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.