Anna Maria Island may not necessarily be known for its food, but I’m here to tell you it should be. Out of all of the beach destinations we’ve traveled (Gulf Shores, Daytona Beach, Tampa) – Anna Maria is the one we actually go back to for the food alone. Eating is one of my favorite things to do on Anna Maria Island! It’s a small island so while there aren’t a million restaurants to choose from, the ones available are high-quality, unique, and delicious. We’ve been to Anna Maria eight times in the past six years and every time we visit we find some new food we love. It honestly just keeps getting better! It’s one of the reasons we keep going back to Anna Maria.
Best Anna Maria Restaurants
I originally was going to write this post broken down into places to eat breakfast in Anna Maria Island, places to eat lunch in Anna Maria, etc. but then realized that many of our favorites (Ginny and Jane E’s, Pizza Social, etc.) are good for multiple meals, so I couldn’t do that. Instead, I’ve just put together a list of the best places to eat in Anna Maria Island period – in alphabetical order because I couldn’t rank these. I’ve included both what meals the restaurant is open for as well as our personal favorite items there!
Blue Marlin
Blue Marlin is about as much about the atmosphere as it is about the delicious food. It’s only open for dinner but if you like seafood, it’s a must while you’re in Anna Maria. The menu is full of creative seafood dishes (and the most amazing potato soup), the restaurant is full of charm and stories of local , and the outdoor area is full of live music and fun. *Reservations are required for Friday and Saturday nights and highly recommended for other nights. Must-Try Dishes: Tater Soup, lobster grilled cheese, and fresh lemonade Location: Historic Bridge Street (Bradenton Beach area) Open: Every day for dinner Make Reservations | (941) 896-9737 | 121 Historic Bridge Street
Cheesecake Cutie
Cheesecake Cutie is one of our most recent Anna Maria Island restaurant finds and it’s the only place that we went to twice during our quick trip last month. Don’t be mistaken – this place is not just somewhere to get cheesecake, the other food they offer is just as good as the cheesecake. The restaurant is in the strip mall by Publix right off of Bay Street, not my favorite location, but it’s at least pretty easily accessible from both the north and south parts of the island. And it’s totally worth the trip. Mini cheesecakes with flavors that change daily (including keto and gluten-free options), fresh made charcuterie plates (so good), and a variety of creative sandwiches, salads, and wraps make this menu one you could eat from every day of your trip and still find something new. It’s the perfect food to grab and go – great for a beach picnic or taking back to your vacation rental to enjoy. They do have a few small tables in the restaurant, but I personally preferred enjoying some cheesecake on the beach! Must-Try Dishes: Cheesecake (all of them), charcuterie plates, rockin’ shrimp roll, and island cowboy sandwich. Location: by Publix in Holmes Beach Open: Lunch Monday to Saturday, closed Sundays Cafe Menu | (941) 779-2253 | 3324 E. Bay Street
Dips Ice Cream
Dips Ice Cream is in the general store on Pine Avenue and if you didn’t know it was there, you might miss it. Out of all of the ice cream places in Anna Maria, I found it to be the least crowded, and it has an awesome outdoor seating area that is perfect for enjoying your favorite cone or soft serve. Plus, they have what they called “gelato” but I call Italian ice – combine that with a little ice cream for a delicious and refreshing treat. They also have fun flavor combinations like the “Exhausted parent.” Must-Try Dishes: Coconut ice cream and mango Italian Ice (gelato) Location: Pine Avenue Open: 10AM to 10PM every day Facebook Page | (941) 778-1706 | 503 Pine Avenue
The Donut Experiment
My family loves gourmet donuts. That obsessed all started with The Donut Experiment (originally called Anna Maria Donuts) when we first visited Anna Maria Island years ago. They’d just opened and we’d never had fresh made to order donuts. It was a novelty that you see all over the country now, but we were hooked. Out of all of the donut places we’ve tried (including one of our favorite restaurants in Daytona Beach), The Donut Experiment is still our favorite. They’ve perfected the art of the mini donut – both the donut part and the toppings. You fill out a form to give them your order (helps with lines), they top your donuts fresh right in front of you, and you enjoy. While they may not have some of my son’s favorite donut toppings like gummy worms, they have a huge selection of icing options, topping options, and drizzles to add on top of that. Must-Try Dishes: Key Lime Donut and Maple Bacon (my favorite maple bacon donut anywhere) Location: Pine Ave Open: Every day for dinner Order Online | (941) 896-9737 | 121 Historic Bridge Street
Ginny and Jane E’s
