Heat up the night

No dress code

The first thing you might notice when you head out for a Sarasota night on the town is the dress code. You'll see women dressed in sundresses, men in shorts and linen shirts sitting next to couples draped in designer gowns and tailored suits. The only code followed here is elegant comfort.

That holds true whether you're cruising the downtown nightlife or throwing back a craft-brew in one of Sarasota's lively bars, dining al fresco on Peruvian ceviche or sampling a multi-course meal at one of Sarasota's most luxurious restaurants.

Sarasota is a big city, but much of the post-sunset excitement is clustered in a few destination spots. Each spot with its own character, and plenty of nightlife options – all within a short walk of one another.

Downtown is the hub of Sarasota nightlife, where you'll find people nibbling on pre-theater meals in bistros and restaurants, then enjoying post-theater martinis in chic lounges. Sushi and wood-oven pizzerias sit on the same block, alongside bars featuring the hottest local bands. Catch an art house flick at Burns Court Cinema, then down a plate of oysters and soft-shell crab next door. You could spend your entire stay in Sarasota just enjoying the downtown scene.

But you'd be missing out. Sarasota's Southside Village is a haven for locals seeking great food and a lively bar scene, with more than a dozen spots within a two-block range. Here you'll find everything from Indian and pan-Asian cuisine to burger joints, surrounding blues clubs and sports bars, tucked next to a residential neighborhood that boasts some of the most incredible historic homes in Sarasota.

Gulf Gate is off the beaten path, acting as an incubator for novel restaurants and bars that makes it popular with local Sarasotans. Live music streams from open doors up and down the streets in this compact area, making it easy to move from one bar to the next without ever drinking the same beer or hearing the same band.

Siesta Key Village teems with both young and old after the sun goes down, most congregating on the wide decks and patios of the local bars and restaurants. People watching -- usually frozen drink in hand -- is almost the point of the experience, amidst the clashing sounds of Jimmy Buffet covers and throbbing club beats.

People watching is also a pastime on St. Armands Circle, but there you'll likely be sipping a mint-laced Mojito and listening to a soundtrack of flowing jazz or reggae steel drum, as families and couples from all over the world stream by.

For a more relaxed vibe, head south to downtown Venice. Here, you can grab a glass of wine and a plate of gulf shrimp, while taking in the setting sun against the Mediterranean architecture. Or head to one of the many waterfront restaurants with scenic views of island lights glinting from the Intracoastal Waterway after nightfall.