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Tag: Breakfast

Amazing Food Options on Anna Maria Island

While Anna Maria Island is known for the wonderful quaint beachside views and small community feel, the food might just be the best part of your stay. No major food chains are part of the cuisine here on the island; instead, there are many small niche restaurants to choose from. Some of the freshest seafood, comfort foods, and drink options exist on Anna Maria Island, making it amazing for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Bortell's Fisheries
Photo Courtesy of Bortells Fisheries
  • AMI General Store – The Anna Maria General Store is an Anna Maria Island staple that has been the local place to go for food, drinks, and supplies since the 50’s when it was located at 307 Pine Avenue.
  • Bortell’s Fisheries – this is a sixth-generation, family-owned and operated fish market offering take-out only and fresh fish, smoked and fried fish to go.
  • Bridge Tender Inn – Established 30 years ago, Bridge Tender Inn (BTI) is Bradenton’s favorite sports bar and grille to eat, drink, and socialize while watching a televised sports event. You can chug beers, eat lip-smacking food, enjoy live music, and make great memories in a comfy, laid-back setting.
  • Dips Ice Cream – Don’t be fooled; this ice cream shop is more than just a place to go for a sugar rush. Dips is also a candy & sports shop. Adults will enjoy the many throwback candies, including bottle caps, wax lips, and jawbreakers.  Kids will like the dotted ice cream pellets and the general abundance of delicious refined sugar. 
  • Donut Experience – The Donut Experiment is Anna Maria’s very own gourmet donut shop! They bring a unique experience to the area and offer a large menu of donut options for everyone with a sweet tooth to enjoy. At the donut shop, you can create your own donut by choosing custom icings, toppings, drizzles, and more, and our friendly staff will create it for you.
  • Ginny and Jane E’s – this cafe is located in the Historic City of Anna Maria, a quaint “Old Florida” area on the north end of Anna Maria Island. The store is a unique collection of local art and unique finds. The cafe offers preservative, steroid, and hormone-free food. The bakery is made fresh every morning.
  • Harry’s Grill – the family and pet-friendly restaurant for good wine, beer, and live music. Anna Maria Island Sun Reader’s Choice Award winner for multiple years.
  • Kiwi Style Fish & Chips – featuring delicious choice local fish coated in their signature crispy batter and even custom-made meat patties. They aim to always serve customers the very best produce.
  • Los Chilidos – the restaurant incorporates traditional Mexican flavors with a fresh, healthier Southern California twist. The food is always prepared fresh onsite for dining in or take out.
  • Minnie’s Beach Café – breakfast and lunch restaurant with amazing fresh specials daily.
  • North Shore Cafe serves handcrafted espresso drinks, teas, coffee, and smoothies.
  • Pizza Social – this place is a small pizza shop striving to bring the best pizza possible to Anna Maria Island and the surrounding area. The Pizza Social specialties include handcrafted pizza and fresh salads.
  • Sandbar Seafood & Spirits – dine with your toes in the sand and a drink in your hand on the beach deck here. Enjoy fresh local seafood options with amazing drink menu features.
  • Slicker’s Eatery – attempts to be intentional with their ingredients, our choices, our relationships, and our impact. Everything from investing in their team, partnering with local charities, steering away from frozen or fried foods, and opting for fresh and locally sourced ingredients as much as possible.
  • Scott’s Deli – great food, great value, friendly service, and a happy atmosphere.  All of their ingredients are locally sourced when possible and always fresh, along with new treats will be featured weekly.
  • Skinny’s Place – They offer great burgers and frosted mugs at Skinny’s Place in Holmes Beach.
  • The Porch – features many incredible offerings, from signature dishes, seasonal entrées, specialty spritzers, top-quality steak, fresh fish, and a vast selection of beer and wine to choose from.
  • Tide Tables – offers fresh off the boat seafood, and is just a short drive over the Cortez Bridge too!
  • Waffle Press – t the core of the menu is the Leige waffle, a sweeter, smaller cousin to the well-known Belgian waffle.
  • Wicked Cantina – all the food is hand-made in-house daily. They specialize in delicious, Austin-style Tex-Mex as well as tasty American classics. Fresh food, a fresh modern family-friendly vibe, a full liquor bar, and ample parking await you.
anna maria island food
Photo Courtesy of Wicked Cantina

Did we make your mouth water with that list? Whether looking for a quick lunch, a healthy breakfast or the freshest seafood meal possible – Anna Maria has something for everyone. You might visit the beaches, but the food here is sure to add to the memories of your time in our community. The best part of these amazing places is rubbing elbows with the locals and the ambiance that just adds a little extra you can’t get from big food chains.

Feature Photo Courtesy of Deposit Photos

Easy Romantic Date Ideas on Anna Maria Island

Being in such a beautiful place as the beaches of the Gulf Coast, it’s easy to feel the love. So what about when you want to plan a date night for your loved one in the AMI-area but WITHOUT the stress of long wait times or busy crowds? We’ve gathered some of our favorite stress-free and romantic date ideas on Anna Maria Island so you can plan a special night for your special someone right here in paradise. Whether you’re wanting a night out or something a little simpler – AMI has plenty of great options for any couple!

