The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota: Where Coastal Chill Meets Downtown Cool
- Bon Blossman
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
If you’ve ever dreamed of sipping a tropical cocktail by the beach in the morning and hitting a trendy downtown spot for dinner at night, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota basically read your mind. This is a luxe playground on Florida’s Gulf Coast where beach days, spa bliss, and city nights all blend together.
🛏️ Rooms That Feel Like a Glow-Up for Your Vacation
The Ritz-Carlton’s rooms are basically a mood board for relaxation — soft, cloud-like beds, marble bathrooms that scream “treat yourself,” and balconies with pretty good views (if you choose those rooms with the view). Think chilled bottled water, premium movie channels, and plenty of space to toss your beach bag. The rooms are standard-sized, so kinda on the small size, but that's all that was available on the club level when we booked, so I'm unsure if they even have bigger rooms on that floor.
Club Level: I always stay in a club level room, as I think it is well worth the money - as long as you commit to going there a couple of times a day. And make use of the cocktail service there.
Mark is the best! I mean, they are all very good, but Mark is one of the most interesting men ever, and we got to hear his stories - all while he was taking the very BEST care of us! The food in there was pretty good, especially the sushi! I think they only do the sushi on Friday nights, so you'd better get that if you're staying there, as we were sad it wouldn't return while we were there. But I still think Dallas was the best, hands down. But I think Jason and I must go back to Dallas for a couple of nights since it's been a decade or so since we've visited that location - just to see if it holds up.
🏖️ Two Swimming Pools!
On property pool: There's a smaller, less fancy one on the hotel's property. We were only at this one at night, but if you don't want to wait for the shuttle and want to get a quick swim, this pool will do. You can rent a cabana there, but it's nothing to write home about, so I wouldn't spend the cash on it.
On the flipside, if you did, you'd be guaranteed somewhere to sit/lounge. This pool varied depending on how busy it was, so it's difficult for me to say.
The Beach Club (more on this below) has a better pool - albeit, it's definitely not that memorable of a pool, but it has a beach on the other side of it, so there's that. There's no roaring wave sound, since it's a bay, so that's something we did miss about being on vacation at the beach. But a bay is also safer, so there's that.
We got a cabana here each day, and it was worth it. The servers were amazing - very fun people and attentive. There's sunscreen for you at a stand by the pool, and I saw stacks of diapers there, too. Wow, that's amazing for the young parents! But the cabana had a hammock that we chilled on for a while, and yeah, we might have fed some birds, which was fun. I know it's annoying to the servers who have to deal with the birds daily, but my inner child can't help but try to feed hungry animals.
The Tiki Bar & Ridley’s Porch – Order a frozen cocktail (or a mocktail if you’re keeping it fresh) without leaving your lounge chair. Ridley’s Porch is the on-site restaurant serving everything from Gulf shrimp to fish tacos — the kind of meals that taste 10x better because you’re eating them with an ocean breeze.
We popped into Ridley's Porch. They offer a selection of shirts, hats, and a limited range of souvenirs. No goggles for sale, though. That was a bummer since we had two tweens at the pool who wanted some. But our server at our cabana said we could go to the beach and look in the box by the end of the stairs that connects the pool to the beach. It's where they put things that people abandon on the beach. It was filled with toy buckets and shovels (so pro tip - you probably don't need to worry about bringing one for the kids, as there were plenty to choose from). Didn't find goggles, but snagged a few pool noodles for the girls to use at the pool for the day.
🏖️ Two Words: Private. Beach.
Pros: Guests get exclusive access to the Beach Club on Lido Key — a stretch of sand so gorgeous it could be a screensaver. Add in a tiki bar, seaside dining, and warm Gulf waves, and you might “accidentally” spend your entire trip here.
The beach was very clean, pretty chill, and had amazing seashells to hunt for. It was a tad crowded, but it was peak vacation season, so what can you do? At least it wasn't the Ft. Lauderdale Ritz Carlton where the locals (or anyone on vacation staying elsewhere) can buy Ritz beach setups for cash (unsure if this was what the beach guys were supposed to be doing, but they did). That beach was terrible. The people were obnoxious and packed in like sardines. Forget that!
Beach Service – we’re talking plush towels, umbrellas set up for you, and servers who bring your drinks right to your chair. It’s giving “main character” energy.
You can purchase a beach daybed set up for four - you get a daybed and two chairs. This was nice, but since most people in our party hate sand, we wasted money on this. You can also just get chair setups, as well.
