Category: Restaurants

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Anna Maria Island Gulf Front Dining – 6 Restaurants

Anna Maria Island Gulf Front Dining
Catching a sunset with Anna Maria Island Gulf front dining is a must!

There are plenty of options for Anna Maria Island gulf front dining. From north to south you will find 6 different restaurants for toes in the sand dining.

Anna Maria Island Gulf Front Dining
Catching a sunset with Anna Maria Island Gulf front dining is a must!

Anna Maria Island Gulf Front Dining

There is nothing better than sipping a tropical drink while watching the sunset with sandy feet. Anna Maria Island is the perfect place to unwind with a good meal on the gulf. Try one of these six restaurants on your next trip to the Anna Maria Island gulf front.

Sandbar Restaurant

Located at the end of Spring Avenue, The Sandbar restaurant is in the city of Anna Maria. This is a very popular location for direct gulf front dining. Indoor seating is also an option here. The Sandbar offers a large menu, a full service bar and a lovely wine menu. Host an event or wedding at the sandbar too! They offer a large beachfront pavilion that is great for large gatherings island style.

Beach Bistro

While the majority of seating is indoors, The Beach Bistro does offer amazing views of the gulf from their indoor dining room. If the weather is right, they may even serve you in their limited outdoor seating area. The Beach Bistro is an award wining restaurant offering a high end dining in Holmes Beach. This may be the nicest dining experience you’ll ever enjoy!

Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe

Manatee Public beach access is one of the most popular destinations on Anna Maria Island. Here you’ll find the Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe for all your concession needs. Their menu offers a little of something for everyone, and also includes a full service Tiki bar!

Gulf Drive Cafe

Find the ultimate Anna Maria Island Tiki bar at the Gulf Drive Cafe. This restaurant has beautiful direct gulf front views. You’ll find a huge full service outdoor beach bar and menus for all meals of the day. If you’re lucky, you may just find live music happening!

Beach House

Located on the south end of Anna Maria Island, the Beach House is the sister restaurant of The Sandbar. This is also a very popular spot for dining with the sunset. Enjoy indoor and outdoor dining and be sure to visit their gift shop too. The Beach House is also a lovely place for weddings and catered events.

Coquina Beach Cafe

Coquina Beach Cafe is on the far south end of Anna Maria Island. They offer casual gulf front dining and concessions right on Coquina Beach. Visit them for breakfast and lunch any day of the week. They are also open for dinner Friday through Sunday.

While visiting, be sure to try out Anna Maria Island gulf front dining with one of these six restaurants. You’re surely be pleased!

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Tide Tables Restaurant Cortez Fishing Village

Tide Tables Restaurant Cortez Fishing Village
The View is beautiful at Tide Tables!

Tide Tables Restaurant Cortez Fishing Village offers fresh off the boat seafood, and is just a short drive over the Cortez Bridge too!

The Bell family owns AP Bell Fish and Ice Company, Starfish Market and Tide Tables. If you’ve had the pleasure of dining at Starfish Restaurant you know how good Cortez seafood really is. Starfish Market has a reputation for having some of the areas best seafood, and this also extends to Tide Tables. This great restaurant was opened in January 2014.

Tide Tables Restaurant Cortez Fishing Village

The Menu at Tide Tables is indicative of an old Florida Seafood joint, but with the addition of burgers, ribs and chicken. Find something for everyone at Tide Tables! There’s fresh grouper and snapper, fish tacos, Shrimp Po Boy and many Florida style favorites. They also serve beer and wine along with a kids menu and specialty desserts!

The View and Location

Tide Tables is located at the base of the Cortez Bridge on the in land side at 12507 Cortez Road. This is also the area called Cortez Fishing Village, and is one of the oldest working fishing villages in the country. The building is seemingly simple from the road, but this little dock side spot is beautiful!

You’ll only find outdoor seating here, but there are shaded options for hot days. Belly up to the bar, or find a spot at the picnic tables too.

Visitors rave about the great views of the Intracoastal Waterway, Anna Maria Sound and Anna Maria Island. You can come by boat too! If you are out on the boat, and are looking for a place to stop, you found the best. Located at marker 48, there is room to dock and dine here.

Tide Tables is open Monday through Sunday from 11:30am to 8pm.

There is nothing better than enjoying seafood by the waters it came from with a cold drink! For Florida fresh seafood with a beautiful view visit Tide Tables Restaurant today!

Tide Tables Restaurant Cortez Fishing Village
The View is beautiful at Tide Tables!
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Activities Dining & Nightlife Family Fun Restaurants Restaurants

Anna Maria Island Pizza Restaurants

Anna Maria Island Pizza Restaurants

There is no shortage of Anna Maria Island Pizza Restaurants. In fact, the island offers five different places to munch on a slice and two places just off island.

Anna Maria Island Pizza Restaurants

Anna Maria Island Pizza Restaurants
Head over to Danny’s Pizzeria just a short drive in land from Anna Maria Island.

Pizza is the perfect food to enjoy on the beach, or in a fantastic Anna Maria Island beach house rental!

