We make a lot in-house—sauces, dressings, hot sauces, pickled onions and jalapeños, and coffee syrups,” Tyler adds. “We source locally when we can: coffee from Sun Soaked Coffee, matcha from Haraki-Gordon, teas from The Local Tea Company, kombucha from Flobucha and booster shots from Neighborhood Juices. We also make fresh chai and golden milk daily—they’re very popular. We also like to say ‘show love, spread love’ because Simon’s is definitely a place where we want everyone to feel connected, supported and celebrated.” Simon’s Coffee House, 5900 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 941-926-7151, simonstogo.com  SRQ