If you like eclectic, you’ll love Ginny and Jane E’s (not to be confused with the Netflix show Ginny and Georgia). If you like good food, you’ll love Ginny and Jane E’s. If you like handmade and boutique shopping, you’ll love Ginny and Jane E’s. There is so much to love about Ginny and Jane E’s, it’s no surprise it’s one of the most popular and crowded restaurants in Anna Maria Island. But service is great and things move fast, so it’s well worth stopping in for either breakfast or lunch. The food is just one piece of the experience – when you walk in you’ll notice lots and lots of handmade and locally made items to shop through, various handmade tables and chairs mixed throughout the location, and color. All the color. Pick from the robust menu featuring breakfast dishes (creme brûlée French Toast is amazing), smoothies, fresh made pastries, sandwiches, and more then enjoy a quick walk around the shopping area while you wait for your food. Grab a seat if you can find one or go outside to enjoy your food while you people watch. It’s all part of the experience. Must-Try Dishes: Sticky buns, Creme brûlée French Toast, Biscuits and Gravy, and Smoothies (if you’re a smoothie kind of person) Location: Anna Maria area (just south of Pine Ave) Open: Every day for breakfast and lunch See the Menu | 941-778-3170 | 9807 Gulf Drive
Gulf Drive Cafe
Okay so I’m going to be totally real with you here – we don’t go to Gulf Drive Cafe for the food. Sure it’s good enough, but it’s not amazing like some of the other Anna Maria restaurants on this list. But the location and the atmosphere can’t be beat. Gulf Drive Cafe has outdoor seating that’s right on the beach but not actually in the sand (unlike The Sandbar) so you can order your eats then take a quick walk on the beach while you wait for your food to arrive. Or if you just want to sit in your seat and wait for your food, it’s still a beautiful view to look at. We liked the breakfast here but they also serve lunch and dinner. Plus, they regularly have live music if you want even more of a bonus to the atmosphere. Must-Try Dishes: Beignets, Island French Toast, and loaded grits (just for the experience) Location: South Gulf Drive (Bradenton Beach area) Open: Every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner See Menus | (941) 778-1919 | 900 Gulf Drive North
Hometown Desserts
Hometown Desserts is a great place to go for, you guessed it, desserts! They’re known for their coconut key lime cake but offer all sorts of other amazing layer cakes, pies, cheesecakes, and more.
They do run out of the coconut key lime regularly so if you want some, I recommend going close to opening time. If they are sold out, check next door in the back of the general store – they sell the cake too and sometimes have some when Hometown Desserts is sold out!
They also do custom orders and pre-orders so if you really have to have some, call ahead!
With a location right on Pine Avenue, this is a great stop when you’re walking Pine Ave shopping or doing any of the other things to do in Anna Maria.
Must-Try Dishes: Coconut key lime cake
Location: Pine Avenue
Open: Monday to Saturday typically from 10AM to 5PM, closed Sunday
See the Menu | (941) 896-3167 | 507 Pine Ave
Hurricane Hanks
If you want just good quality American bar type food, Hurricane Hanks is a great option. It’s in an unassuming location in a strip mall near Holmes Beach and often busy, but the food is worth if it’s your craving something familiar and well comfort food. The menu is also huge with everything from pastas to salads, burgers to seafood. So if you have a picky bunch or a bunch with a lot of different taste buds, it’s also a good option! We tried a handful of items off the menu and all were cooked well, well seasoned, and something we’d order again. Plus, it was served fast and hot, which is always a plus! They offer both indoor and outdoor seating plus take out – comfort food isn’t my first choice for a beach lunch or dinner, but it’s still good! It’s also one of the few options on this list that are actually open for Sunday dinner and a good choice if you are in Anna Maria Island on Sunday! Must-Try Dishes: Fried artichokes and shrimp and scallops risotto Location: Holmes Beach area Open: Every day for lunch and dinner View Menus | (941) 778-5788 | 5346 Gulf Drive
Island Creperie
If you like crepes, you’ll love Island Creperie. It’s on Historic Bridge Street and a great place to grab a yummy breakfast or early lunch before exploring everything Bridge Street has to offer. In addition to sweet and savory crepes, the menu offers other French food like a nicoise salad, quiche lorraine, escargots, French onion soup, and croque monsieur. Definitely a great place to get your French fix! I unfortunately don’t have a picture to share because the last time I went there and took pictures – well those pictures ended up somewhere in Europe on our last trip, along with thousands of other photos. Guess it means I’ll have to plan another trip soon! Must-Try Dishes: Crepes (any of them!) Location: Historic Bridge Street (Bradenton Beach area) Open: Every day except Tuesday for breakfast and early lunch Order Online | (941) 778-1011 | 127 Bridge Street
North Shore Cafe
