Although the gay scene in Sarasota is less pronounced than in many other coastal communities in Florida, it certainly exists – the city hosts Sarasota Gay Pride every October, and there are many salons and restaurants in the city with mixed crowds along with a few gay men. bars.
Sarasota is one of the most attractive and friendly small towns (population 55,000) along Florida’s Gulf Coast, just an hour’s drive south of St. Petersburg and a 75-minute drive south of Tampa, but it’s more laid back and much less developed than these larger Florida cities.
Located just south of picturesque Bradenton and bordered by the beautiful barrier islands of Siesta Key and Long Boat Key, both famous for their white sand beaches, downtown Sarasota has a growing number of trendy restaurants, bars, galleries and art and modern. places
Gay bars and clubs
Although Sarasota’s only all-gay club, the Throb Nightclub, closed in 2015 after a fire, later branded arson, several of the other venues in the area cater to the LGBT crowd on certain nights of the week.
The only gay-owned and operated venue in Sarasota is Barrel 87 Saloon, located on the south side of town, fairly close to Siesta Key. This cozy neighborhood gay bar offers a variety of fun theme nights and drink specials throughout the week, but be sure to catch karaoke on Sunday nights and back Thursdays, which draw huge crowds.
For a more curated experience, consider becoming a member of the Purple Rhino Lounge, a private, non-profit bar and community center that one reviewer referred to as “like a gay.” Cheers! «Where everyone knows your name. All bar staff work on a voluntary basis, so remember to tip your servers well, and all proceeds from the bar go to help maintain the Purple Rhino Lounge as a space for the LGBT community, as well as efforts towards the LGBT community. Red Ribbon Services (HIV) in the area.
Gay Group Happy Hours (G2H2)
Although the Purple Rhino Lounge and the Barrel 87 Saloon are the only two official gay bars in the city, most of the restaurants and bars around Sarasota are gay-friendly. For this reason, a non-profit organization known as Gay Group Happy Hours (G2H2) began hosting monthly events in area restaurants and bars where LGBT residents and visitors could have the opportunity to network, enjoy the company of others and discuss the issue. burgeoning gay scene in Sarasota.
On the first Thursday of each month, Sarasota Gay Guy Happy Hour invites members to share a meal at upscale and sophisticated lounges and restaurants, whether in downtown Sarasota or neighboring beach communities. Venues that have hosted these gay happy hour socials, which also attract a fair number of lesbians, have included the city’s contemporary Asian fusion restaurant, Tsunami Sushi & Hibachi Grill, the modern American regional eatery. Louie’s Modern and the Nuevo Latino Selva steakhouse.
Membership dues cover the basic costs of running G2H2 and support the many charities the organization provides in the Sarasota and Tampa area. G2H2 also hosts 50/50 raffles each month where the winner receives half of the prize money and the other half goes to support charities focused on LGBT awareness and wellness.
