OH MY GOODNESS, where has this ice cream and fudge been all my life?!…read more I think it's an East Coast company, but California needs one of these ASAP. I stopped in late Wednesday night and sampled some of their fudge. It was absolutely amazing. Heavenly Slice Fudge truly lived up to its name. I also tried a sample of their Caramel Sea Salt ice cream, and it was a 10/10. Ultimately, I chose not to buy anything that night since I hadn't eaten dinner yet, but I knew for sure I was coming back the next day. On Thursday night, I brought all my coworkers with me since we were in town for a work trip. I ordered a waffle bowl with a scoop of the Caramel Sea Salt Chocolate ice cream, and it did not disappoint. I usually end my reviews by saying, "If I'm ever in the area again, I'll be back." For this place, I WILL be back--even if that means taking myself to the area just to get more ice cream.

BLUF: Good ice cream in St. Armands circle and even better when it's not crowded…read more Yes, I like Kilwins ice cream and I love it when I don't have to find a parking spot or wait in line. This Kilwins is located in St. Armand's Circle. Given that, parking can be tricky and lines can be long. Conveniently, this Kilwins was in walking distance to my hotel on a recent stay in Lido Key so I was sure to stop by for a scoop. Also, I am glad to see Kilwins was able to renovate and recover after back-to-back Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton hit the area. I wouldn't drive to St. Armands Circle and fight parking just for Kilwins but if in the area and craving a sweet treat, Kilwins has visitors covered with ice cream, fudge and candy.

Posh chocolatier inside UTC mall. They had an array of chocolate candies and treats using chocolate…read morefrom Switzerland. I sampled a few items before deciding on a piece to take home. Very friendly staff and the chocolate tastes amazing!

Went to one of these in NYC and was super happy to see they had one in Sarasota. Spent a bit too…read moremuch (because we got a decent amount since we don't live here) but very happy with our choices. Plus they're good quality so we savor them which makes them last longer at our house.

They have a wide range of candies from different countries. There was a lot of different varieties…read more(sours, chocolates, licorice, etc). I came specifically for the Bubs and it was $25 for 1 pound. It felt a little more expensive. I also presented the Yelp coupon for 20% off and they said they haven't accepted that for years so seems a little outdated. The bubs were a little harder and not as chewy as Bubs I've had from other places unfortunately.

A definitely must try for any elite yelper or foodie in sarasota. I am a little confused by the…read morenegative reviews. It seems some people expect American style service even when they go into non-American run establishments. The candy is 10$/lb. The 4.99 signs are for 8oz. Now that we have established basic math other reviews seem to not understand I can tell you about this gem in sarasota. Some of the goodies are made by the small company itself, while many are international. You can choose an assortment. Grab a bag and a tool. There are also Individual international items. This place is quite large for a candy store and I almost couldn't get my boyfriend to leave. The packs of candy are a little fresher than the jars, but that is to be expected. I will definitely return.

Small shop that may go unnoticed in this strip of shops on Gulf Gate Dr. I often get care packages…read moreof various chocolatey items from this shop on appropriate holidays from my mom (even though I am no longer in college). I have visited on a few occasions myself as well. My mother is addicted to their bark, and I loved the truffles that I have sampled, especially the one with cayenne. The employees are always very friendly and helpful. Stop in and give it a look next time you are driving by.

Great selection, seasonal options but can be a bit pricey. They Offer a punch card which is great…read morehowever. Location is right off 41 too so its very easy to access.

We really wanted a coffee while we walked around and this was the only place we could find but it…read morewas so good. They should definitely market their coffee options more as they were delicious. We tried the chocolate stout latte iced and got several macarons. Parking is on street with park mobile app! They have a great selection of macarons with creative flavors like champagne, caramel banana, coffee, and coconut. Staff was super sweet and welcoming here.

Le Macaron French Pastries is a favorite of mine! I fell in love with their Lavender White…read moreChocolate Macaron a couple years ago. This time was no different! I bought a box of six. I was lucky I even made it home from our trip with any left in the box! To drink, you guessed it, I had the iced Lavender Coffee! It was so flavorful and refreshing. Le Macaron French Pastries still has my heart. Until next time!

Very nice vibes at this bakery…read more All their food is great. I liked the Cortado and the Honey Cake with pistachios. They have gluten free options as well.

We been to this place twice during this trip. First time was with the family and it was a big group…read moreand they were able to cater all of us! I got a cake and a croissant sandwich, the cake was very hard to eat, but it's very tasty. I got a smoked salmon, croissant sandwich and it was very yummy. The cheesecake would dense and creamy, pair perfectly with the jam on top. My sister-in-law got her Matcha and she tried it and it was not that good. Plus she found a bug in her drink. They were able to issue her refund. So maybe don't get the Matcha The second time we've been here it got more busy. It's harder to find parking, but I got ahi tuna, it tasted good at first, but there were some greens taste too leafy that I don't know how to describe. It's not my personal favorite. Maybe it is for other people, but the tuna was pretty fresh. The honey cake was the best. I also got a white sangria. It was very refreshing, but don't forget to stir it before drink it because the top was taste like white wine and the bottom was overly sweet. We will definitely come back next time when we visit again

This is a very cute little gelato place with authentic handmade fresh flavors…read more They have fruit gelato, chocolate gelato, and a bunch of other different flavor flavors that are classic and a little bit more un unique. It's all fresh and can come in either a cup or a cone. They also serve cappuccinos, lattes, and espresso if you'd like. There's little seating, but it is offered indoor and outdoor.

Best gelato in town! Dark chocolate dairy free is amazing, Oreo is also SO GOOD!! Highly recommend…read moreyou checking it out!

I will always Stan C'est La Vie in Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch. This location is always busy so get…read morethere early if you have your eyes on a specific pastry. Actually, just get there early anyway because the pastry items are fresher/better. There's indoor and outdoor seating. I typically skip trying to park next to it and just go to the garage and walk over. The service is more attentive than a typical French cafe overseas but not as on top of you as a typical place in the US. You can definitely order at the counter in French if you want to and I've had a waiter there flip between English, French, Spanish, and another language (maybe Romanian?) in one order. The sandwiches I've had were all lovely, and had a little side salad that could benefit from a better dressing (they serve an okay vinaigrette though). I've yet to encounter a single bad pastry - the elcairs, mousse cakes, and flaky pastries like chausson pommes are on par with the typical boulangerie/pattisserie in France and don't make me think US adaptation at all. Prices are reasonable.

If you want to be transported straight to a sidewalk café in Paris without leaving Sarasota, C'est…read moreLa Vie is the place. It's a small, quaint spot with an amazing atmosphere, but definitely be prepared to wait if you're coming for brunch it's very popular for a reason! The wait was absolutely worth it, though. I started with a cappuccino, and it was perfection rich, smooth, and exactly what you need to wake up. For food, the savory crepe was outstanding. It had that perfect authentic texture slightly crisp on the edges and soft in the middle. I also tried the cauliflower soup, which was a surprising highlight. It was incredibly creamy and flavorful honestly, one of the best soups I've had in a long time. Highly recommend this gem if you're in the area!