Bid season goodbye with the best Aperol spritzes and appetizers in town

They say time flies when you're having fun. But no one warns you how fast it goes when your mom becomes your neighbor — even just for a season. For the past five months, my "sun-seeker" (that's what she calls herself instead of a snowbird) mom, Amy, has been living on Longboat Key, just a short drive from me in Sarasota. This chapter together has been one of the richest of my life.

We spent weekday evenings in my backyard, exchanging piping hot tea from our two different lives. The luxury of proximity, even temporarily, is something I’ll never take for granted.

As my mom's sun-seeker season winds down and the inevitable “see ya later” looms, I’m planning one final toast — an Aperol spritz (or three) accompanied by small bites at some fantastic local spots. What is Aperol, you might ask? Known for its bittersweet flavor, the orange-colored Italian liqueur is an aperitivo, but in my opinion, it's best paired with prosecco.

This isn’t just a roundup of Sarasota and Manatee’s best Aperol spritzes and appetizers; it's a love letter to the little things, the sunset toasts and to Amy season. 

Here’s where we’ll be saying “cheers” one last time … for now.

Perspective Rooftop Pool Bar at Art Ovation Hotel

1255 N. Palm Ave 8th Floor, Sarasota; 941-316-0808; perspectiverooftopbar.com

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Orange You Glad We Ordered Another: My mom first came to Sarasota in the '70s, me in the 80's, back when the vibe was sleepy. The skyline? Practically non-existent. Looking out at the city from this chic downtown rooftop, watching it shimmer into something new, something more, all the while sipping a spritz? It's something else. The pool bar's version of the Aperol spritz ($16) swaps tradition for a little edge: a hit of Tito’s vodka, then prosecco and a bright orange twist pulls it all together. It’s bold, familiar and a little different than the original — kind of like Sarasota County.

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Life’s Too Short to Wait for the Entrée: Dig into Southern Fried Chicken Tenders ($17), cooked perfectly crispy and juicy to the core, served with fries that disappeared faster than we expected. Hunting for something healthier and a tad more posh to be paired with your bubbly cocktail? The charcuterie board ($26) has a medley of cured meats, sharp cheeses, olives, dijon mustard and toasty bread. This isn't just a happy hour — it's a toast to every version of Sarasota we’ve loved and every memory it still holds for us both.

Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub

760 Broadway St, Longboat Key; 941-383-2391; marvistadining.com

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Orange You Glad We Ordered Another: This is not your average spritz — this is a vacation in a glass. I know Mom might be hesitant to leave orange at the door, but Mar Vista's pineapple Aperol spritz takes everything about the classic and gives it a golden-hour glow-up. The sun-kissed fusion of pineapple rum, golden Chartreuse, fresh-squeezed lemon and a bittersweet splash of Aperol is shaken to perfection and poured over lots of ice cubes. Why would Amy want to ever live or drink spritzes anywhere else?

Life’s Too Short to Wait for the Entrée: These are not the freezer tots of our youth. Mar Vista's tater tots ($19) are crispy golden bites of potato heaven, amped up with caramelized onion, melty pepper jack and, let me wipe off my drool, chipotle honey mustard that I dream of. Looking for seafood? Snack on the sweet and spicy shrimp ($19), lightly breaded shrimp with siracha aioli and Asian slaw. These apps are tasty on their own. Paired with a spritz? Perfection. Paired with my mom on a breezy dockside evening? Unforgettable.

131 MAIN Restaurant

6608 University Pkwy, Sarasota; 941-394-0131; 131-main.com/lakewood-ranch

Orange You Glad We Ordered Another: We’ve had our eyes on this spot since we heard the first whisper of its arrival a year ago. It was worth the wait, especially when it ends with an Aperol spritz ($14) made with prosecco, Aperol liqueur, club soda and orange. As you sit at this brand new eatery, listening to the soft music that floats through the air as the chatter from other tables fades into a hum, that fresh taste of spritz serves as the most sensational part of your evening.

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Life’s Too Short to Wait for the Entrée: The Ahi tuna stack ($21) isn’t just a dish, it's a moment. Sushi-grade tuna layered poke-style with sweet mango and silky sriracha mayo, served with buttery toast points that are the classiest of chips, is a delicate bite that’s balanced with just the right amount of heat. This app is flavor-packed. Teamed up with a spritz, it's the kind of moment you want to bottle up and sip on forever (especially with your mom by your side).