North Shore Cafe is a new addition to Anna Maria (opened in 2020) and one of our personal new favorites. It’s located on Pine Avenue and you might miss it if you weren’t looking for it – so look for it! North Shore is a counter that serves delicious smoothies, acai bowls, pastries, coffees, teas, avocado toast, and more. Stand in line to place your order than enjoy the beautiful outdoor setting right along the water, take a photo with the Anna Maria mural, or listen to live music. It totally has Hawaiian cafe vibes and we loved it. Plus, they had a corn hole game out for the kids to play while we waited. My only note is that the smoothies are a bit more liquidy (with coconut water) than thick. The flavor was still good, they’re just not going to be the same as say Jamba Juice. If you want a thicker smoothie, we like Ginny and Jane E’s. The acai bowl and all the pastries we tried however, we’d for sure get again! Must-Try Dishes: Acai bowl, ham and cheese croissant Location: Pine Ave Open: Every day other than Tuesday for breakfast and lunch See the Menu | (941) 900-2671 | 304 Pine Ave
Pizza Social
Anna Maria Island was in need of a good pizza place and now they have it! Pizza Social just opened in 2020 (what a terrible time to open a restaurant right??) and serves up gourmet pizzas and salads right on Pine Avenue. This isn’t your typical fast food delivery pizza – it starts with handmade, hand-stretched dough that uses imported Italian flour, gets topped with fresh gourmet toppings, then all cooked in an imported Italian Brick Oven at 800 degrees. Brick oven pizza at its best! The wait was long when we were there over spring break, but the pizza was worth the wait. Call in your order ahead of time or order and do some Pine Ave exploring while you wait. Then enjoy hot, fresh, and delicious pizza either in the restaurant or outside in their outdoor seating area. Pizza is also a great option to take to a local park or beach to enjoy a picnic while you play! Must-Try Dishes: Pizza (any!) Location: Pine Ave Open: Every day other than Tuesday for lunch and dinner Order Online | (941) 251-4070 | 308 Pine Ave
Poppo’s Taqueria
Poppo’s Taqueria is another one of those places that we go to every single time we visit Anna Maria. It’s an always fresh ingredient taco place – well tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas. You know the deal – it’s like Chipotle where they make things fresh to order with what you want, but it’s so much better. Ingredients are all fresh, flavors are incredible, and the quesadillas – oh the quesadillas. Best quesadilla I’ve had in my life, and I’ve had a lot of quesadillas. You choose from their hot fillings like ancho chicken, carnitas, or steak then add in beans and rice then finally top it with any cold fillings you like including everything from my husband’s favorite honey lime slaw to pickled onions and salsa verde. Oh and don’t forget to get some chips. They cook them up fresh to order! Must-Try Dishes: Ancho chicken quesadilla, steak bowl with honey-lime slaw, and fresh chips Location: Pine Ave Open: Mon-Sat for lunch and dinner, closed Sunday Order Online | (941) 254-7941 | 212C Pine Ave
Small Town Creamery
There are three different ice cream places we frequent in Anna Maria Island. I already told you about Dips and their Italian Ice – now it’s time to talk about Small Town Creamery, another one of our favorites! Honestly if you like ice cream, you’ll enjoy any of the three options. Small Town also offers a delicious selection of homemade kettle churned fudge (different flavors each week), a unique selection of candy, toys, and a cool Ferris Wheel out front that my boys love to watch. If you want ice cream and are in the Holmes Beach area, this is a great choice! Must-Try Dishes: Ice cream and fudge Location: Holmes Beach area Open: Every day from 11:30AM-9:30PM See the Menu | (941) 213-9107 | 5404 Marina Drive
Smoqehouse
If you’re craving barbecue or just like barbecue, Smoqehouse is the place to go. It’s a new addition to Anna Maria in the past few years and a great one. They call themselves a “fast casual eatery featuring hand crafted sandwiches, salads, soups, fries, and whatever else our creatives have up their sleeves.” I’ll give them all of that. I had a pulled pork sandwich that was delicious, fries were great as well. My husband had the Korean beef topped with ginger lime slaw that he enjoyed as well. Next time I really want to try the loaded chips and brisket burger – both sound delicious. Two things to note – there is inside seating but the restaurant is pretty small. We typically order it to go and eat on a nearby beach. Also, out of all of the restaurants we went in during our visit, this is the only one that did not require a mask and their employees were not all wearing them (if that matters to you). Must-Try Dishes: Korean Beef and Hand Cut Fries Location: Gulf Drive (Bradenton Beach area) Open: Monday-Saturday for lunch and dinner, closed Sunday Check out menus | (941) 242-5340 | 1701 Gulf Drive
The Sandbar
If you want grown up food, grown up atmosphere, and just a nice dinner out – The Sandbar is a great option. I wouldn’t necessarily take my kids there because it’s a bit nicer than other options on this list, but when I went to Anna Maria on a girls trip, this was a group favorite.
