Circus-themed hotel opens on Lido Key near St. Armands

A new circus-themed hotel has opened on Lido Key. Cirque St. Armands Beachside, a 135-room luxury property on Benjamin Franklin Drive, pays tribute to Sarasota’s history as a circus town with its design and name.

“Cirque St. Armands Beachside is where Sarasota’s rich circus legacy meets modern luxury,” General Manager Melissa Kaplan says in a statement. 

Each room features floor-to-ceiling windows, a balcony and an “art deco-meets-Big-Top aesthetic,” according to a statement. Ostrich-feather chandeliers, pinstriped columns, golden wall sconces, antique photos and posters, billowing draperies and geometric patterns are among the hotel’s design elements, according to Opal Collection, which manages the property. 

The hotel’s restaurant, Ringside, also incorporates the circus theme. Billboard-sized murals display trapeze artists, and five private booths are set off by velvet drapery. Guests can indulge in a menu filled with gulf seafood and bold-flavored fare at Ringside.

Drinks and small plates are also on tap at the lobby bar and lounge, dubbed Midway. After March, a pool bar called the Ringmaster will also open. Shaped like three rings and designed to bring to mind the “three-ring circus,” the pool will be completed this spring, featuring striped loungers and tent-like cabanas.

“This reimagined boutique hotel brings the magic of the Big Top to life with sophisticated flair. Every detail celebrates the ‘Greatest Show on Earth’ while offering guests the elevated hospitality, upscale accommodations and breathtaking views that define the Opal experience,” Kaplan says. “We’re excited to welcome guests to this one-of-a-kind beachside escape.”

Cirque guests can access a 300-foot stretch of private beach at nearby sister Opal property, Lido Beach Resort, accessible by shuttle, and they can also visit the nearby public Lido Beach.

Reservations are available online, starting in the $240s a night for a king bed with standard view, with higher prices for rooms with multiple beds and/or gulf views.

The property at 233 Benjamin Franklin Drive used to be known as the Holiday Inn on Lido, which was built in 1970. It underwent extensive renovations as Opal Collection rebranded the hotel. 

With the opening of Cirque St. Armands Beachside, Opal Collection manages 28 hotels and resorts on the East Coast, including 22 in Florida. In addition to Lido Beach Resort, the company’s portfolio locally includes The Resort at Longboat Key Club and Zota Beach Resort on Longboat Key.