“We like to say it’s a vacation resort married to a country club,” Josh Gay, Food & Beverage Manager at Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch, told me during my first visit.
After spending several days there, I’d add one more thought of my own: it’s a marriage that feels relaxed, social, and genuinely fun.
Developed by Taylor Morrison, America’s Most Trusted Home Builder for more than a decade, Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch isn’t a quiet, buttoned-up golf community. It’s lively, beautifully designed, and built around the idea that wellness, food, movement, and connection should be part of everyday life — not reserved for special occasions.
This was my first visit to Sarasota, and Azario turned out to be the perfect introduction.
Resort Energy, Real Community
Spread across 1,000 acres with a championship 18-hole golf course, Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch feels expansive without feeling overwhelming. With 1488 homes planned and about 70 percent full-time residents, it’s a true community — not a seasonal retreat.
The atmosphere reminded me of a cruise ship in the best way possible: there’s always something happening, but participation is optional. Mahjong games, Bunco nights, pickleball matches, yoga classes, spa appointments, cocktail hours — you choose your own rhythm.
That sense of connection became especially clear during a tour with Conrad Tidswell, General Manager of Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch. As we walked the property, he greeted nearly every person we passed — not just by name, but with a genuine detail about their life, their interests, or what they were doing that day.
It was immediately apparent that this wasn’t performative familiarity. He didn’t just know who people were — he knew about them. That kind of leadership sets the tone for a place, and it helps explain why Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch feels less like a luxury resort you’re visiting and more like a community you belong to.
The pool area alone feels like a boutique hotel, complete with towel service, reservable cabanas, bar service, and genuinely good food. Lush landscaping, soaring ceilings, and open-air design create a sense of space that feels luxurious without ever being overdone.
Pickleball, Golf, and First-Time Fun
Azario takes recreation seriously — and makes it joyful. There are 16 pickleball courts, along with tennis courts and four dedicated bocce lanes. This is where I took my very first pickleball lesson, guided by instructor Charlie Spina, who introduced me to dinks, volleys, serves, third-shot drops, forehand and backhand drives, and rallying — all while keeping it approachable and fun. With so many courts and professional instruction available, it’s easy to see why pickleball has become a social cornerstone of the community.
Golf is equally central — and just as thoughtfully designed. The 18-hole championship course at Esplanade at Azario was created by acclaimed architect Chris Wilczynski, known for courses that are visually striking, strategically engaging, and deeply connected to their natural surroundings. Wide fairways, water features, and carefully placed greens make the course playable for all levels while still rewarding precision — and yes, it’s Florida, so wildlife sightings are part of the experience.
With over 53,600 rounds played in 2025, the course has quickly become one of the community’s most active social hubs, reinforcing that golf here is as much about connection and enjoyment as it is about the game itself. Tee times begin as early as 7:18 a.m., and in summer, night golf extends play until 9 p.m.
One of the most memorable experiences was the Aqua Driving Range, where floating balls are designed to be hit directly into the water. Scooping them out afterward, watching them splash, and practicing beside Florida wildlife — including a very real alligator — felt uniquely Floridian and unexpectedly thrilling.
My lesson with golf pro Anthony Melchione, booked nearly three weeks in advance year-round, was equal parts instruction and pure enjoyment — the perfect way to experience the course’s beauty, challenge, and community energy firsthand.
Wellness, Elevated
The full-service spa and wellness center rivals that of a luxury resort. Treatments include Hydrafacials, massage, salon services, and manicures and pedicures, all delivered in a serene, beautifully designed space.
I experienced a hot stone massage with herbal recovery and lavender essence by Caitlin, which was restorative from start to finish — from the technique to the tranquil setting and plush robes. Spa manager Tiffany Thornhill oversees the program with thoughtful attention to detail.
The salon offers hair and beauty services in an equally inviting environment. My blowout by Brooklyn was flawless.
Fitness facilities are open 24 hours, outfitted with Technogym equipment, and supported by a robust schedule of more than 45 classes. Water aerobics is the most popular, but my standout was Chi Flow with Miss Darcy — a deeply grounding class that used chairs, props, and gentle stretching to open the body. It was accessible, calming, and something I would absolutely do again.