Tables right on the sand (which can be a good or bad thing depending on bugs, sand temperature, and if you want to have your feet in the sand), lots of upscale seafood dishes, comfort food classics (like stuffed shrimp and chicken and waffles) make this a good choice if you like seafood!
Must-Try Dishes: I’ve only been there once and don’t love seafood, so I don’t have any great recommendations for you – my friends had a variety of seafood options that were all good, so I’m guessing you can’t go wrong with any of the fresh seafood!
Location: Along the beach in north Anna Maria
Open: Every day for lunch and dinner, Sunday for brunch and dinner
See the Menu | (941)778-0444 | 100 Spring Avenue
The Waffle Press
The Waffle Press is another new addition to Anna Maria in the past few years on Pine Ave! It’s in the front of the Pineapple Junktion Marketplace and just a little counter that serves up a variety of gourmet waffles. The waffles are small but yummy! I tried the camper (yum!) and the employee working said the cinnamon sugar was a popular option as well. The line can get long because it’s a small shop but if you can find a time that it’s not too bad, it’s a fun small treat on Pine Ave! They also serve drinks like coffees, lattes, and espressos if you want a little caffeine with your waffle. Must-Try Dishes: Signature Waffle (any of them) Location: Pine Avenue Open: Every day from 7AM to 3PM See the Menu| (941) 242-2413 | 425 Pine Ave
Two Scoops Ice Cream
Out of all of the ice cream places on Anna Maria Island, I’ve been to Two Scoops Ice Cream the most. The ice cream is good but the location is even better. It’s right at the end of Pine Ave, right across from the Anna Maria City Pier and the perfect treat to grab then enjoy while walking along the pier. Plus, they offer all sorts of goodies in the shop other than ice cream – breakfast waffles, sandwiches for lunch, and a plethora of vintage candy along the wall! I’ve tried quite a few of the ice cream flavors and my personal favorites are the black raspberry, toasted coconut, and fruit sorbets. But everything I’ve tried is good, so I’m sure you can’t go wrong! Must-Try Dishes: Ice cream Location: Bay Blvd (at the end of Pine Ave by the City Pier) Open: Every day from 10AM to 10PM Ice Cream Flavors | (941) 779-2422 | 101 S Bay Blvd
Vinny’s Italian Kitchen
Vinny’s is a staple in our Anna Maria Island vacation menu. The menu is full of authentic Italian dishes freshly made by Vinny and his team, and everything we’ve tried is delicious. My favorite thing about Vinny’s is that everything is freshly made so for me who doesn’t eat onions, he’ll make any of his sauces with no onions just for me. I normally don’t get to enjoy red sauce at most Italian places but not at Vinny’s – I get to try anything I want! Homemade pastas, classic Italian entrees like chicken parmesan and lasagna, and even tons of gluten free options. Plus a plethora of hot and cold sandwiches (like you’d get at a good Italian deli) and pizzas! There’s no inside seating and cooking take sa while so make sure to order way ahead of when you actually want to eat and plan to enjoy the food elsewhere. It’s one of our favorite things to order the first or second night we’re in town, eat at the park, and enjoy leftovers for the rest of the week. Did I mention the portions are huge? They also offer lunch size entrees, but I recommend getting the big ones. toshare! Must-Try Dishes: Stuffed shells and anything else – it’s all good! Location: Gulf Drive (Holmes Beach area) Open: Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner (only open until 7PM!), closed Sundays View Menu | (941) 896-9754 | 5337 Gulf Drive
Anna Maria Island Map
Here’s a quick view of what all of these things to do are located on Anna Maria Island! Purple are things to do, pink are restaurants, and orange are the two resorts I recommended above.
More Great Things to eat
Best places to eat in Napa Valley – if you’re headed to Napa and aren’t going to fill up on beverages, try these restaurants while you’re there! Best Daytona Beach Restaurants – everything from the biggest mozzarella sticks you’ll ever see to handmade taffy and more! Best Disneyland food – Corn dogs, churros, cookies, and more! Ruidoso Restaurants – if you’re headed to this beautiful ski town in New Mexico, these are some must-try places to eat! Gulf Shores Restaurants – a variety of delicious restaurants from the best breakfasts to dinners the entire family will love!
