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    Rufa

    4.8 (13 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Rufa Photos

    Business Info

    RUFA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Rufa

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    Reviews With Photos

    Al Pastor Chicken Skewers
    Marion H.

    Sooo, Rufa was a perfect spot to chill while waiting for the check-in line at the Ritz to die down. We came while the weather was just right, and the bar's view of the marina made it even better. Our bartender was super sweet and helpful with the menu. Everything we ordered was fresh and delicious--we just grabbed a few appetizers to hold us over, and they hit the spot. If you're staying at the hotel, I'd definitely recommend giving it a try! What Was Ordered: Signature Guacamole = Fresh & mixed just right Beef Tenderloin Tacos = Tasty Al Pastor Chicken Skewers = Cooked just right

    Artist
    Sharlene F.

    I was invited to check this place out and it was truly an amazing experience! Such an awesome sunset, the location is so close to the water. The views were immaculate, the drinks were so refreshing and good, I had the guacamole, the birria tacos and the lobster appetizer and it was all a 10. I love the fact that you can visit this location without having to stay at the hotel. They had a live dj that had the tunes and had the place moving with a good time. I cannot wait to come back and experience the service I received again! All the servers were super friendly and helpful with what to order. I will be back!

    Golden eagle
    Jacquie C.

    We finished the day at the main hotel and saw a gorgeous sunset and had some amazing drinks with Jillian at Rufa. My husband loved the "golden eagle" served in a smoked glass case. Everyone was so professional and dedicated. Highly recommend. Advice, make reservations.

    Jill B.

    Amazing drinks (pricey around 20-$30). Amazing guacamole. Seats are very uncomfortable

    Drinks
    Allison G.

    Would 100% recommend this place for cocktails/apps with a fantastic view. I booked this place for some pre-dinner cocktails for my friend's bachelorette and it was the perfect vibe for that with great backdrop for pics too! Employees were all very nice & attentive.

    Mocktail (purple), lobster tostados (3 perfect bite size pieces), and their smoky mezcal drink (falcon)
    Jessica G.

    Amazing cocktails and delicious shareable plates. I had a mocktail and my friend had their smoky mezcal drink (falcon I think)- smelled amazing and fun tableside presentation. We had the lobster tostadas and potato taquitos, but it was so hard to choose. We wanted to try them all! It rained unexpectedly before our reservation so the lounge area was closed, but all of the staff were extremely accommodating in getting us seated at the bar area with blankets. Definitely would return!

    Sunset view from our table
    Breaunna O.

    I absolutely adore this place. We actually took a stop here just for drinks, and it is stunning! The host and the servers are so kind and attentive. It was a bit chilly since the sun was setting, they noticed we were shivering a bit and they even offered blankets! The drinks are very tasty, they love their patron! However, be prepared to spend a few bucks here it's pretty pricey. if you're looking for some snacks, they're guacamole is huge! I am used to spicy guacamole, so I was a bit sad that they didn't have a spicy option. However, the server was so kind to offer us a mango salsa that they usually put on their chicken to add to the guacamole, and it turned out great. I would definitely recommend coming approximately 45 minutes to an hour before sunset so you could have the beautiful Florida sun be on you for the last couple minutes until you see the amazing sunset! If it does get chilly outside, they even have a fire pit in the center to warm things up

    Rufa sign

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    Photo of Beth P.
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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Amazing views and the food was pretty good. Also loved our server, she was so sweet and friendly.

    Helpful 1
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    Ask the Community - Rufa

    Do they have vegan food options?

    Hey! Their dishes can definitely be modified. For example if you'd like the guacamole, they won't add the cotija cheese on top. They're very accommodating so long as you let the server know when you get there. Hope this helps!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Rufa

    We finished the day at the main hotel and saw a gorgeous sunset and had some amazing drinks with Jillian at Rufa.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Beso

    Beso

    4.5
    (169 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Beso Sarasota was a really great dinner with our close friends and our kids, and it ended up being…read morea very smooth and enjoyable experience. Service was excellent--the pacing of the food was especially well done, with dishes coming out at just the right intervals so we could actually enjoy everything as it arrived. Cocktails were well made, and our friends were very happy with the wine selection. We ordered a large portion of the menu, and most dishes were really flavorful and well executed, very true to what tapas dining should feel like. The only two things that didn't quite work for me were the vegetable paella and the mushroom toast, but everything else was solid to excellent. They also did a great job accommodating us with kids. We had a nice semi-private table upstairs, which made the whole dinner feel comfortable and easy for a group. Overall, it's a great place for both groups and date nights, and I'd happily return.

