7 Incredible Anna Maria Island Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

If you’d like to try quality dining on Anna Maria Island, then please see these seven top spots. You might even end up hungry after reading this and start booking your next vacation ahead of time. At least, that’s the goal — after all, you can’t go wrong with your visit to an island that specializes in broad beaches, historic art, amazing food, and so much else.

Try a few of these great restaurants out while staying in an Anna Maria Island vacation rental, and you’ll see for yourself why they’re so popular! 

Anna Maria Island Beach Café

The Anna Maria Island Beach Café is a highly coveted choice among AMI restaurants. The servers don’t stop, the hosts only make you feel welcome and right at home, and the chefs live to serve up a solution to any appetite. They’re open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day (most holidays, too). 

One of the items that most families or groups like to order here the most, believe it or not, is the exclusive hand-carved coconut container. It’s special because it not only holds your drink inside but can also be kept as a souvenir of your visit. The beef tacos at this place are also to die for! 

Waterfront Pier 22 Restaurant

For restaurants on Anna Maria Island that offer good food, some privacy, and reasonable prices, Waterfront Pier 22 is high on the list. They’ve got a good blend of upscale mixed with casual, and this is one of the few places that can pull both off just right. 

Eat your food on the patio (with lovely beach views) or inside the dining room; you’re sure to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal and a fantastic evening either way. Come in Monday-Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. or Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Or, stop in on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Don’t leave without trying the scrumptious Sweet Thai Chicken plate. 

fancy appetizer
Photo from Shutterstock

Marina Jack

Anna Maria Island dining in its finest state, Marina Jack will never disappoint. At the very downtown of AMI, this place has some of the sweetest happy hour (4-6 p.m. every day) deals you’ll ever find. Drinks are of good quality yet still very affordable, which one can never complain about. 

If you need to get some privacy with a little extra peace and quiet while you enjoy your meal, they’ve got a whole upstairs dining room, as well (in addition to the main one on the ground floor), which you can even book out all to yourself or your crew ahead of time. They’ve also got a piano bar, where you can play your favorites (on special request and with an unreserved slot) or listen to others playing live. It all opens daily at 11 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. (or as late as 11 p.m. on Fridays/Saturdays). 

Bridge Street Bistro

Right in Bradenton Beach, this bistro eatery is one of the best on the island. It’s a night restaurant and bar, so come in any evening starting at 5 p.m. (til’ 9 p.m. every day or as late as 10 p.m. on Fridays/Saturdays). Happy hour is 3-6 p.m. daily. The menu here is very seafood-centric, which one would expect, featuring some of the freshest and most original jerk scallops you’ll find around. 

They score 10/10 all around, so you know they’re a hit! Locals and visitors alike praise them endlessly. If you’re a fan of bruschetta, you have to try theirs. They top it with tropical fruit for that extra special finishing touch, and it tastes as good as it looks and smells. If you’re a beef lover, don’t miss their filet mignon. It’s to die for!

Plan Your Visit

Make this Thanksgiving a memorable one by celebrating it at the beach with your family. Contact Florida Dreams today to plan your trip!

Gulf Drive Café

Gulf Drive Café (open daily as early as 7 a.m. and as late as 9 p.m., with exceptions of Friday/Saturday at 9:30 p.m.) is here to serve your stomach, too. It will kill hunger at its first opportunity with superb plates like the Island grouper. It’s a fillet you can have grilled or blackened, along with rice, veggies, and a fresh mango papaya salad. You’ll be in heaven instantly (your taste buds will, too)! If you like breaded shrimp, have it here — they serve it in jumbo rice alongside rice and veggies. Bring a very hungry crew! 

The Sandbar

Right on Spring Avenue, you’ll find the Sandbar, the one and only place around here where you can order a one-of-a-kind aguachile ceviche starter plate to get your taste buds fired up. This appetizer will get you ready for what comes next: perhaps the fish tacos, the cobia burger, the AMI chicken sandwich, or something else entirely. Whatever you fancy, in terms of modern American seafood, they just about have it. Come in daily at 11:30 a.m. and stay until 10 p.m. Thursday/Friday (or until 9 p.m. all other days). They’ve got take-out, too, if you’re rushed for time!

two fish tacos with coleslaw on a plate
Photo from Shutterstock

Blue Marlin

Find them on Bridge Street: Blue Marlin Seafood Restaurant. They’re open at night (5 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night but Sunday, when they’re closed). They’ve got nice nautical décor all around, making you feel like you’re in paradise. It’s relaxing, uplifting, tropical, and fresh. They update it often to change the look of the restaurant, moving things around a bit for better aesthetic and visual variety. Hit their courtyard for a brief walk as you wait for your order to arrive.

Of course, the food is more than worth any wait. Enjoy some of the freshest seafood you can find at any Anna Maria Island restaurant with dishes like lobster grilled cheese, fish tacos, pecan grouper, whole snapper, and others. If you’re looking for a place where you can treat yourself and enjoy some great company this Thanksgiving, you’ll find what you’re searching for here at Blue Marlin. 

Book Your Anna Maria Island Rental  

Spend the holidays at the beach, and book a rental on AMI! We have properties perfect for small groups who want a relaxing holiday. Of course, Thanksgiving is also a time for loved ones, which is why we have larger rentals for families as well. Anna Maria Island vacation rentals await.   

Don’t wait another second to book your Thanksgiving getaway to the Florida shores. Make your choice from our extensive catalog of properties. See it all online or get in touch with our staff with any questions you might have. Our exceptional Anna Maria Island condo rentals can be your next home while you’re on your travels, and they suit parties of multiple sizes. Contact us today to start planning your Thanksgiving trip to Anna Maria Island!