Food Is Central — With So Many Places to Eat Without Leaving Home
Dining at Esplanade at Azario is varied, social, and thoughtfully executed — a key part of daily life here rather than an afterthought. Under the leadership of Chris McDonald, Director of Food & Beverage, the culinary calendar stays lively with wine dinners, tequila dinners, and a once-a-month Sunday brunch featuring oysters, made-to-order omelets, and cinnamon rolls nearly the size of your head.
Toasted Café, located just steps from the spa, serves Illy coffee and what may be one of the best hot chocolates I’ve had anywhere — rich, comforting, and exactly what you want post-treatment.
Lunch at the Bahama Bar, beside the pool, delivered excellent nachos and tacos, a truly great piña colada, and an open, ocean-inspired space — complete with a manta ray suspended from the ceiling. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, embodied perfectly by our server, Jason, who even has a sandwich named after him (as he should).
For dinner, The Barrel House Bistro & Bar offers elevated dining with sweeping views of the golf course. Our sunset meal began with charcuterie and continued with beautifully prepared entrées — a filet for Aaron and chicken saltimbocca for me — followed by desserts that more than live up to their reputation. With guidance from Christa, we quickly understood why the apple tart with ice cream is the most-ordered dessert, with the triple chocolate cake a close second.
Olive & Vine delivers pizza and Italian-inspired fare in a space so thoughtfully designed it feels transported straight from Italy.
Beyond the restaurants themselves, food and drink also anchor many of the community’s shared experiences, from tastings held in the Uva Tasting Room to the Bunker Bar, located near the putting green, where golfers grab drinks, snacks, and classic favorites between rounds and for larger gatherings and celebrations there is the Dodici 951 Grand Ballroom. It’s another way Esplanade blends everyday dining with moments meant to be celebrated together.
Overseeing it all is Executive Chef Michael Mann, whose influence ensures each venue has its own personality while maintaining a consistently high standard across the entire community.
A Tequila Barrel of Their Own
One of Azario’s most distinctive touches is its private tequila barrel program — the community’s first tequila barrel, following an earlier bourbon release.
We tasted Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia expressions — Platino, Reposado, Añejo Cristalino, and Extra Añejo — along with a rare pour from bottle #54 of just 60 of Reserva de la Familia Añejo created exclusively for Esplanade from their first-ever private tequila barrel. Each bottle is numbered and unique to the community.
The tasting was led by Josh Gay and we met Chef Michael, who brought us beautifully prepared hummus and vegetables. We heard the story behind securing the private cask — a rare undertaking and a first for the brand. It was a small but telling example of how Esplanade transforms amenities into experiences.
Homes Designed for How People Live Now
We toured three single-story model homes, each more inviting than the last. Open floor plans, expansive kitchens with islands, seamless indoor-outdoor living, built-in barbecues, pools and spas, large showers, generous closets, and thoughtful layouts made it easy to imagine life here.
By the third model, I was ready to move in. Taylor Morrison’s reputation is evident in the details — these homes feel modern, functional, and genuinely livable.
Why This Works — Especially in Sarasota – Bradenton
One of Azario’s greatest strengths is its location. It offers easy access to the Sarasota–Bradenton area, where culture and nature intersect beautifully.
The brand-new Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has just opened nearby and is high on my list for a return visit. We loved the Sarasota Art Museum, wandered St. Armands Circle, and dined at the iconic Columbia Restaurant, a Florida institution serving its signature dishes since 1905.
We stayed at the Art Ovation Hotel, a creative, art-forward property that felt like the perfect introduction to Sarasota — a city where culture, design, and lifestyle matter.
That balance is what makes Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch so compelling. You’re close to beaches, art, food, and history — yet once inside the community, it feels like a destination of its own. A place where wellness, connection, and enjoyment are built into daily life.
A vacation resort married to a country club — interpreted through lived experience. And in the Sarasota area, that combination feels exactly right.
Videos from Esplanade at Azario Lakewood Ranch