    Was a very busy night downtown. Parked on the 5th level of the State Street parking ramp and the…read moreelevator was out of order! Not the best start. We ordered the watermelon salad and the Queso de Cabra. Both were very good. We then ordered the lamb skewers, the beef cheeks, shrimp and the potatoes. Everything was good except for the shrimp. We had the Flan for dessert which was great. The restaurant is very noisy so I would suggest getting an outdoor table. Our server was terrific with great service and suggestions. The restaurant has an upstairs, downstairs, bar and outdoor seating. We also enjoyed the Sangria. Our friend ordered a gin and tonic and a glass of white wine. He complained to the server how small the glasses were. Our bill for four of us was $260 which is way too high for the size of the portions.

    Photos
    Modern bar display.
    Modern bar display.
    Paella Mariscos
    Paella Mariscos
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    State Street Eating House + Cocktails

    State Street Eating House + Cocktails

    4.0
    (296 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Took a group of friends visiting from Jax for a girls' night out and definitely picked the right…read moreplace. Food: delicious and creative. Every one of the five different entrees merits the five-star rating. Service: exceptional. Our server, Mr. Lenza, was beyond what even the most demanding of customer could want. Engaging, knowledgeable (about many, many things that extended beyond entree questions), fun, and attentive (but not overly so; he hit the perfect mark). Ambiance: upscale-fun meets modern-artisan. Bonus was meeting one of the owners who entertained us with hidden "duck" tales [lol; intrigue intended]. This will be my go-to spot for guests in the future (as well as for me when I'm craving creative & tasty cuisine). Well done, SSEH, well done (& I'm not just talking how to prep my burger )!

    Our group booked brunch here for 2 groups during a wedding weekend and wow, this is the spot! They…read moresat us in a cool little private room tucked in the back. The cocktail variety was top notch and all the food was delicious. Our group enjoyed the avocado toast with the whole wheat sourdough, noting the bread was so good. We also had the pork sandwich and naked burger. All solid choices. The specialty that day was biscuits and gravy with the most amazing gravy with a little spice. Our server Kristy was so lovely and took care of us so much. I would definitely recommend checking this out for Brunch and it looks like they have some great Lunch and Dinner options. The little outdoor patio would be great for nice weather.

    Photos
    State Street Eating House + Cocktails
    State Street Eating House + Cocktails
    State Street Eating House + Cocktails

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    The Doctor’s Office

    The Doctor’s Office

    3.9
    (290 reviews)
    15.4 mi
    $$$

    Ok. I've done all sorts of Yelp searches for this area, and but somehow i missed this place on my…read moreradar. As we wandered about looking for someplace for dinner (the place we had intended for the evening was maxed out with one large party, so needed to look elsewhere) realized we just happened upon a place we had driven by a couple of times called "The Doctors Office". They had a beautiful garden area outside where people were dining, but it was a pretty warm night, so decided to check out the inside - where we found a really cool space and were greeted by the host asking: "Do you have an appointment?" (Get it? Doctors office...reservations...appointment!? Too cute a play on the doctor's office thing! : ) Well, we did NOT have said appointment (and the main dining area was quite full!) but thankfully there was one table remaining in the back lounge area, which was through a hidden door made to look like a bookshelf! This area also had its own cool vibe. Waiter (Matt) immediately placed two little medicine cups in front of us - to sample their cherry rum punch. Delish. I ordered a cocktail (cannot recall the name but along the lines of a manhattan) while my DH stayed with red wine (boooooo-ring! ; ) We shared the smoked salmon appetizer (super yummo!) Then on to dinner. OK, we're talking seafood country here! But, over the course of the several days we've been here, I ordered seafood every single time. I adore seafood but was ready for something else. So, was being realistic when I ordered something on the beef realm. Got the short rib dish and it did not disappoint. It was excellent. Maybe not the "easily shredded with a fork" ones I have had elsewhere, but certainly super tasty and not at all tough or fatty. DH got the shrimp-lobster tacos and said they were incredible! No leftovers coming home with this guy! Our waiter, Matt, was new to this establishment (but not waitering) and was attentive and personable - above and beyond. Would highly recommend. No, you're not going to get any water views (this place is sort of hidden away in an obscure spot behind a plaza) but well worth the visit!

