As parents who have plenty of experience taking kids to restaurants on the Key, here are our favorite 6 family-friendly restaurants on Siesta Key.
The Best Kids’ Meals on Siesta Key
1. Captain Curt’s Crab & Oyster Bar
- Location: 1200 Old Stickney Point Rd, Sarasota, Florida, 34242
Right across the street from Sea Shell Condos is one of the best places on the Key to eat with kids. Relaxed and casual, there’s plenty of room for families to spread out. The large, outdoor seating area means you don’t have to worry about keeping even the most enthusiastic tots quiet.
Food choices are excellent as well. Children 12 and under can choose from six dinners that include fries or applesauce. Best of all, they’re served on a Captain Curt’s frisbee they can play with on the beach after their meal. At only $8 per meal, it’s a great deal!
After dinner, take a stroll around Captain Curt’s Village and grab an ice cream or coffee for dessert.
2. Daiquiri Deck
- Two Locations: 1250 Stickney Point Rd. and 5250 Ocean Blvd in Siesta Key Village
Daiquiri Deck is a popular local chain that’s known for its daiquiris (of course!) and vast selection of specialty cocktails. But it’s also recommended for its casual, family-friendly atmosphere.
The Stickney Point location is catty-corner from the Sea Shell; you can see the dining room perched on its pillars. The open dining area draws a pleasant breeze that keeps things cool and comfortable. They offer a “Guppy Menu” for children 12 and under with seven $12 dinner choices. Meals include a side of fries with dill dip, mac and cheese, sweet plantains, tomato parmesan bisque, or orange slices. And, again, a frisbee! The Siesta Key Village location offers the same menu.
Host Tip: Daiquiri Deck is also a good choice for happy hour for adults. It runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with live music at both locations. Want to see the sunset while you drink or dine? The elevated dining area offers a nice view over the rooftops of the condos across the street.
3. The Old Salty Dog
- Location: 5023 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34242
This iconic three-location staple got its start on the Key in 1985. Featuring a large, shaded, open-air patio, the atmosphere is quintessential Florida beach dining. And speaking of sunsets, the patio is a great space to bask in the glow of the sun setting over the Gulf. In addition to hot dogs – the restaurant is famous for the “Salty Dog”, a ¼ pound hot dog dipped in batter and fried – its menu focuses on classic American fare.
The Salty Dog’s kids’ menu offers the widest range of entrées, with nine $9 meals that include a drink. “Pups 12 and under” can also choose from four side dish options. Once again, meals are served on a frisbee.
While we’ve been focusing primarily on kids in this article, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that the Old Salty Dog, true to its name, is famous for its dog-friendly atmosphere as well. They love dogs and encourage owners to bring them in, photograph them, and post the pics to their Facebook and Instagram pages.
4. The Hub Baja Grill
- Location: 5148 Ocean Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34242
Located on a bustling corner of Siesta Key Village, the Hub offers good food, a fun atmosphere, and live music every day. The family-friendly energy here is inviting for all ages.
Their kid’s menu is also the entertainment: it’s a coloring page with a silly beach theme. There are five choices for kids 10 and under, served with fries or fruit, and includes a fountain drink. At $6.99 each, it’s the best deal on the Key for kids.
But adults will love it too. The food gets rave reviews, and we can personally recommend anything on the appetizer menu.
Pro Tip: If you’re staying at the Sea Shell, or anywhere else south of the Village, you can hop on the free trolley and ride to the Village. It’s very convenient, and kids love it!
5. Turtles Restaurant
- Location: 8875 Midnight Pass Rd, Sarasota, FL 34242
We always recommend that our guests visit each of Siesta Key’s three beautiful beaches while they’re here. And this restaurant is just the place to stop for a meal when you check out Turtle Beach, just south of the Sea Shell.
Turtles on Little Sarasota Bay touts itself as the “best family restaurant in Sarasota. It is only one of two waterfront restaurants on Siesta Key. The other is Ophelias, which is also in Turtle Beach.
The view offers a free entertainment option for kids, and the menu is a coloring page. It offers eight $10 meals for kids 12 and up, with the option to add a drink for $3.99. The large, outdoor seating area means there shouldn’t be much of a wait, even during high season.
6. Siesta Beach Eats
- Location: 948 Beach Rd.
Siesta Beach Eats is located at Siesta Key Public Beach – again, worth checking out. Downstairs is the San Pavilion and upstairs is the Sun Deck. Both offer open-air seating.
The kids menu is limited, just chicken tenders or a hot dog. It’s earned its spot on this list of our favorite 6 family-friendly restaurants on Siesta Key because of how it’s served: in a cute souvenir sand pail. The price is $10, and it comes with a soda.
For more awesome restaurant recommendations, check out our Dining & Shopping page! Love a Brunch? We have suggestions for the best breakfast, brunch, and coffee spots on Siesta Key, too!