Oma’s Pizza in Bradenton Beach

On the south end of the Island you’ll find Oma’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant at 201 Gulf Drive N. Oma’s offers big floppy slices of pizza along with many of the traditional family style Italian specialties.

Solo’s Pizza in Holmes Beach

This casual restaurant is located in the Anna Maria Island Shops plaza at 3244 East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach. Solo’s is a mix between a pizza joint and a sports bar. They also have thin sliced pizza, sandwiches and pub grub fare.

The Feast in Holmes Beach

Not only can you find great pizza here, but also an assortment of great seafood and something for everyone. The Feast is casual, but slightly higher end. This isn’t really a pizza place, but an nice restaurant that also offers fantastic pizza pies. Find the Feast in the Island Shopping Center at 5406 Marina Drive.

Island Gourmet Grill in Holmes Beach

Located at 5910 Marina Drive, Island Gourmet has something for everyone. Find great pizzas along with a wide selection of menu items. This restaurant is always offering daily specials, so be sure to ask.

J Burns Pizza in Anna Maria

Find this quick and easy pizza place at 308 Pine Avenue. J Burns offer thing and crispy square cut pizza. Additionally you’ll find gluten free options and sub sandwiches.

Off Anna Maria Island Pizza Restaurants

There are plenty of pizza restaurants on Anna Maria Island, but you’ll also find two right off island.

Danny’s Pizzeria in Bradenton

Located at 7220 Manatee Avenue in West Bradenton, Danny’s is a very popular spot among locals. They serve delicious thin crust pizza, sandwiches and delicious Italian specialties for dinner. Excellent pizza and wings along with a great meatball! Danny’s also offers pizza by the slice.

Village Idiot Pizza in Bradenton

This pizza shop is located at 11904 Cortez Road West just past the city of Cortez. Village Idiot has many specialty pizzas, tacos and daily specials.

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Update on Food and Wine on Pine 2017

Unfortunately, Food and Wine on Pine on Anna Maria island was cancelled for 2017.  We are hoping that next year it will come Back!

Anna Maria – The sixth annual Food and Wine on Pine happened Saturday, May 7th (rain date May 8th) from 11:30am-6:30pm.

This fun family friendly event was always a crowd pleaser with great food, wine, music, art, vendors and kids activities. Parking for this event is free, and can be found at the Anna Maria Island Community Center at 407 Magnolia Avenue, or at Cross Point Fellowship Church at 8605 Gulf Drive. Admission is $2 each or a $5 admission includes a wine glass and buffet tray. Food samples will ranged 2-10 tickets each.

Food and Wine on Pine
6th Annual Food and Wine on Pine on Anna Maria Island

Food

2016’s Food and Wine on Pine festival brought restaurants from all over the area with samples from over 20 vendors. There was be chipolte oysters, grouper sliders, curry lamb, and stuffed shrimp to name a few.

Participating vendors included:

Anna Maria Oyster Bar
Blue Marlin
EnRich
Harry’s Grill and Bistro
Island Spice
Polpo Pizza
Riverhouse Reef and Grill
Sage Biscuit Cafe
Southern Slush
Sugar Cubed
The Beach House Restaurant
The Feast Restaurant
Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and Pub
The Sandbar Restaurant
Seafood Shack
Tsunami Sushi and Hibachi Grill
Covadonga Cigars, Inc.
Marilyn’s Toffee and More, LLC
Southeast H.S.
Traveling Gourmet
Two Scoopes Ice Cream Parlor

Food and Wine on Pine
Food and Wine on Pine Photo Credit: FoodandWineonPine.com

Wine

There were be over 30 different wines, and several beers to choose from at last years event. Beer and wine was provided by local distributors at a cost of one ticket per a tasting, or 5 tickets for a six ounce glass of wine or 12 ounce beer.

Food and wine on pine wine tent
Wine Tents from the 2015 Food and Wine on Pine.

Art, Music and Happenings

25 Juried artists set up along Pine Avenue, showing off their amazing work adding a touch of aesthetic beauty to this event. Throughout the day over 30 musicians provided entertainment to keep this event moving along. In addition, actors dressed up as characters from Anna Maria’s past. For the younger crowd there was a children’s art and activity area with face painting, games and art projects.

Enjoy the “Pine Avenue Downs” area for a Kentucky Derby style experience. There were Mint Juleps, a fun Derby hat contest, and two 60 inch televisions to keep up to date on the race! Bet on your favorite horse with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society.

Truly a fun family friendly event, there is something for everyone at this bustling island event!

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Things to do on Anna Maria Island July 4th

Anna Maria Island July 4th
Fireworks on Anna Maria Island July 4th

If you are looking for something to do on Anna Maria Island July 4th, then look no further!

Holmes Beach Fireworks

Like most places in the USA that enjoy the Independence of America with picnics, family, and fireworks Anna Maria Island is no exception.  Islanders and visitors take this holiday pretty seriously, not sure if it is mostly due to the visitors who want to enhance their vacation or if it is how the beach itself is a great environment for fireworks.