Cons: However, it's not a few steps from the lobby of the hotel. You do have to get on a shuttle, and it's about a 10-minute ride. The shuttle shows up at the hotel ~ every 15 minutes. And head's up - there's a big shuttle and a small shuttle on a 30-minute schedule (so they alternate every 15). If you ask the dudes in the lobby about them, you might get misinformation (happened twice) - BUT, that aside, it wasn't terrible to deal with - so just plan your day wisely, and it's fine.
💆♀️ Fun Games, Spa Days, Golf Swings, but No DJs
Whether you’re into deep-tissue massages or just need a post-sun aloe wrap, the spa here has your back (literally, so I've heard). And if golf is more your thing, the Tom Fazio-designed course is perfect for showing off that swing — or at least the cute golf outfit.
Unfortunately, we did not make it to either of these 'attractions.'
But Whit, Rhythm, and I shopped in every store there, including the spa's store, and the sales ladies were all VERY nice and accommodating - especially when I thought I lost my phone. Alas, my son had it with him in his room. FML, that's an ADHD brain for you unmedicated. But we found some good stuff in the stores there, and it was a fun experience.
The resort also has unexpected little perks for family fun. There is an array of games - a mini arcade, ping pong tables, a massive game of chess, and other games out on the lawn.
This is a minor issue, but other Ritz Carltons seem a bit more lively at night. This one has Jack Dusty's, but it seems to quiet down pretty early. Other properties have had DJ's, piano bars, etc., but this one did not. So, if you're looking for chill and quiet - this is great.
🍽️ Somewhat Foodie Friendly
From 'fresh-caught' seafood at Jack Dusty to laid-back bites at the Lido Key Tiki Bar, the food scene here balances fine-dining energy with total vacation chill.
We had Jack Dusty, their fine-dining restaurant, a few times and ordered plenty of things while we were at the Beach Club, and most of it was a hit. I say most, because the first night, we arrived just after they stopped serving from their main menu, but they still allowed us to order lobster rolls. Um. No. Not good. I don't think any of us liked it. It was like toasted thick sandwich bread with a slice in the middle to 'make' a roll with flavorless lobster tucked inside and all around. Nah, not good.
The second time we went with a larger group, we ordered oysters to start and sampled a variety of dishes — most were solid. I had the bouillabaisse (not their exact name for it), but the seafood, especially the mussels, didn’t taste fresh. I ended up just eating the bread, which our waitress had told us the first night was their specialty. Could’ve been a bad batch of clams/mussels— hard to say. She also shared that Jack “Dusty” got his nickname from being a baker always covered in flour. No idea if it’s true, but it’s a good story.
🎨 Fun Just Steps Away
The Ritz-Carlton’s location is elite — you’re minutes from St. Armands Circle’s boutique shops, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Sarasota’s mid-century architecture and artsy vibes make it amazing.
The beach shuttles not only stop at the Beach Club, but they also stop at St. Armands at a stop on the corner. The shopping here is more upscale than the downtown shops. We had a blast shopping here! Everyone (again) was very nice.
We used the Ritz Carlton's bikes one day and cycled over to the downtown area around the hotel for a while. The bike seats were deceivably wet and not short-people friendly, but other than that - they were fine. We had two girls drop out because they weren't good enough bike riders for their height at 5'0. It was pretty cool, we loved the chill vibes. It was hot, but not terribly hot to where you were dying of heat exhaustion. We shopped in a few boutiques while we were there, and everyone was very nice and they had a good selection of things - even a dog boutique! But again, the shopping at St. Armands Circle is better.
Why The Ritz Carlton Sarasota Stands Out
Feature | What Makes It Special |
Location | There's downtown energy + beachy serenity from Sarasota Bay. |
Amenities | Spa, pools, golf, private beach access, strong dining offerings, and of course, the club level. |
Accommodation | Luxury that still feels like vacation, not a museum. The staff are friendly and helpful, as you'd expect from the Ritz brand. |
Surroundings | Rich in culture, beautiful beaches, and great (I wouldn't quite say top-notch, but it's great) dining and shopping. |
Versatility | Ideal for romantic escapes, family vacations, pet-friendly stays, or elegant gatherings. It's a great overall place for a chill vacation. |
Bottom line: The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota isn’t just a place to stay — it’s the main character of your vacation. Beach days, spa bliss, foodie moments, downtown energy — this spot’s got range.
That said, I’m giving it a solid 7.4/10. And listen, I’m picky. If I’m dropping this much on a family vacay, I want the “wow” factor, not just “yeah, that’s nice.” But I’m not a “send this back, it needs more salt” diva — I’m more of a “silently judge and blog about it later” kind of guest.
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