Breakfast/lunch
What better way to start the day than breakfast at sunrise… right on the beach! Café on the Beach at Manatee Beach offers all you can eat pancakes and sausages while Gulf Drive Café on the shore of Bradenton Beach offering bountiful breakfasts inside or on the covered patio.
Other breakfast/lunch establishments include the Island Creperie in Bradeton Beach, Joe’s Eats and Sweets or Melinda’s on Gulf Drive, Paradise Café in Holmes Beach and the Village Café @ Rosedale on Coquina Beach.
Dinner
At the north end of Anna Maria is the legendary family friendly, reasonably priced Sandbar Restaurant; where indoor/outdoor beachside seating is perfect for sunset watching.
With picturesque views and good casual eats, the Rod and Reel is a great local favorite.
Housed in a 1913 cottage is the Sign of the Mermaid offering fresh local ingredients and fabulous homemade desserts. The Waterfront Café is another excellent choice with delightful selections and patio seating for a glimpse of the bay.
Beach Bistro is probably one to reserve for “special” occasions and arriving before sunset is highly recommended as you’ll be dining right on the sands of Holmes Beach. Just be prepared for a price tag that reflects their Culinary Awards.
Anna Maria Island Restaurants
City of Anna Maria
Anna Maria Donuts – 210C Pine Avenue – (941) 896-3172
Poppo’s Taqueria – 212C Pine Avenue – (941) 896-3172
Slim’s Place – 9701 Gulf Drive – (941) 567-4056
Harry’s Grill – 9903 Gulf Drive – (941) 567-5999
City Pier Restaurant – 100 South Bay Blvd. – (941) 779-1667
Village Cafe @ Rosendale – 503 Pine Avenue – (941) 896-8890
The Sandbar on the Beach – 100 Spring Avenue – (941) 778-0444
Rod n Reel Pier Restaurant – 875 North Shore Drive – (941) 778-1885
Waterfront Restaurant – 111 South Bay Blvd. – (941) 778-1515
Ginny’s & Jane E’s – 9807 Gulf Drive – (941) 778-7370
Rudy’s Subs & More – 9906 Gulf Drive – (941) 896-7844
Two Scoops Ice Cream – 101 South Bay Blvd. – (941) 779-2422
Sign of the Mermaid – 9707 Gulf Drive – (941) 778-9399
Vinny & Cheryl’s Italian Kitchen – 314 Pine Avenue – (941) 896-9754
Holmes Beach
Anna Maria Beach Cafe – 4000 Gulf Drive – (941) 778-0784
Hurricane Hanks – 5346 Gulf Drive – (941) 778-5788
Skinny’s Place – 3901 Gulf Drive – (941) 778-7769
Beach Bistro on the Beach – 6600 Gulf Drive – (941) 778-6444
Lobstah’s – 5337 Gulf Drive – (941) 779-1000
Island Gourmet Pizza & Wine – 5612 Marina Drive – (941) 778-0333
Mr. Bones BBQ – 3007 Gulf Drive – (941) 778-6614
Tortilla Bay Southwest Grille – 5318 Marina Drive – (941) 778-3663
The Feast – 5406 Marina Drive – (941) 778-5092
Island Ocean Star Sushi – 3608 East Bay Drive – (941) 251-6940
Peaches Breakfast/Lunch – 3240 East Bay Drive – (941) 779-0738
Eat Here – 5315 Gulf Drive – (941) 778-0411
D Coy Ducks Bar & Grille – 5410 Marina Drive – (941) 778-5888
Minnie’s Beach Cafe – 5360 Gulf Drive – (941) 778-4140
Old Hamburg Schnitzelhaus – 3216 East Bay Drive – (941) 778-1320
Sharky’s SeaGrill – 2519 Gulf Drive – (941) 779-9151
Maria’s Family Place – 5904 Marina Drive – (941) 254-4999
Bradenton Beach
Beachhouse Waterfront Restaurant – 200 Gulf Drive – (941) 779-2222
Blue Marlin Seafood Restaurant – 121 Bridge Street – (941) 896-9737
Bridge Street Bistro – 111 Gulf Drive – (941) 782-1122
Bridge Tender Inn – 135 Bridge Street – (941) 778-4849
Cast & Cage Restaurant – 200 Bridge Street – (941) 779-2278
Island Cream Ice Cream – 103B Gulf Drive – (941) 779-2244
Gulf Drive Cafe – 900 Gulf Drive – (941) 778-1919
Island Creperie – 127 Bridge Street – (941) 778-1011
Island Spice Indian Cuisine – 1701 Gulf Drive – (941) 527-0123
Joe’s Eats & Sweets – 219 Gulf Drive – (941) 778-0007
Oma’z Pizza & Italian Restaurant – 201 N. Gulf Drive – (941) 778-0771
Off Island
Other dining options off island include Lazy Lobster and Euphemia Haye on Longboat Key and the Cortez Fish Market, Old Brick’s, Pier 22 and Mattison’s City Grille in Bradenton.
St. Armand’s Circle
Plan to spend an evening at St. Armand’s Circle on Lido Key. It’s fun safe and shops stay open for that after a good meal…stroll. Enjoy a cocktail and listen to piano tunes at Crab and Fins patio lounge. An established landmark for years, the Crab and Fin and Cafe L’Europe excel in food, service and ambiance. The Columbia with comfortable outdoor seating offers excellent Spanish cuisine as does Le Colonne’s northern Italian offerings. Shore, located one flight up, offers southern comfort muchies and great views of St. Armands Circle.
Sarasota is also at your disposal… offering a picturesque drive down Longboat Key and across the Ringling Bridge. This is where you can eat greet and enjoy the Action Downtown. Marina Jacks features a huge open air bar, covered patio dining and dance area while jazz and contemporary tunes can be found at the inside piano lounge.
O’Leary’s Tiki Bar at the southern end of Centennial Park, shares the same parking as Marina Jack’s. The comfort food and friendly staff attracts a crowd at sunset with live Reggae and beach music. This is also a great place to bring your four legged bud.
Also docked at Centennial Park is Le Barge, a giant houseboat with full bar and dance floor on the top deck and cocktail tables inside. Entertainment is usually a solo guitar player/singer performing island style music and Jimmy Buffett tunes. Le Barge sails several times a day around Sarasota Bay and offers great views of waterfront mansions and spectacular sunsets.
Downtown Main, Sarasota
Main Street has plenty of action with eateries, bars and nightlife. Places like Mattison’s City Grille and The Blue Rooster offer great food and live entertainment while The Social Eatery and Award winning Bijou Cafe continue the trend on …. First Street. Other good eating downtown establishments are Mediterraneo, Selva Grill, Caragiulo’s, Barnacle Bill’s, Cafe Epicure, Patrick’s and C’est La Vie.
Looking for water views?
Marina Jack’s is right on Sarasota’s bay front with a spectacular second floor view. The Ritz Carlton features a less expansive setting at Jack Dusty’s patio lounge. Don’t forget to sip and smooze at the Westin Hotel’s Rooftop Bar.