Cafe in the Park

A great location, lovely food, and very accommodating service. We were a large group on a Saturday afternoon with ages 5 – 82 and everyone had a wonderful experience. The kids ate and ran off to play at the playground while the grown-​ups lingered around the table for over an hour and a half.
Favorite foods of the group: Strawberry salad, chicken salad croissant, mango black iced tea. I almost ordered an iced coffee and wished I had!
It was really nice to watch the kids at the playground and then walk over for a cold drink.

Outstanding coffee and delicious gourmet sandwiches! Beautiful park setting to sit and enjoy the food! Watch the owner hand pick the basil for your caprese sandwich while listening to great music! Friendly staff, too.

Notably good service and food in a surprising location. By way of example, the whipped cream is homemade and the proprietor offered to dissolve sugar prior to adding to my iced tea! The menu is thoughtful and reasonably priced. In short, this café is worth visiting, even if you’re not visiting the park itself.

This place is sweet. Its location on the border of Payne Park is lovely, their salads and sandwiches tasty. They try to use organic produce when possible. It’s very simple and casual.

Had a really great lunch here today. This is a hidden gem for lunch. Inside Payne Park. Near playground and skate park but far enough away from them so you do not hear the noise.
The park is a great place to walk and is dog friendly.
Food is fresh and really good. I heard the grilled cheese is excellent but I had the oriental chicken salad which was fresh and very light. Lots of variety. Will be back for sure.

Surprisingly charming. Great little hidden gem with an interesting menu & super fresh ingredients. We tried the lunch special which was their version of a Cuban sandwhich and the «Monte Carlo» (Tomato, Mozerella, Prociutto, Olive Oil, & Pesto) both were delicious. Would definetly reccommend this place for lunch and will absolutely go back to try something else off the menu.

My husband and I were in Sarasota on vacation and we heard several people talking about a great little «gem» in Payne Park for lunch, so, we gave it a try. While certain GPS contraptions make it a little hard to locate, it was worth the effort. We had the Monte Carlo Sandwich and Andalusia Salad (or something like that), they were both awesome. The lady that owns this quaint little spot, Simone, was very pleasant and seemed genuinely interested in making sure we enjoyed our meal.
If you are in Sarasota, this is a place you do not want to miss. Lunch for under $ 10.00 and made from scratch with only fresh ingredients, DON’T let this spot pass you by. Make sure you say hello to Simone.

Visiting this place just before the long park walks.
Today’s deal BLT with avocado. Then a side salad and a Quiche loaded with artichokes hearts and sun dried tomatoes.
Always delicious here but pricey!

Pretty good food in a conveniently located café in Payne park. They use organic ingredients (except for the chicken) and the flavors in the sandwiches work well. The owners are very sweet and care about your experience. Great service here as well. My only complaint is that it’s pretty pricey to eat here.

Hidden gem! If the food and service here continues to be as exceptional as I found it today, this place will be around for years to come. I tried the cuban, Zoe & grilled cheese. Each came with a small side of homemade potato salad that was excellent. Sandwiches were toasted perfectly and portions were spot on. The bread!!! Authentic French baguettes! Prices were decent and the atmosphere was delightful. If you haven’t checked this place out — do it! Perfect place to lunch when downtown. Pretty sure it’s dog friendly as well.

The sandwiches are mouthwatering with a fresh, crisp taste that leaves you in a rapturous state of bliss! Café in the Park has a modern atmosphere while still feeling quaint and welcoming; bask in the scenic views of both Payne Park and downtown Sarasota. To top it off, the women working in the café are friendly, gorgeous and conversational. We took a rain check on orange cake and espresso this time, but will surely be back for our just desserts! A brilliant experience not to be missed!

This is a cute little French inspired café on the park ran by people who care to make you happy. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is welcoming.

Outstanding service and delicious food. I had the Classic Cuban. We will definitely be back! Great meal for a great price. Where else can you enjoy lunch on a winters day looking at palm trees:-)

New café close to Payne park for a quick bite. First, the atmosphere is great, fast friendly service, food was good, prices are a little high for portion size. Café style menu with a decent kids selection. Overall great experience and would recommend.

A curious gem of a place… actually in a city park (where else are you going to find that!). No cars. No street noise. Lovely outdoor seating (and indoor too). We’ve eaten there at least ten times in the short time we’ve known of them. Always good. Reasonable prices. Good coffee. Nice staff. What’s not to love!

Love this café! Modern furniture on a sunny patio, raised up over the park. Healthy ingredients and nice flavor combinations in their sandwiches. What a great place! So glad we found it. The nutella sandwiches are great for kids too. And it’s right next to Circus Playground and the skate park.

For Sunday lunch there was only one cook so it was slow for food to come out. However food was nice & fresh. We had the Monte Carlo (Caprese sandwich with prosciutto), the Pilgrim (turkey, cucumbers, red onions, mayo) & a Cuban.
Baguettes were crunchy, good fresh mozzarella, and the small twists on classics were nice (like the curry mayo). Nice ambience with views of Payne Park. Outdoor seating too.
The cashier taking orders wasn’t very familiar with prices or the menu though. Healthy options for after the kids play at the playground.

Café in the Park is quaint you feel like you stepped out of busy downtown to serene surroundings of the park. The food is fresh, with wonderful salads and sandwiches at reasonable prices. Love the music they have piped through the speakers. The service is very friendly and will be going there a lot.

Café in the Park is an adorable new café in downtown Sarasota right on the edge of Payne Park. My husband and I recently stopped in for lunch and we both loved it, from the amazing food to the light and airy atmosphere. It has that great old meets new vibe with an industrial style ceiling, lots of windows, and a wonderful vintage church pew that offers guests cozy bench seating.
The food is made fresh to order and they offer a great selection of sandwiches featuring artisan breads and locally sourced organic ingredients. I ordered one of the pressed sandwiches, the Dutchie (Rosemary Ham, Gouda & Dijonaise) and it was perfect! My husband had the Pilgrim (Smoked Turkey, curry mayo, red onion, & cucumber) and he thought it was delicious.
We thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Café in the Park right down to the last sip of espresso. We will be back again soon for sure and next time we will bring our little one with us so he can try the pressed Nutella sandwich (and share a bite with his mommy too of course).