So what are the best Anna Maria Island restaurants?  We’ll have to save that for another day—after all, there are just so many and it’s a complex topic that’s always open for continued discussion.

But today, we’re going to take a look at 3 family-friendly Anna Maria beach front restaurant standouts.  These family-favorite dining establishments all come highly recommended by Anna Maria Island locals and visitors alike (and are listed here in no particular order at all).  Here goes…

The Sandbar restaurant on the beach at Anna Maria Island

The Sandbar

100 Spring Avenue, Anna Maria, Florida

The Highlights:

• Incredible beachfront outdoor dining atmosphere
• Menus include everything from sandwiches to delicious entrees
• Amazing place to relax and watch the sunset
• Features regular live entertainment

Opens for lunch and becomes a great beach hangout during the afternoon before the dinner crowd arrives.  Stop in with the entire family and grab appetizers for a snack or one of their excellent fried grouper sandwiches (topped with cheddar cheese, of course).  The Sandbar does get a little busy at times—if you’re flexible time-wise, try going in the late afternoon before the dinner crowd picks up.  Oh, and just one more thing…come at the right time and you’ll probably even catch a beach wedding ceremony in progress—The Sandbar is a very popular Florida wedding destination!

Café On The Beach

4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, Florida

The Highlights:

• All you can eat pancake & sausage breakfast
• Located right on Manatee Public Beach
• Very casual—great place to grab a bite while spending the day at the beach

Casual as casual gets on Anna Maria Island, Café On The Beach is the perfect place to begin a family day on the beach with their famous all you can eat pancake and sausage breakfast.  Located right on the beachfront at the Manatee Public Beach, it makes for a perfect morning beach walk destination with the family.  While it’s nothing incredibly fancy, it is certainly always popular!  There’s a walk-up window outside to place your order and a one-of-a-kind outdoor “kitchen shack” where you’ll be able to restock your plate to your heart’s content.  Especially ideal for those hungry teenagers in the family!

Outdoor dining at The BeachHouse on Anna Maria Island

The BeachHouse

200 Gulf Drive, Bradenton Beach, Florida

The Highlights:

• This is the place to watch the sunset—before, during, or after dinner!
• Great outdoor beachfront dining location
• Regular outdoor live entertainment

The BeachHouse is another family-friendly Anna Maria Island restaurant that will easily become a vacation favorite.  The relaxed, casual atmosphere (both indoors & outdoors), along with a mouth-watering menu filled with fresh seafood and plenty of kid-friendly choices makes it easy!  Families might especially enjoy visiting for dinner early in the evening and then planning to hang out beachside for the incredible sunset.  It’s a festive atmosphere for sure—many folks even refer to the beach here during sunset as Anna Maria Island’s very own version of Key West’s Mallory Square.

For your convenience, here’s a quick map featuring these locations:
View Anna Maria Island Restaurant Family Friendly Beach Front Favorites in a larger map

While parking can always be challenging during peak evening dining times on Anna Maria Island, both The Sandbar and The BeachHouse frequently offer complimentary valet parking to make it a bit easier.  Also, the free trolley does provide service within a block or two of each of these locations.

Again, favorites among locals and vacationers alike, these popular beachside Anna Maria Island family-friendly restaurants surely won’t disappoint.  And remember…you’re dining on the beach in paradise!

Powdery Soft Anna Maria Gulfside Beach

Just about to discover Anna Maria Island, Florida for the first time?  Well, if so—you are in for a real treat!  And of course, if you’re already an islander yourself, you already know how pristinely wonderful the Anna Maria Island area is.

A Little Bit About Anna Maria Island

For newbies just exploring the area online for the first time, Anna Maria can be a little confusing at first.  But rest assured it’s actually quite simple…basically, Anna Maria Island is a Gulf Coast island that includes the towns of Anna Maria, FL, Holmes Beach, FL, and Bradenton Beach, FL.  One town runs right into the next, and the whole area is definitely all worth exploring.

About an hour’s drive from Tampa International Airport (TPA), or about 35 minutes from Sarasota Bradenton International (SRQ), the Island—with its soothing Gulf Sea breezes, turquoise waters, and powder-soft white quartz sand beaches—truly is like something right out of a favorite novel.

What Makes Anna Maria Island Florida Unique?

Well, it would be easy enough to go on and on about what makes Anna Maria such a treasured hideaway destination to folks all over the world.  For starters, besides one regional grocery store and a pair of nationally branded drug stores, there really are no chain stores, chain restaurants, or even chain franchise hotels on the entire island.  In fact, the local islanders have banded together and worked hard to keep the entire island uniquely different from all of the modern tourist traps out there.

Anna Maria Equals A Taste Of “Old Florida”

You’ll hear the phrase “Old Florida” quite a bit as you explore and become intimately familiar with Anna Maria and the surrounding Island communities.  The notion of old Florida will mean something slightly different to each visitor and resident of the area, but to me, the spirit of the term means that the area is incredibly laid back and relaxing.  I think you’ll wholeheartedly agree when you discover Anna Maria Island Florida for yourself!

The focus isn’t on having thousands of tourist trap gift shops around every corner or having all of the hustle and bustle of big, expensive hotels and round-the-clock nightlife.  Instead, visitors and locals alike would much rather spend their leisure time taking in the unbelievable beauty and tranquility of the long expanses of free-access beach (and by the way, the beaches, either Gulf side or bay side are no more than a block or two away no matter where you are on the Island).

That Brings Us To Another Great Thing About Anna Maria Beaches

No need to worry about exclusive resorts placing claim on precious spans of beach.  Discover Anna Maria Island Florida, and you’ll find that the entire stretch of beach all the way around the island is free to access.  You can walk miles from the top of the island to the bottom with your toes in the sand and gentle Gulf surf.  And if you’re passionate about fishing—are you ever going to be excited when you discover all of the quiet places to cast a line.

Discover Anna Maria Island Florida Restaurants

It’s not easy these days to find quaint cafes, great little places to grab a delicious burger and afternoon beverage, along with plenty of tasty dining options right on the beach.  It’s true, several excellent Anna Maria Island restaurants have dining set up right in the soft sand of the beach—the ideal atmosphere for truly enjoying fresh-caught seafood and watching the sunset!

Again, no chain restaurants, but please take our promise that you’ll probably find your new favorite restaurant ever right here on the island!  Lots and lots of quick and easy going to award-winning gourmet picks to choose from too!

Are you ready to discover Anna Maria Island, Florida for yourself very soon?

A view from Bean Point on Anna Maria Island, Florida.

The Gulf beaches that stretch from the very top to the very bottom point of Anna Maria Island are among the best beaches you’ll find anywhere in the world!  Baby powder soft sand that stays cool always to the touch is just as soothing as the cool Gulf breeze and the perpetually clear waters.