Order Breakfast In Bed

Start the day off with a classic simplified. Bring your partner their favorite breakfast spot in bed! If they’re more of a coffee-and-pastry type: grab some famous donuts at The Donut Experiment, a fun Belgian waffle at The Waffle Press, or a hot bagel sandwich from Paradise Bagels. Want to indulge in the whole breakfast-in-bed feast? Swing by a local diner like Cortez Cafe or Minnie’s Cafe to pick up your comfort favorites! Best part? When you run out to pick up breakfast to-go, that means you won’t have a messy kitchen to clean! That’s a win/win.

date

Beach Picnic

No matter what weather the day brings you can almost always promise a spectacular sunset every evening on the Gulf Coast. A beach picnic is sure to wow your date… but remember, we said stress-free here! Don’t want to worry about acquiring and packing all of your picnic needs? There are some fun local picnic companies that will plan and set up the whole thing for you! Check out the services from Beach Suites AMI that provides luxury beach set-up or just grab a beach blanket and order an awesome grazing box from Gulf Shore Charcuterie!

Sweets for your Sweetie

Whether you want to sit down for dessert at an exciting restaurant like the Chai Latte Creme Brûlée at Slicker’s Eatery, pop in for a quick ice cream at a beloved local creamery like Tyler’s, or bring home something fresh-baked from a bakeshop like Cheesecake Cutie.. There are so many incredible options for sweets for your sweetie here on AMI! No matter what their (or your) sweet tooth craves, it’s always a good idea to sweeten up your date.

date

Make Dinner Reservations

Yes, there are many great places to eat on AMI it can be hard to choose which! A major win for us is a place that takes reservations! It’s not the most romantic to say you’ve planned a date and then have to go on an hours-long waitlist a local hot spot. Here we’ve rounded up some of our favorite local restaurants near Anna Maria Island that accept reservations so you can have a relaxing meal with minimal or no wait!

Schedule a Spa Day

This date plan says “I see you, I appreciate you, I care about you.” Help your loved one take a well-deserved spa day! Whether they’re aching for a massage, have mentioned wanting to get a facial, or love treating themselves to a mani/pedi – AMI has some great options for day-spas and salons of all kinds!  Some services will even come right to you! So, book that appointment for your special person and get ready to chill out.

Beach Vacation Rental Weekend

We saved the best for last here… Of course the best date surprise ever, a weekend on the beach. Whether you’re local to the area looking for a staycation or just planning on trip – there are few things more romantic than surprising your sweetheart with a vacation at the beach! It’s important to take time away to relax and enjoy each other’s company and AMI is the perfect place to do that. Whether you’re staying for a night, weekend, or longer – A Paradise has something for you! Give us a call at 941-778-4800 or browse our rentals online!

Photos from Pexels.com

Breakfast Spots on Anna Maria Island

Start your day off right with one of these delicious local Anna Maria Island breakfast spots… It is the most important meal after all! There’s something on this list for everyone so check it out to see where the next breakfast/brunch on AMI you should try! Then, fuel up before you hit the beach or boat for the day.

Minnie’s Beach Cafe
5360 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Family-friendly breakfast and lunch restaurant on Gulf Drive with delicious home cooked meals and baked goods. This cozy, family-owned business since the 1990’s is an island staple that never disappoints!

The Donut Experience
210C Pine Avenue, Anna Maria FL 34216

Create your own vision of the perfect doughnut and they make it happen! They start with a delicious, fresh-made cake donut and then you pick from our huge selection of icings and toppings made-to-order. Great fun and great flavors!

Peach’s
3240 E Bay Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Their breakfast and lunch menus cater to health conscious individuals and comfort food seekers alike. For over 20 years, Peach’s has been proudly serving generations of families and friends in Sarasota and Manatee counties!

Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe
4000 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217

If you want to start your morning beachside and full – check out Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe located “Where Manatee Avenue Meets the Gulf”! Famous for their “ALL U CAN EAT” Pancakes & Sausage on the beach, but they offer much more.

Ginny’s & Jane E’
9807 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, FL, 34216

An island staple for more than 15 years with an eclectic mix of café, bakery, and store. Here, you can grab a giant cinnamon roll, breakfast sandwich, borrow a book to read from the café library, or peruse the funky gift shop.

Paradise Bagels Cafe
3220 East Bay Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217

Known for their delicious bagels and bagel sandwiches, but host to a slew of American breakfast staples. Grab-and-go or sit-and-eat some fresh bagels, specialty sandwiches, pancakes, homemade soups, coffee bar, and much more. 

Cortez Cafe
12108 Cortez Rd W, Cortez, FL 34215

A hearty, affordable breakfast in the fishing village of Cortez. A great place to feast where the locals eat. Their extensive menu has everything from diner favorites to Greek specialities.

The Waffle Press
425 Pine Ave, Anna Maria, FL 34217

Try these unique “Walkable waffles”. At the core of their menu is the Leige waffle, a sweeter, smaller cousin to the Belgian waffle. They serve locally roasted, small-batch Cosmos Coffee, and offer specialty brews, espresso, cappuccino, lattes, cold brews, iced coffee and select cold beverages.

Whether you stop at one of these or the many other great breakfast spots in the Anna Maria Island area, you can’t go wrong with starting your day in paradise! Need help getting there? Give us a call and we’ll get your perfect vacation started… and we’re not just talking breakfast food! (800) 237-2252

Photo courtesy of Unsplash