New downtown Sarasota bar, restaurant and piano lounge will be a 'place like none other'
Downtown Sarasota boasts an abundance of outstanding restaurants, and there are plenty of bars for those in the mood for a beer, wine, or perhaps a cocktail. If you feel like listening to live music and maybe even dancing, there are a few options available — even if the word “nightclub” seems to make some downtown residents nervous.
In addition to these choices, you’ll find a cigar bar in downtown Sarasota, and if you venture just a bit north to the Rosemary District, there’s even a dog bar. In fact, one of the most exciting local restaurant openings of last year was Boo’s Ice House & Dog Bar, a fun, casual destination for pizza lovers and pooch parents. This year, downtown Sarasota's most buzzed-about bar opening might just be an upscale new establishment specializing in sparkling wine.
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Sugar Champagne Bar opening in downtown Sarasota will be a 'place like none other'
Sugar Champagne Bar is expected to open later this year in downtown Sarasota at 127 S. Pineapple Ave. The high-end bar and piano lounge will serve a "curated selection of fine champagne, wines, spirits, and chef-inspired small plates," according to the press release.
The champagne bar occupies a pink building that has been renovated "while preserving its historic charm, offering a nod to Sarasota's rich cultural heritage." The press release notes that owner Ronnie Shugar, perhaps best known as the co-founder of the lifestyle brand Raw Sugar Living, has invested $4 million into the project.
“Sarasota is known for elegance and excitement, for the arts and fine dining, and Sugar Champagne Bar is a singular collection of those experiences,” Shugar said in a statement. “Stepping inside you’ll know, at first breath, you’re entering a place like none other. As you’re surrounded by pink and champagne, you’ll find there’s a new discovery with every single step.”
The upscale vintage setting is being billed as "regal and resplendent," boasting a theatrical atmosphere highlighted by a custom chandelier and a signature pink piano. Additionally, there will be velvet booths, settees, and counter-height banquet tables.
Sugar Champagne Bar will serve champagne, cocktails and small plates such as caviar
The drink menu will showcase an "exquisite array of champagne and wine labels from prestigious vineyards, curated top-shelf spirits, and masterfully made cocktails, offering a symphony of effervescent delight," according to the press release. The food menu will feature elevated small plates, including what the press release described as "the world’s finest caviar and artisanal desserts."
"Imagine, a warm glow cascades over plush seating arrangements, sophisticated piano notes fill the air, while impeccably dressed, highly trained staff members ensure that every guest's experience is nothing short of extraordinary," reads the press release. "Expect breathtaking design, curated experiences, and a new level of sophistication when the Sugar Champagne Bar opens this fall."
Wade Tatangelo is Ticket Editor for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New downtown Sarasota bar, restaurant to be a 'place like none other'
