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    Rufa

    4.8 (13 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Rufa Photos

    Business Info

    RUFA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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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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    2 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.

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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

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    State Street Eating House + Cocktails

    4.0
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    0.6 mi
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    This place is great. They have an awesome bar on one side and restaurant on the other. We sat in…read morethe private room with our larger group. All of the drinks are great and interesting (shout out to Diors, the bartender!). For apps, we had the mussels, bread service, and duck wings. Do not skip the duck wings - they were a great portion, the meat fell off the bone, and the flavor was phenomenal! For dinner, the group ordered the ribeye, shrimp and grits, chicken sandwich, pork ragu, and fish sandwich. The crowd favorites were the fish sandwich, chicken sandwich, and shrimp and grits. Great spot in downtown Sarasota!

    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 )!

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    The Doctor’s Office

    The Doctor’s Office

    3.9
    (293 reviews)
    15.4 mi
    $$$

    5 Star update- same great craft cocktails but adding that they have wonderful outdoor seating and…read moresome lovely dishes. We grabbed reservations for the outdoor area to enjoy the weather and were thankful for the shady tree cover. This time we opted for some bites and though the menus change seasonally, I would recommend anything featuring tomatoes. They use truly fantastic heirloom tomatoes that remind you what you're missing with the watery ones we get at the grocery store. Also recommend the Mediterranean Platter. It's full of veggies and the dips are YUM. As usual, the cocktails didn't disappoint. It's never a weekend in AMI without a visit here! Previous Review: 5 Stars for the best cocktails on AMI, and a craft cocktail bar vibe you wouldn't necessarily expect here. (Plus, the service is AMAZING) We walked in (no reservation) after dinner one weekend evening and we were greeted by Matt, who found us a spot at the bar. He gave us menus and a "wellness shot" -- delicious little concoction to wet your palate! Right away I was blown away by the interior and the menu. This looked like it belonged somewhere in Denver or Chicago, but I was thrilled to find it on the island! Matt helped guide us to drinks we'd like on the menu. I ordered the Purgatory, made up of Bourbon, chocolate bitters, agave and premium mezcal. It was divine!! We also ordered some warmed olives, and they were hot and so fragrant. Definitely something I'd order again at the bar. I was stoked to see they have a veggie-specific section on the food menu and can't wait to go back for dinner. I'll definitely make a reservation though, as it was pretty full. Next time, in terms of drinks, I have my eyes on the espresso martini (off menu, but saw a pic on Yelp), and the kiss kiss bang bang. Thanks to Matt and Emily who helped us with our drinks along the way. Sometimes these fabulous craft bars can be pretentious, but the service here was a huge standout. Can't wait to return!

    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
    (54 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!

    Photos
    Inside restaurant
    Inside restaurant
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    Café On St. Armands

    Café On St. Armands

    4.4
    (58 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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    Rufa - cocktailbars - Updated July 2026

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