The Gator Club

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 9

Maura Foxtrot

Its either empty or you have to pay cover. Security and doormen are very rude. Everyone who works here is on drugs, and theyll offer to sell them to you. Fights are common because they over serve people who are already drunk. I saw the barback cut himself while chopping limes and even though blood got all over the fruit, I saw him put it in the container that the bartender used to garnish drinks. Nasty! They also put bar snacks back into the container after customers have run their hands through them. Drinks are weak and overpriced. Bartenders are slow and inattentive, and if youre not a big-tipping regular you may completely be ignored. The clientele is AWFUL. People are so rude, if youre sitting in the parlor upstairs be prepared to be stepped on and have grotesque butts in your face. Youre lucky you even got a seat--there are not enough stools and chairs. NOT handicapped accessible-there are stairs at one entrance and no elevator to get to the second floor. The bands are truly awful and the music is way too loud. Forget about socializing here. Be prepared to wait forever for the bathroom and when you do get in its likely to be covered in vomit. On weekends its extremely packed, impossible to move or dance in. Great place to go if youre a sardine!!

Anna L

I was very disappointed in Gator Club management. Ive been to gator club several times, and had a very good experience till the last couple of weeks. Two weeks ago I lost my phone there, and when I called looking for it two days after the loss, the employee notified me they didn’t find any iPhones. The girl who answered the phone told me she would wait for a manager to open the safe where it could possibly be. Later they called me back saying there is not iPhone. A week later - thanks to the technology- I received a message on my new Iphone, that my lost phone was turned on and located at the specific address. I called police and filed the report. The officer went to the location, and guess who had my iPhone? It was a Gator Clubs owner. Police officer brought my phone back to my apartment, and told me the owner had my phone in her safe all this time, and decided to bring it home to charge it. Remember, they told me they didn’t have my phone. On the screen my lost phone had a message: “it is a lost phone, please call this.. number” The owner had never called that number. I just found it to be very suspicious. It is shameful for somebody to hurt reputation of a popular club in such a way.

A Private User

Since moving downtown from Siesta Key over a year ago, the Gator became our place to hang lose, enjoy some good local cover bands, have few drinks and be able to walk to our waterfront condo. The bartenders are great (for the most part). There is one which seemed very distant and unfriendly for almost the whole time were going there but is coming around, yet it should not take him a year to do that, whatever his reasons were or still are. I do believe its just his not very friendly personality. Anyways, all the other bartenders, bouncers are always very friendly and nice to us. Highly recommend during your visit to Sarasota. But just like any other place these days they did fall on some tough times, so their guarantee to have live music 7 days a week is no more. I believe its only DJ on Mondays and Tuesdays and maybe Sundays and the upstairs may be closed on those days (not sure). The weekends do rock downstairs with live music, and upstairs with a DJ, comfy couches and couple of pool tables. Ages range from 21 up to 50+. Its also a historical building so look up and around and you will see some fine details inside the building. I believe it was once a brothel.

Marc Edward

After having a wonderful sit down discussion today with the owner about the attitude of one of their doormen last night, I got to know him, and Im glad I did. He took almost a whole 2 hours out of his day to make me feel welcome at this establishment. However awful I was treated by an employee clearly did not reflect the amount of respect the ownership/management have for Veterans/the disabled!! Family owned and operated, it used to be an old brothel. The upstairs features a DJ at night in the midst of beautiful woodwork and every kind of whiskey imaginable, they have the largest selection in Sarasota. The downstairs features a stage with a large bar and a smaller one by the door. It is where they have live music, perfect for dancing! All things considered it is a very nice place. The reason I gave it 4 stars was the attitude of that one employee as I said above but, dont let one bad apple spoil the tree.

Lori Humberston

I am somewhat of a regular weekender at The Gator Club and I have only good things to say about the place! The staff is very courteous and friendly, the location is easy to access with ample parking to the back of the building and the building itself although old and historic, has a character of its own. They have such a wide variety of music going on their and the age ranges from 21-71! I know that you cant make everyone happy but the place is always packed and people always seem to enjoy themselves there! I highly recommend The Gator Club! See you there!

Sean Duade

The Gator Club has it all. Friendly service, great live entertainment, reasonably priced drinks, great mixture of younger and older crowds, and to top it off, this two-story bar has the delightful aesthetic of an early 20th century saloon... mostly because, it was an early 20th century saloon, established 1913. If you have the opportunity, visit the upstairs bar, play a game of pool, then relax on a chaise lounge with a cocktail. Definitely bring a friend along, if you can, to share the experience.

Nolan Woods

The music selection is very poor and lacking. I dont enjoy the live bands that perform downstairs and the DJs that perform upstairs really stink. Not a wide variety of females to socialize with here, so if youre into women with different shapes and sizes its slim pickings. The only thing I like about this club are the drink prices, and the great location with plenty of parking spaces. Unless this club figures out a way to broaden its customer base more diversely, I dont recommend coming here.

A Private User

Sloppy disgusting , overcrowded.. downstairs has red neck music or soft rock & up stairs is a bunch of wannabe thugs .they have the nerve to charge a cover for this place???!! lots of gross overweight chicks, parking is a nightmare.. Many clubs on that strip better. drink are very pricey $12 for a vodka and red bull? they say they charge for you the red bull yet only use half the can and charge someone else for the other half. nothing worth the time.

Mackenzie Jianelli

The location, area, and establishment along with staff are lovely, inviting and pleasant. The drinks are reasonably priced and delicious Matt makes awesome drinks! THANK YOU. The DJ however, on Sat 6/3 was HORRIBLE! He played the same songs over & over. (you should not here a song more than once on a blend.) He did not even flow from one to the next. I could have connected my phone and played Pandora w/ads and it would have been a HIT!.