Things to Do Indoors in Sarasota
Rainy day in Sarasota? Whether the forecast has you stuck inside or you're just looking to escape the summer heat, there's no shortage of indoor things to do. From museums and movie theaters to arcades, escape rooms, and cozy cafés — here are the best indoor activities across the area.
Museums & Aquariums
Mote is one of the best aquariums on the Gulf Coast and is fully indoor. The Ringling is partly outdoors, but the indoor galleries and Circus Museum hold up on their own.
The Ringling Museum
A 66-acre estate combining a world-class art museum, the gilded Ca' d'Zan mansion, a circus museum, and beautiful bayfront gardens.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
A brand new, three-story aquarium featuring sharks, manatees, sea turtles, and interactive research exhibits — built by actual marine scientists.
Sarasota Art Museum
Contemporary art museum housed in a beautifully converted old high school, with rotating exhibitions and a solid bistro. Free on second Sundays.
Performing Arts
Catching a show is one of the best ways to spend an evening indoors. Sarasota's venues range from intimate 150-seat theaters to the 1,700-seat Van Wezel.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Sarasota's iconic purple seashell-shaped performing arts hall on the bayfront, hosting Broadway tours, concerts, comedy acts, and the Sarasota Orchestra.
Asolo Repertory Theatre
One of Florida's premier professional theaters performing on the Ringling campus with a mix of classics, new works, and musicals year-round.
Florida Studio Theatre
Sarasota's contemporary theatre with five intimate stages in the heart of downtown, known for new plays, cabarets, improv, and its popular Winter Fest.
McCurdy's Comedy Club
Sarasota's go-to comedy club featuring touring national headliners and local talent, with a full bar and intimate showroom setting.
Sarasota Opera House
A nationally recognized opera company performing in a beautifully restored 1926 Mediterranean Revival opera house downtown.
Arcades & Family Entertainment
Big, loud, air-conditioned, and endlessly entertaining.
Livingston's Amusements
A family entertainment center with go-karts, mini golf, bumper boats, an arcade, and batting cages — classic fun for kids and families.
Arcade Monsters
A retro arcade bar with 100+ classic and modern arcade games, pinball machines, craft beer, and a nostalgic vibe. Great for date nights and rainy days.
Bowlero Gulf Gate
A 40-lane bowling alley on South Tamiami Trail with an arcade, sports bar, and full food menu. Hosts leagues, birthday parties, and weekly specials.
Escape Rooms
A perfect 60-90 minute activity — long enough to feel like a real outing, short enough to pair with dinner.
Escapology Sarasota
A national-chain escape room venue with multiple themed games ranging from mystery to horror. Private bookings only, with a Kids Mode option for families.
Evasive Escape Rooms
A locally owned venue known for story-driven, immersive rooms with strong reviews and an award-nominated horror experience.
Escape Room Sarasota
Sarasota's longest-running escape room — an independent, locally owned venue on South Tamiami Trail offering private group experiences.
Mysterium Escape Rooms & VR
A hybrid venue offering traditional escape rooms alongside multiplayer VR games and an arcade bar — variety in one spot.
Movie Theaters
For mainstream releases, there's CMX CineBistro near Siesta Key (with in-seat dining) and Regal Hollywood downtown. For indie and art-house films, the Sarasota Film Society runs two cinemas.
Burns Court Cinemas
Sarasota's go-to for indie, art-house, and foreign films, operated by the Sarasota Film Society. A small, beloved theater in the heart of downtown's Burns Court district.
Lakewood Ranch Cinemas
The Sarasota Film Society's Lakewood Ranch location, showing a mix of independent, foreign, and mainstream films. A great alternative to the standard multiplex experience.
Libraries
Sarasota's libraries aren't just for books — they're genuinely nice public spaces with events, kids' programming, and quiet seating.
Selby Public Library
Sarasota's main downtown library with free WiFi, community meeting rooms, a maker space, and regular programming for all ages.
Lakewood Ranch Library
A modern, spacious library serving the Lakewood Ranch area with a strong kids' programming calendar — storytimes, summer reading programs, LEGO clubs, and craft workshops.
Fruitville Library
A well-loved neighborhood branch in eastern Sarasota with regular kids' events, a large children's section, and a quiet study area for adults.
Gulf Gate Library
A cozy neighborhood library in the Gulf Gate area with weekly storytimes, tech workshops, and a surprisingly robust calendar of community events.
Shopping
For a day of genuinely indoor shopping, The Mall at University Town Center (UTC) is the go-to — two levels, full air conditioning, a food court, sit-down restaurants, and a mix of national brands and local stores. It's the only enclosed mall in the area.
Breweries
Sarasota has a growing brewery scene with taprooms that double as social hubs. Big Top Brewing has a spacious taproom with regular trivia nights and live music. Sun King Brewing brought its Indiana-based craft beer to Sarasota in 2022 and has a lively taproom with rotating beers. Calusa Brewing is a local favorite with a modern taproom and hop-forward beers.
Coffee Shops
For a slower start to a rainy day, a few local coffee shops are worth lingering in. Of Kors Cafe is a cozy European-style café. Perq Coffee Bar offers specialty coffee with a welcoming atmosphere. Breaking Wave Coffee is a local favorite for quality coffee in a relaxed setting.
Hotel Lobby Bars
Sarasota's upscale hotels have bars and lounges that are open to the public — great cocktails, elegant atmosphere, and a step up from the typical restaurant bar. The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota has a polished lobby bar with bayfront views, and The Resort at Longboat Key Club offers waterfront cocktail lounges with a quieter, resort atmosphere.
Spa & Wellness
If you're looking to escape the weather entirely and come out feeling better than when you went in, Sarasota has options at every price point. Spa Experience Siesta Key offers a full menu of massages, facials, and body treatments. Evolve Wellness Spa focuses on wellness with treatments from massage to infrared sauna. For the luxury end, The Ritz-Carlton Spa has a full-service resort spa with a relaxation lounge and fitness center.
