Major enhancements are on the way to the Café L’Europe experience.

As we prepare for the restaurant’s 50th season, Oysters Rock Hospitality is developing the guest experience we call the “Renaissance Era” of Café L’Europe. 

Within the next few months, you will notice physical transformations of our space, both inside the restaurant and outside.  Keep reading for a sneak peek and some insights from our construction manager, Trey Horne of Oysters Rock Hospitality.

Meanwhile, we’re leaning deep into European culinary tradition to inspire the next dining menu, composed of house-made dishes and hand-crafted cocktails using local, sustainable ingredients. We’re refreshing the brand visuals and aesthetic while reimagining what impeccable hospitality means to today’s guests.

Our goal is to walk the tightrope between past and future:

  • To honor the traditions of Sarasota’s families over the years.
  • To welcome the next generation of diners and visitors to our beautiful area.
  • To celebrate the history of a place that once housed the real estate office of Sarasota’s most famous resident, John Ringling.
  • To carefully craft – and deliver – a Five Star Fun experience.

Stay tuned to our social media for progress updates, or simply stop by to enjoy a meal with us to see for yourself! Our goal during our Renaissance is to remain open to serve you as much as possible, without slowing our contractors.

Please be advised that there may be a short period when construction will necessitate an operational pause. We’ll be sure to keep you updated, and when we’re ready to make a splash with a grand unveiling, join our email list to be the first to know. Cheers to the 50 years of Café L’Europe, and to you, for your support!

– Amanda & John Horne and the Oysters Rock team

Construction Update

The Café L’Europe refresh is a fun and exciting project for Oysters Rock Hospitality.  Interior Designer Karen Barber has helped us design a restaurant that walks the tight rope between old and new, and also balances a sense of place between Florida and Europe.

This legendary restaurant has not really undergone any significant alterations to the space since it opened in 1973.  At the time, bar seating was not as sought-after as it is today, so one of the biggest transformations will be relocating the bar into a chic new lounge space, into the room where the piano is currently, and expanding its seating capacity to fit about 16 people.

In addition to the bar/lounge being a new must-go destination in Sarasota, we are turning the two private dining rooms into an elegant, classic space perfect for your next event.  These spaces will also include state-of-the-art Audio-Video system that can be used to display a presentation when needed, or display an iconic piece of art when not in use.

Plus, the front room with the best people watching on St. Armands Circle will retain its Old World feel, but be a bit brighter with the addition of more glass paneling to allow more natural light to filter through our space.

We hope that you will love the NEW Cafe L’Europe as much as we do already, and we can’t wait to welcome you.  Expect construction to take place between November and January, and that our team of hospitality professionals will do our absolute best to mitigate disruption to your dining experience.