Set in a residential district just four blocks from the bay, this is the go-to shopping and dining spot for those living and vacationing nearby. But the services and quality here are too good to keep as insiders’ secrets, so here’s the scoop. The district includes Hillview Street between Tamiami Trail and South Osprey Avenue, and Osprey between Hyde Park and Arlington. Here, we scout out some Southside sensations.

Buy the Sea At Sea Cup and Up you’ll find that chic lingerie and full figures aren’t mutually exclusive. The owners specialize in fitting European bras (up to size H) just the way Oprah says it should be done. Sea Cup and Up, 1810 S. Osprey Ave., (941) 951-2727.

Dream Boat Annieglass “Long Boats” are abstracted glass canoes ($176 for the 27-inch size). Actually they’re serving dishes, but the designer likes them as centerpieces filled with water, goldfish or blossoms. Annabelle’s Home & Kitchen, 1924 S. Osprey Ave., (941) 552-0339.

Coffee or Danish? You don’t have to choose with the iconic vacuum jugs by Erik Magnussen for Stelton ($95 in matte finish, $75 for gloss). Just one of the museum-quality home products (all from Denmark) found at dkVogue, 1830 S. Osprey Ave., (941) 952-9351.

Pretty Pleaser Sign up for the Wish List program at Coffrin Jewelers to eliminate unsightly and unwanted gifts forever. With 4-carat natural yellow sapphire, this diamond-studded ring ($7,000) is the most wished-for item in the store. Coffrin Jewelers, 1829 S. Osprey Ave., (941) 366-6871.

Latin Sizzle Food and cocktails at sister hotspots The Table restaurant and Mesa Lounge are right in synch with South American trends, including Brazil’s fresh-squeezed fruit-embellished caipirinhas and true Cuban-style muddled mojitos ($8.95). The Table/Mesa Lounge, 1934 Hillview St., (941) 365-4558.

Dark Love Carol Sirard has gone public with her 20-year chocolate-making avocation and set up a shop on Hillview (along with more than 2,000 custom molds). Go for the dark and double dark truffles, 35 cents to $3 per piece. Sirard’s Chocolate House, 1821 Hillview St., (941) 954-7600.

Willow Wear You’ll feel taller and thinner wearing fashion-forward, bandana-tied Frankie B. jeans ($258) with a hot yellow Last Tango top ($48) just the way co-owner Joanne King does. Willow 506, 1821 Hillview St., (941) 955-5506.

Comfort Zone That’s what insiders have dubbed the prepared foods section at Morton’s Market, where executive chef John Teitsch serves up take-home comfort food. The secret ingredient in his favorite, the chicken cacciatore? “Love.” Morton’s Gourmet Market, 1924 S. Osprey Ave., (941) 955-9856

Don’t Forget To…

Check out the witticisms on Kate Spade’s new stationery at Write-On Sarasota, 1924 S. Osprey Ave., Suite 104, (941) 364-3300.

Bask in the glow of golden glass bricks from Poesia at Tile Market, 1935 S. Osprey Ave., (941) 365-2356.

Be first to own Finley’s hot white shirt with zip-on black bustier ($249) at Sally’s of Sarasota, 1905 S. Osprey Ave., (941) 316-9313.

Peruse new and antique works of art at Abbott Galleries, 1907 S. Osprey Ave., (941) 388-1919.

VILLAGE PEOPLE

You can eat, drink and make merry from dawn ‘til the wee hours at Southside Village’s gourmet hotspots, bars, lounges and clubs. Insiders tell us:

- You’ll swoon over the burger and fries at Knick’s Tavern & Grill. (941) 955-7761.

- The sushi rolls at Pacific Rim are world-class creative; the crowd is young, hip and addicted to the Japanese/Thai food. (941) 330-8071.

- The 5 O’Clock Club is the after-hours spot for dancing, live rhythm and blues. (941) 366-5555.

- Southside Deli’s chicken salad is sublime. (941) 330-9302.

- Buy a pizza at Anthony’s (941) 365-2998; eat it with pals at Legends Pub next door (941) 951-0990.

- Taste-test five-star dining at Fred’s (941) 364-5811; Hillview Grill (941) 952-0045; and The Table (941) 365-4558.

- Don’t miss the big-city glamour at Mesa Lounge and The Tasting Room; Wine Spectator could learn something from connoisseurs here.

HOT STACKS

Nesting tables are back and hotter than TV dinners.

Perfect Fit The U+ Studio Collection by home products design leader Umbra perfectly suits the contemporary aesthetic for which Living Walls owner Alison Levin Bishop is known. Solid natural oak Nestle tables are $550 for the set of three. Living Walls, 1311 Main St., Sarasota (941) 957-4411.

Don’t Fret The more guests the merrier with these fretwork-adorned tables in the Chinese Chippendale style. The Macao tables come in three sizes (from $85 to $175) in honey brown or espresso rattan with leather-wrapped corners. East Indies Home, 1312 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota (941) 917-0701.