Either way the light show on Friday was amazing. Bombs were bursting in air! The day started off with the annual Anna Maria Island 4th of July Parade hosted by the Privateers. Cars, motorcycles, golf carts and pirate ships were decorated in patriotic red, white and blue throwing beads and treats.

Many of the local businesses participated, some memorable displays were Island Real Estate, Island Scooter Rental and Beach Bum’s. Onlookers lined the parade route, cheering for candy, beads and refreshing sprays from water guns.

From the looks of it, the disposable income lacking in the past few years is back for Florida vacationing families.  There was a lot of money being blown into the beautiful night sky over the Gulf of Mexico for as far as the eye could see, this was no average back yard light show.

From St. Pete Beach to Lido Key the magnificent lights were abound and beautiful; it looked like a battle reenactment just as our national anthem reflects in its lyrics.

Anna Maria Island July 4th Firework Regulations

Anna Maria Island 4th of July ParadeAlthough illegal to discharge in Florida and easily purchased in the same state, firework novices and self taught experts were setting light to some amazingly high and elaborate candles, mortars, and reports.

It was truly amazing to see the quality and quantity of fireworks going off up and down Anna Maria Island.  Sitting in the North end of Holmes Beach expecting to see the SandBar shooting off their annual display, which in its own right is usually quite awesome, it was amazing to see just how many spots along the beach were blowing rockets.

At one point it was hard to discern which lights were coming from the SandBar and which were being blown off from either Bradenton Beach or the City of Anna Maria.  The night before the BeachHouse restaurant (same owner as SandBar) put their display on. However, thunderstorms seemed to deter others from doing the same.  On Friday, it looked as if the ban on fireworks was lifted temporarily on Anna Maria Island.  They were everywhere.

Needless to say it was truly a site to behold from the Chinese lanterns high in the sky to the kids with glows sticks zooming up and down the beach, to the finale at the SandBar. Anna Maria Island did not disappoint this 4th.  Thanks to all of those willing to spend the money and time for the show. Please, everyone clean up after yourself; other creatures use the beach as well.

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Dining & Nightlife Fishing Recreation Restaurants The Things that Locals Know!

The Mackerel Run and Fishing Anna Maria City Pier

Fishing Anna Maria City Pier
Fishing Anna Maria City Pier is great for Mackerel this year.

It’s a great time to be fishing Anna Maria City Pier.  The Mackerel Run is ON and they are showing up in spades.

Last evening we decided to take a quick ride up to the Anna Maria City Pier…our favorite college team Penn State was ahead at half time, and our dinner still had another 45 minutes to finish in the oven.

Fishing Anna Maria City Pier? Buckets of Fin!

As we walked down the recently re-built pier we were greeted by lots of anglers fishing in the beautiful blue-green waters of the Tampa Bay.  The fisherman told us that the mackerel were biting and they were not kidding; there were buckets and buckets filled to the brim with fish.

It was such fun to see people of all ages, casting and catching fish…  Then we enjoyed a guitarist playing great Neil Young songs, one of which my husband requested and enjoyed.

As we listened and looked out over the lovely Gulf Of Mexico waters and the silhouette of the outstanding Skyway Bridge, we were, once again, amazed at the glory of this unbelievable place in which we have the privilege to live.

We walked back down the pier to return to our car watching the setting sun highlight the clouds. It is far too often that we don’t take enough advantage of Anna Maria Island.  We got back home and ate a great dinner while we watched our team win the game in FOUR overtimes!

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Beach Life Anna Maria Island Florida Sunset in Autumn

Anna Maria Island Florida Sunset
Beautiful Sunsets of the Gulf Of Mexico from Anna Maria Island

An Anna Maria Island Florida Sunset in Autumn is Something Truly Spectacular!

Most of us, at one time or another, has been up north to see the “colors,” but none of us seems to think about Florida as a place to enjoy the beauty of fall, do we? Yet we’ve been on Anna Maria Island for the past 3 weeks and have enjoyed all of that the Gulf Coast has to offer this time of year!

Beautiful Weather, Beautiful Sunsets!

The weather is absolutely fabulous, not often annually does this sub tropic climate feel so welcoming. It is a wonder that this is not the most popular time of year to visit Anna Maria Island; the water is still warm from the hot summer and the humidity starts to lift off the beaches, just perfect. We go to the beach and often talk about how it seems like we have this magnificent place almost all to ourselves (except for the pelicans and sandpipers). Then, we visit our favorite beach front restaurants, and no longer have to worry about when we go, for the crowds are gone waiting for tables (amazing, since the hospitality, the food, and the drinks are still outstanding!).

Finally, we go to the beach at sunset (something that is a bit of ritual among true islanders)! It’s time to see the magnificent colors of fall.

The scene catches our breath as the oranges, red-pinks, and golds blend together and change as each minute passes. Our turning leaves are the sun and sky every day. Again, we wonder at the gift of this special place. It is enjoyed by so many and yet often overlooked at this time of year. THINK AGAIN!