The downtown hotel restaurant that’s become a neighborhood favorite — for good reason.
There’s a moment, somewhere between your first cocktail and your second order of sharables, when Wink Wink Food & Drink stops feeling like a hotel restaurant and starts feeling like exactly where you want to be. That’s the trick — and the charm — of this downtown Sarasota gem tucked inside The Sarasota Modern, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel on Boulevard of the Arts.
Hotel restaurants have a reputation to overcome. Wink Wink seems blissfully unaware of it. From the playfully named cocktails to the globally inflected comfort food to the breezy pool bar energy, this is a place with a real personality — one that winks at convention and then genuinely delivers.
The Vibe: Supper Club Meets Tiki Bar, 2025 Edition
Wink Wink describes itself as inspired by the classic food and atmosphere of the 1950s and ’60s — chic supper clubs and breezy tiki bars — served with a contemporary twist. Walk in and you feel it immediately. The design is modern but warm, with a mix of lounge seating, a proper dining room, an outdoor terrace, and a pool bar that leans into Sarasota’s sun-drenched personality.
It’s the kind of place that works for a casual weeknight dinner, a date night, a leisurely weekend brunch, or a late evening at the bar with creative cocktails in hand. The patio is especially popular — guests consistently single it out as the most atmospheric perch in the house. Dog-friendly, too, which earns extra points in this town.
The Food: Local Ingredients, Global Instincts
Executive Chef Sage Scott‘s menu reads as confidently eclectic — comfort food with a passport. The kitchen sources local ingredients and weaves in tropical and Pacific Rim influences, creating dishes that feel both familiar and quietly adventurous. The price point lands in the $31–$50 range, which is right-sized for what you’re getting.
On the dinner menu, standouts include a blackened grouper bowl — calrose rice, edamame, mango, key lime butter — described with the knowing tagline “the real reason you came to Florida in the first place.” A tuna bowl with kimchi-sambal sauce, sesame, and mango hits all the right notes for those leaning lighter. For something more indulgent, the wild mushroom and caramelized onion puff pastry with red wine shallot reduction and whipped potatoes is the kind of dish that earns return visits.
Weekend brunch (Friday through Sunday, 9 AM–2 PM) is a local ritual. Expect avocado toast elevated with non-dairy feta, pistachios, and pickled shallots alongside the reassuringly classic eggs-and-bacon plate. There are vegan and gluten-free options throughout the menu — thoughtfully integrated rather than reluctantly tacked on.
Wink Wink also runs seasonal pop-up bar menus that change the cocktail experience throughout the year. The current spring Bouquet Bar runs nightly after 4 PM through May, with floral-forward cocktails like the Gin Ne Sais Quoi (gin, grapefruit, St. Germain, prosecco, lavender) and the Drunk in Love espresso martini with lavender simple syrup. These limited-run offerings give regulars reason to keep coming back.
The Cocktails: Serious About Fun
The bar program is where Wink Wink really leans into its personality. Cocktail names alone — “Love You, Bye,” “Hey There, Gorgeous,” “Bouquet Baby” — telegraph the room’s energy. These aren’t throwaway names on otherwise forgettable drinks: the creativity extends to the glass. Reviewers consistently praise the cocktails as a high point of the experience. Daily happy hour runs from 3–6 PM and features $10 old fashioneds and $10 burgers, a classic pairing that never gets old.
Beer and wine are available as well, though the cocktails are the star. A corkage fee option is a nice touch for guests who want to bring a special bottle.
Good to Know Before You Go
Location: 1290 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, FL 34236 (inside The Sarasota Modern, at the corner of Cocoanut Avenue). Private lot parking available.
Hours: Brunch Friday–Sunday 9 AM–2 PM; Bar Monday–Wednesday 3–10 PM, Thursday 3–11 PM, Friday–Saturday 9 AM–midnight, Sunday 9 AM–10 PM; Dinner Monday–Thursday 3–10 PM, Friday–Sunday 5–10 PM; Happy Hour daily 3–6 PM.
Reservations: Accepted via OpenTable or Resy. Recommended for dinner and weekend brunch.
Price Range: $31–$50 per person.
Dress Code: Smart casual. You’re in Sarasota — leave the flip-flops for the pool bar.
Perks: Dog-friendly, gluten-free and vegan options, pool bar access, private event spaces for groups. Purchase an entrée at dinner and receive a complimentary future pool pass with 20% off food and beverage.
The Verdict
Wink Wink punches well above its weight as a hotel restaurant — which is to say, it doesn’t feel like one. It feels like a downtown neighborhood spot that happens to have a very stylish address. The food is creative without being fussy, the drinks are genuinely memorable, and the atmosphere manages to be both lively and relaxed at once. With a 4.6 rating on OpenTable across 300+ reviews, it’s clearly resonating with the Sarasota dining community.
For visitors, it’s an easy yes — walkable from much of downtown, with the kind of menu and atmosphere that makes you want to linger. For locals, it’s worth adding to the regular rotation, especially given the rotating seasonal cocktail experiences and the daily happy hour that makes any Tuesday feel a little more like Saturday.
Wink Wink gets it. And it gets Sarasota.
Wink Wink Food & Drink · 1290 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, FL · (941) 906-1290 · winkwinkmodernlounge.com