Three’s Company A circle, triangle and square nest together in one of several clever stacking table sets we found at ASID designer Lois Ross’s store. Easy-care textured glass with stainless steel set of $810 at A Step Above Gallery, 1288 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota (941) 955-4477.

Chinese Puzzle Solve your space dilemmas at Judi Summers’ new store. She stacks these lacquer Chinese opium-style tables in front of a sofa or gets a low-slung contemporary look with one beside a chair. Sold separately from $120 to $225. Uptown Downtown, 711 S. Osprey Ave., Sarasota (941) 957-1188.

Service with a Style Everything you serve will look better on these split bamboo nesting tables ($695 for the set of two) selected by designer Lance Licciardi for clean contemporary lines that he says fit perfectly with the Gulf Coast beach style. Madison Park, 80 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota (941) 953-9176.

Who’s In Store

A decade ago, Cheryl Burke asked herself how she wanted to spend the rest of her life, made a list of interests, and parlayed her love of history, travel and learning into a second career. Today, Burke & Company is one of only 250 world-class antiques dealers invited to sell on the luxury Internet auction site, www.1stdibs.com.

“There’s a waiting list of 400 dealers worldwide,” Burke explains. “We are fortunate to have been accepted.” But success did not come by chance. “I went through all the steps of planning a retail concept,” says the former owner of a chain of Northeastern optical stores.

The retail wizard has built a global cadre of secret sources and is curating the world’s largest collection of acclaimed Maison Jansen Parisian-made furniture. “I target the blueblood end of the business,” Burke explains. Commissioned by John and Jackie Kennedy, the Royal Family of Sweden and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Jansen furniture is blueblood indeed.

Can’t Live Without a network of scouts who hunt for me. “They track the families who own the finer antiques and I take the best that they find,” says Burke, seated amid a rare suite of furniture by Maison Jansen, maker of this antique lacquered Louis XVI- style gilded vitrine ($15,500).

History Lesson “If a dealer doesn’t want to teach you about the antiques you’re buying, you don’t have the right dealer,” Burke explains. The 14-foot-wide three-panel Trumeau mirror wall ($147,000) found in France is over 100 years old and very unusual, she says.

Hide It Properly Burke scours the globe for architecturally interesting stained glass, which she says hides unsightly views while letting light shine through. This circular ceiling piece ($15,000) was commissioned for a British Embassy.

Burke & Company, 527 S. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota (941) 952-0042.

SHOPTALK

Prozac Nation?

Not any more. Just decorate your home with fun stuff by Jonathan Adler: comic sculptures, lighting (we love the Giraffe at $395), candles and more. It’s all at Madison Park, including the new book, My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living ($34.95) by Adler, lead judge of Bravo TV’s Top Design. Madison Park, 80 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota (941) 953-9176.

Roll Out

Rolling Pin’s recently expanded cookware emporium at Westfield Sarasota Square now includes a working kitchen for hands-on classes (from $30) and demos by local and visiting chefs from around the globe. Rolling Pin, 8201 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota (941) 925-2434.

Dream Catchers

Owner Lourdes Varela says the goal of just-opened Le Couture Bridal is to outfit every bride in the gown of her dreams. From Badgley Mischka’s Hollywood glamour to St. Pucchi’s 18th- and 19th-century cinched bodice gowns, the store is as much a destination as the wedding itself. Le Couture Bridal, 8111 Lakewood Main St., Bradenton (941) 955-8131.

THE A-WRIST

Tick-tock it to us, baby.

By Jill Obrochta Dambro

In a spin

Spiral appliqués and scores influence a brilliant copper-orange wide bangle, fabricated from anodized aluminum. Funky squiggle hands are a signature feature. Sylvia Harwin’s Éclat line. $120. Paradox Gallery, Westfield Southgate, Sarasota (941) 362-3715.

Go green

We love the metallic, green-on-green, wide-leather band with matching face and oversized numerals. Golden rhinestones give this watch a stunning finish. Cannes. $48. Wearable Art, 1463 Main St., Sarasota (941) 957-0105.

Boss cross

You’ll love this Gothic get-up. The gunmetal distressed façade hosts a medieval appliqué cross with a bona fide guitar strap band. Made by Fender (yes, the guitar makers). $95. Dillard’s, Westfield Southgate, Sarasota (941) 955-2241.

Live dangerously

A cool metal fringe frames a rhinestone-gilded skull. The leather croc-like band has a leopard print on reverse. The perfect poison! Betsey Johnson. $150. Dillard’s, Westfield Southgate, Sarasota (941) 955-2241.

Thin is in

A slender oval face is surrounded by opulent pavé rhinestones and complemented by a sleek black leather band. Simply elegant. Kristine. $35. My Accessory Obsession, 2155 Siesta Drive, Sarasota (941) 316-9497.

How time flies

Trust this brilliant butterfly to take you places on time. Spectacular sky-blue crystals and beads embellish beautiful bronze links. Nature’s Jewels. $72. Wearable Art, 1463 Main St., Sarasota (941) 957-0105.