The beach and cocktails go hand in hand, and on Anna Maria Island there’s no shortage of places to stop and drink a tropical concoction while taking in the ocean views and relishing in the gentle sea breeze. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite stops below for the perfect beach day spent soaking up the sun and cocktail hopping.
Note: Most of these suggestions are restaurants, but all have bar areas if you’re just stopping in for a drink. Although if you’re hungry, I gladly recommend any of these stops for food as well. Read more about food options on Anna Maria Island here.
Pro tip: Park your car in any of the public parking areas, then ride the trolley to all of these stops. I recommend parking near the Cortez bridge, as that’s where the Kokonut Hut is. Please drink responsibly and use a rideshare app if you’re tackling this crawl in one day.
Stop 1: The Kokonut Hut
The Kokonut Hut was one of the first places I discovered on the island – the large palapa and beachfront tiki tables were practically screaming my name. Now it’s one of my favorite spots to grab a drink (pictured in the above image) and watch the world go by. If you want the ultimate beach experience, definitely stop in for a drink at the very least, and stay for lunch if they aren’t too busy. Service can be spotty but I’ve never had bad food, and the vibe is awesome! Tip: Definitely check in inside with a hostess and get seated if you’d like full service or aren’t just sitting at the bar.
Vibe: Quintessential tiki bar
Drink to try: Key Lime Colada, or the Island Mule
Happy hour: Monday – Thursday from 3-6pm in the bar area only. $3 domestic drafts, $4 margaritas, well cocktails, and house wine.
Stop 2: Wicked Cantina
I love Wicked Cantina (I just can’t shut up about it — go visit them). While they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner I always end up here around lunchtime. After an early afternoon drink at Kokonut Hut, all you have to do is walk across the street to this cozy Tex-Mex spot. If it’s a nice day, sit outside to enjoy lunch and drinks. The mango margaritas are out of this world – not too sweet, the price point is right (under $8), and they’re just boozy enough.
Vibe: Tacos & chill
Drink to try: Frozen Mango Margarita, Cilantro Margarita
Happy hour: 12-6pm daily. They also have a great bar snacks menu!
Stop 3: Sandbar Restaurant
There are several places to dine directly on the beach on the island, but Sandbar Restaurant is one of my personal favorites. Out back, you can snag a table in the sand and kick your shoes off while watching the sunset and enjoying your meal. And when it comes to drinks, each is well-crafted and delicious. I especially love the mojitos.
Vibe: Toes in the sand
Drink to try: Mango Mojito or Dark n’ Stormy (made as it should be with Gosling’s)
Happy hour: n/a
Stop 4: Waterfront Restaurant
Upon first glance, the Waterfront Restaurant may look a bit fancy. But don’t be fooled. While the setting is noticeably more upscale than your typical waterfront eatery, it’s far from snooty. If you’re hungry, the food is great and there’s plenty of outdoor seating. The coveted front deck fills up quickly! This is one of the few places on the island where I’ve seen an actual craft cocktail menu. Sure, most have a tropical twist, but still…it’s a nice change up if you’ve been drinking sweet and fruity concoctions all day. They also have an excellent craft beer selection featuring some local breweries.
Vibe: Unstuffy upscale
Drink to try: 1944 Mai Tai
Happy hour: n/a, but you can check out the drink menu here.
Stop 5: The Doctor’s Office
A craft cocktail bar may be the last thing you expect to find in a quaint beach town, but Anna Maria Island is full of delightful surprises.
Paying homage to the building’s roots as a former doctor’s office, The Doctor’s Office of present-day features a cocktail menu designed to cure your ailments via medicines of the liquid variety. The drinks are boozy, so limit yourself to one or two. This is the kind of place where you’ll easily make friends with island locals while sipping the night away. I can’t think of a better place to end an evening cocktail crawl!
Vibe: Classy cocktail bar
Drink to try: The Bee’s Knees, Rumble, Chartreuse Swizzle, basically everything on the menu!
Happy hour: n/a, but here’s a peek at the drink menu
Stop 6: Make your own!
Beach cocktails don’t come cheap, and while I’m willing to pay the price, there’s nothing wrong with a little pre-gaming (or post) at your own place. My grandma, sister, and I recently went to work in the kitchen and made our own mojitos. After a little sleuthing online for a good recipe and a few test runs, we ended up with some pretty perfect grapefruit mojitos, which paired wonderfully with watching the sunset. Here’s a link to a good recipe, but if you’d like to make it know that we chose to double the juices and used simple syrup instead of sugar.
Vibe: Budget-friendly fun
Drink to try: Whatever you can dream up with the ingredients you’ve got on hand
Happy hour: Whenever you want!
Other places to consider:
• The Beach House – Located close to the Kokonut Hut with a stellar recently-renovated deck on the beach. The food and drinks are great!
• Bridge Tender Inn – This spot is tucked away on Bridge St. and service can be slow if they’re busy, but they have a great outdoor bar right by the water.
• Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier – Sip margaritas bayside while noshing on fresh seafood. This location can be found on the pier at the end of Bridge Street. Sit out back if the weather is nice!
Stunning photography…as always!
Thank you!! Sent my mom and stepdad your way a few nights ago…they loved it 🙂