These picks come directly from our Longboat Key city guide — updated regularly with local intelligence on the best spots, when to go, and what locals actually order.
Top Picks
Haye Loft at Euphemia Haye
This intimate upstairs bar feels like a secret speakeasy, with creative cocktails that incorporate house-made syrups and fresh herbs from their garden. The bartenders are true craftsmen who remember your preferences after just a few visits.
Anna Maria Oyster Bar Deck
The frozen rum runners here are dangerously smooth, especially when you're watching dolphins play in the bay during sunset happy hour. Locals know to arrive early for the best deck tables and stay for the live music on weekends.
Dry Dock Waterfront Grill Bar
The outdoor tiki bar overlooks the marina, making it perfect for sundowner cocktails while watching expensive yachts come and go. Their signature painkiller cocktail packs a punch, and the bartenders know everyone's drink order by heart.
The Resort at Longboat Key Club Spike 'n Tees
This 19th-hole bar serves perfectly chilled beer and classic cocktails to golfers celebrating or commiserating their rounds. The atmosphere is pure old-school country club, and the bartenders have perfected the art of the three-martini lunch.
Harry's Continental Bar
The mahogany bar and red leather banquettes create an atmosphere straight from the 1960s, where martinis are served ice-cold and the bartender still knows how to make a proper Sazerac. This is where island old-timers share stories over single malt scotch.
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Zoria Cocktail Bar
The craft cocktail program here rivals anything in downtown Sarasota, with bartenders who muddle their own herbs and create seasonal drinks using local ingredients. The wine list is carefully curated and changes frequently to feature small producers.
Moore's Stone Crab Bar
During stone crab season, this casual bar serves ice-cold beer and simple cocktails that don't compete with the main attraction – the freshest stone crab claws you'll ever taste. The atmosphere is pure Florida fish house with locals cracking shells and telling fish tales.
Pattigeorge's Wine Bar
The Greek wine selection here introduces locals to varieties they can't find anywhere else on the island, paired perfectly with mezze plates. The owner personally selects bottles from small family vineyards across Greece and always has a story about each one.
Lazy Lobster Bar
This no-frills bar serves strong drinks at reasonable prices, making it a favorite among year-round residents who want to avoid tourist crowds. The bartender makes a mean bloody mary that's perfect for lazy Sunday brunches.
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Mar-Vista Dockside Tiki Bar
Just over the bridge but worth the short trip, this authentic tiki bar serves tropical drinks in a setting that hasn't changed in decades. The rum selection is impressive, and the bartenders know how to make every classic tiki cocktail from memory.