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THE ISLAND GUIDE

Anna Maria, the way locals do it

Seven miles of white sand, no high-rises, and a grouper sandwich worth planning a day around. This is the guide we give our own visiting friends and family.

BEACHES EAT & DRINK NIGHTS OUT FOR KIDS RAINY DAYS GETTING AROUND

Golden hour over the Gulf on Anna Maria Island

THE BEACHES

Three beaches, three moods

Manatee Public Beach

THE FAMILY ONE

Wide, soft sand with easy parking and gentle surf — the everyday choice for a crew with kids, coolers, and the wagon full of gear. Dead-simple to find: straight down Manatee Ave until the road ends in the beach parking lot.

Cortez Beach

THE LOCAL ONE

Just over the Cortez Bridge at the island’s south end — surfers off the old pier pilings, anglers at dawn, and free roadside parking along Gulf Drive.

Coquina Beach

THE EASY ONE

Lifeguards, a playground, picnic tables under the pines, and calmer water at the island's south end. The low-effort, high-reward day.

And save one evening for Bean Point — the island’s wild northern tip where the Gulf meets the bay. Go for the sunset and the view, not for swimming.

Parking, events, and what's on this week: check the AMI Chamber's visitor guide before you head out. Friendly reminder that parking lots fill early during peak season.

EAT & COFFEE

Where we love to go

Every name opens the spot's Google page for hours and menus. Found a hidden gem that's not on this list? Tell us — we'll go check it out.

Breakfast & coffee

MORNINGS

›Ginny's & Jane E's — quirky island bakery; go when the giant cinnamon rolls come out

›Anna Maria Donuts — build-your-own minis; the line moves fast

›Fox Mercantile — our everyday coffee run in Bradenton

›Orange Blossom — the best espresso in Bradenton

›Mademoiselle Paris — croissants for a beach picnic

Big-table dinners

THE WHOLE CREW

›The Porch — our first answer to "where tonight?"; keeps ten people happy

›The Ugly Grouper — huge outdoor spread, live music, everyone welcome

›Coast Seafood Grill — fresh Gulf seafood with room for the whole crew

›Joey D's — zero pretense, big portions, local institution

›Agrigento + Danny's — the pizza-night rotation

Sunset & date night

BOOK THE GOLDEN HOUR

›Sandbar Seafood & Spirits — dinner with your toes literally in the sand

›The Shore — the occasion dinner of the trip

›Bridge Street Bistro — third-floor Gulf views, an island award-winner

›The Chateau Anna Maria — the fancy one, for the babysat night

›enRich Bistro — casual fine dining on Manatee Ave, for the night you skip the bridge

Quick & new

POST-BEACH

›Kiwi Style Fish & Chips — Sydney-and-Oahu-honed, perfect post-beach

›Rock N Eggroll — the island's newest craving, on Pine Ave

›Poppo’s Taqueria — the island’s cult build-your-own burrito, on Pine Ave

AFTER SUNSET

Bars & live music

Most of it happens on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach — an easy bar-hop, and everything winds down by 10–11 PM (this is a barefoot island, not Miami).

THE BRIDGE STREET HOP

›Bridge Tender Inn — waterfront dockside bar, live music most nights

›Drift In — beloved dive, bands + karaoke

›Island Time — big open-air corner bar

›Daiquiri Deck — rooftop frozen drinks at sunset

›Freckled Fin — Irish pub, high-energy bands

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

›88 Live Piano Bar — dueling pianos on weekends, live music nightly (Cortez Rd)

›Kokonut Hut Tiki — live music nightly, dance in the sand

›D Coy Ducks — locals' dive, weekend bands

›Blue Marlin — 1920s cottage, bands Fri & Sat

COCKTAILS, PROPERLY