    Have been wanting to go to this place for years and finally went and unfortunately it was…read moreunderwhelming. I feel like the drinks used to be a lot more creative from what I saw on their socials and from what my friend said who went back in the day it used to be more of a speakeasy elevated cocktail vibe versus a tiki/dive bar vibe. We had to ask for the chips that are supposed to be given complimentary and then we ordered bread and soup which literally took an unnecessary like 30 mins or more to come out as we watched the people on both sides of us get their full meals before us when we got items that just had to be reheated. The tomato soup was very good once it finally came out, the rolls were good but nothing as great as the hype in my opinion for the menu. The drinks were good but honestly the starter shot given at the bar was my favorite which was a hibiscus Pom margarita which I ended up getting fully as my second drink. Service started out hot but then went downhill but that is unfortunately the standard of when gratuity is already included in a check. Then when it came time to pay it got weird when there was a simple mix up when my friend intentionally overpaid even with gratuity involved in her check and the bartender asked her if she wanted change and she said yes but never brought it back. My friend gave 3 - 20s on a $38 check (gratuity) already in but she wanted to tip a few more dollars because she is a very generous person and then when she asked about her change that's when it got weird and the bartender made it seem like she didn't understand why she wanted change instead of just apologizing for the mistake and they went back and forth for a few minutes with the bartender ending up just giving her the extra $20 back. Just left a weird taste in our mouths for the experience when I feel like any bartender would understand what she wanted to do with giving extra larger bills to split especially when she said she wanted change and it was a massive overpayment or if the thought there was a very generous tip like 30% would make sure with guest that's what they want and show appreciation if that were the case. It was just weird how it all was handled. The decor was on point for Christmas and the vibe was very casual but oldie vibes which makes sense for it being in Anna Maria island.

    Photos
    Dude who stayed too long
    Dude who stayed too long
    Praline Alexandra with homemade ice cream!
    Praline Alexandra with homemade ice cream!
    Old fashioned, cinnamon stick that looks like a cigarette

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    Wink Wink Food & Drink

    Wink Wink Food & Drink

    4.3
    (53 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    What an absolute gem of a restaurant. The ambiance is artsy, whimsical, fun--and it all just works…read more Really well. Our server, Juliana, provided absolute perfection. She was bright, effervescent, eager to please, extremely knowledgeable about every drink and food item on the menu, always present when needed but never hovering. She has perfected her craft and it made for a wonderful experience. The menu is written with flair and verve, and every offering seems irresistible. We wanted to try everything, but of course couldn't, so we made do with a couple of their signature cocktails (wonderful), a flatbread appetizer (also wonderful) and the very delicious meat loaf and the gemelli pasta entrees. I 10 out of 10 in every respect. We were quite concerned that we were the only patrons in the restaurant during our entire meal. It was early on a Tuesday evening in low season, but still. I hope more folks discover Wink Wink as it would be a shame to lose such a treasure. I would think they might want to consider offering a happy hour to boost things a bit. On the other hand, they could be doing very well and we just hit an off night. Go. Try it. The whole experience will be very entertaining with the art and whimsy of the decor and the menu. Great vibes. and the service and food were wonderful.

    There's a floral pop up event of some sort going on The food…read morewas great! And the drinks were unique and tasted even better! The charcuterie was like a dream, and the Popsicle champagne drink wasn't too shabby! The service was good, and it wasn't too busy when I went. There's definitely photo ops for days for all my fellow content creators! The manger was friendly as well, and was nice enough to check in on all the guests here and there. Will def come back soon!

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    Inside restaurant
    Inside restaurant
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    Pickled Eggs
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    Café On St. Armands

    Café On St. Armands

    4.4
    (56 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    For Mothers Day,I wanted to try something different and booked Cafe on St. Armand's- where Cafe…read moreEurope use to be. The restaurant is very large offering both indoor and outdoor dining. Inside has 3 rooms; bar area, and two dining rooms. Mediterranean tapas inspired menu- we shared some small plates. The grilled octopus, chicken souvlaki, kefta pita( my favorite) and Moroccan hot honey sliders. Everything was delicious and the drinks complimented the entrees. My Spanish gin and tonic was very different (good) and beautifully prepared. My wife had lemon- lavender tequila and Paloma and both were refreshing. Luis was a terrific server who made some recommendations and knew the menus. A worthwhile find that deserves another visit- especially during happy hours.

    Such an enjoyable dinner tonight- out on patio... sun setting, people walking St Armand's…read more Our waiter and waitstaff were friendly, attentive and not pushy. They allowed us to enjoy our meal- take our time with drinks and dessert. The Dubai martini was delicious. Same with the espresso martini- smooth and SO good. One of my favs around. The small dirty martini salad was shared by three of us-kale, green olives- loved it. Mushroom Bisque was outstanding. Creamy, rich (but not overly)- and so tasty. Sicilian Pomodoro was also such a wonderful plate. 4 shrimp topped with whipped ricotta and pasta - loved! Shared the Tarta de Santiago for dessert. Light, sweet- love an almonds cake.

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    Bar at Cafe on St Armand
    Bar at Cafe on St Armand
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    Baklava pancakes
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    Rufa - cocktailbars - Updated June 2026

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