Known by locals as "Hillview Street", Southside Village is a shopping, dining, and Sarasota live music district located at the intersection of Osprey Avenue and Hillview Street, behind Sarasota Memorial Hospital just west of Tamiami Trail. During the day, Southside Village is a popular lunch spot for hospital staff, tourists, and locals driving through. At night, it's a magnet for socializing, with dining, dancing, and drinking choices for various tastes.
Morton's Market, on Osprey Avenue, is a cornucopia of gourmet treats, from fresh-made hot foods, deli, salads, and soups to grocery items, baked goods, meats and cheeses. Across from Morton's, Libby's restaurant is a destination for lunch and dinner, with lots of outdoor tables along Osprey, perfect for seeing and being seen.
On Hillview Street, Pacific Rim has a loyal following, with its menu of pan-Asian specialties. Closer to Tamiami Trail, on Hillview Street, Gateway to India transports you to the exotic east, with its colorful decor and delish menu of Indian cuisine. A few doors down, Chutney's, celebrating 22 years in this location, competes with Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. In Southside Village, there are also restaurants offering French and Italian cuisines, American deli, coffee and lollicakes, as well as a Hungarian tea house on Hillview Street. The Serving Spoon, on Osprey Avenue, is a popular breakfast and lunch diner.
There are several boutiques in Southside Village. For instance, you can accessorize the outfits you find at Fifi's Consignment shop on Osprey Avenue with with jewelry from Silver Obsession, on Hillview Street near Pacific Rim.
If you're a knitter or needlepointer, you'll find a store full of colorful yarns and supplies at Eye of the Needle on Osprey Avenue.
In addition to the shops and restaurants, Southside Village is a convenient location to get your hair styled at one of several salons on Hillview Street.
At night, Hillview Street gets lively with rock and blues music floating out the door of the 5 O'Clock Club. Other nightspots come and go, but the 5 O' provides the backbone of live music and dancing in Southside Village. On Monday nights, the Blues Jam draws talented musicians from all over town, who take the stage to show off their chops. Thursday night is reggae night with Democracy. You can arrive in casual or fancy dress to dance in front of the band. The volume is loud, so get there early and bring ear plugs if you're sensitive. Nevertheless, it's fun to join in the fun.
