Sarasota · Fresh Daily Since 1989

The best littleDonut shop in town

Hand-made cake donuts, glazed apple fritters & Boston crème — fried fresh before sunrise on Whitfield Ave, the way Sarasota has loved them for over 35 years.

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★★★★★ 4.9 · 414 Google reviews | Family-owned & loved

Our Story

A Sarasota morning tradition since 1989.

Gold Star Donuts opened its doors on Whitfield Avenue in 1989, and generations of families have been walking in ever since — some for a monthly treat, some every single morning before work. The recipes haven't changed, and neither has the welcome.

Everything is fried fresh in-house before the sun comes up: fluffy cake donuts, glazed apple fritters the size of your hand, custard-filled Boston crème, and warm breakfast sandwiches on croissants. As one regular put it, “you can tell they make donuts and food with love.” That's the whole secret.

1989

Serving Sarasota

4.9★

From 414 reviews

5AM

Fresh & ready

The Gold Star Donuts storefront on Whitfield Ave with its classic red sign and neon OPEN light, and a glazed strawberry donut held up out front

Est.1989 · Sarasota

The Case

What everyone raves about

Classic flavors done perfectly — not overly sweet, always fresh, and priced fair. Here are the ones regulars can't stop ordering.

Legendary

A glazed apple fritter and cinnamon roll from Gold Star Donuts, dripping with sweet glaze

Apple Fritter Fan favorite

Hand-formed, deep-fried and glazed — craggy, tender and absolutely incredible. The one reviewers drive across town for.

Custard-filled

A Boston crème donut cut open to reveal a thick center of vanilla custard, topped with chocolate

Boston Crème A classic

Chocolate-topped and filled edge to edge with real custard — “the perfect amount, spread evenly through the whole donut.”

$1.55

Fresh cinnamon-sugar old-fashioned cake donuts stacked and dusted with cinnamon sugar

Old Fashioned $1.55

Soft and fluffy inside, rich and dense at the edge, rolled in cinnamon sugar. The all-day, everyday classic.

$1.55

Golden, flaky cheese danishes fresh from the oven at Gold Star Donuts

Cheese Danish Baked fresh

Buttery, flaky layers wrapped around sweet cheese and baked to a deep gold. Warm from the oven, still the best in the neighborhood.

Rainbow

Sprinkle Cake Donuts $1.55

Vanilla-iced cake donuts under a blizzard of sprinkles, coconut or chopped nuts. The one the kids point to every time.

On the go

Rows of golden glazed long johns and butterflake finger rolls fresh from the fryer

Long Johns & Breakfast Made with love

Glazed long johns, Bavarian crème bars, plus bacon-egg-&-cheese on a fresh croissant — “truly the BEST when you're on the go.”

Fresh Out The Fryer

Straight from our case

Real donuts, real mornings. Tap any photo to take a closer look.

Assorted iced donuts with rainbow and chocolate sprinkles, coconut and nuts on white plates — Iced & sprinkled — the whole rainbow

Gold Star Donuts' display case stocked with rows of old fashioned, blueberry, apple sauce and sprinkle cake donuts — The case, packed fresh every morning

Powdered, plain old-fashioned and almond-glazed donuts on a plate against a colorful retro tile wall — Powdered, plain & almond-glazed

A glazed apple fritter, cinnamon roll and pecan fritter dripping with glaze — Fritters & cinnamon rolls

Stacked cinnamon-sugar old fashioned cake donuts, warm and golden — Cinnamon-sugar old fashioneds

Boston crème donut cut open next to a plain cake donut and a coffee mug — Boston crème, custard to the edge

Flaky golden cheese danishes fresh from the oven — Flaky, buttery cheese danish

The Gold Star Donuts storefront with its red sign and a strawberry-glazed donut held in front — Find the sign on Whitfield Ave

A cold iced coffee from Gold Star Donuts, perfect with a fresh donut — Iced coffee, made to pair

Loved By Locals

Sarasota says it best

4.9★★★★★

from 414 Google reviews

★★★★★

Our favorite little donut shop! The apple fritter is incredible. And we love the old fashioned and glazed! We're trying the Bavarian crème and raspberry filled one today!

Lisa LLocal Guide · a month ago

★★★★★

Where do I even start — best service I've ever experienced. Very humble and kind people. BEST BREAKFAST SANDWICHES & FRESH DONUTS. You can tell they make donuts and food with love. I'll be back again, see you soon my friend.

Autorama TowingReviewed 4 months ago

★★★★★

Our family started going to Gold Star when they opened in 1989… Today was my first time returning in over 25 years. A perfect combination of nostalgia and delicious donuts. The Boston Crème had the perfect amount of custard spread evenly through the donut.

Brian BerblingerReviewed 6 months ago

★★★★★

Authentic, family-owned donut shop with the sweetest and friendliest staff. There's always something new to try, and everything is consistently fresh and delicious. My husband and I always grab their bacon, egg, and cheese on a croissant — truly the BEST!

Madison LeighReviewed 6 months ago

★★★★★

Best donuts in town. They do classic flavors perfectly. Not overly sweet. They're priced fairly and ownership/staff is incredibly nice and welcoming.

Evan SchwartzReviewed 2 weeks ago

414

Five-star neighbors

Come find out what the whole town already knows.

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