A Fun Guide to the 7 Best Anna Maria Island Bars

With so many great daytime activities and things to do on Anna Maria Island, it's no surprise that this Gulf of Mexico paradise is such a popular vacation spot. Just a short drive from Sarasota or Tampa, it might be overlooked by outsiders, but once you visit one, we're sure you'll want to visit again!

What you might not know about the island is just how much fun the nightlife is here, too. While we might not be known for clubs like Miami or casinos like Vegas, we're known to have some great, laid-back bars for you to grab a drink or two and settle into your night.

Between the City of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, and Holmes Beach, there are some great drinking holes to choose between. 

Let's dive into our seven favorite bars on AMI to hit after a day spent swimming near sandbars and sunbathing on our beautiful beaches. Pro Tip: we suggest you give them all a try!

• Website:  https://doctorsofficeami.com/

• Address: 5312 Holmes Blvd. #B, Holmes Beach, FL 34217

• Opening hours: 5.30 pm – 10 pm Sunday to Monday / 5.30 pm – 11 pm Friday & Saturday

Don't let the name fool you; this is not your general practitioner's office in Holmes Beach, though it is housed in a former doctor's office. The Doctor's Office features upscale casual dining, craft cocktails made before your very eyes, and an enthusiastic staff guaranteed to create a memorable night on AMI.

Although not located on one of  Anna Maria Island's beaches, it is located in the heart of downtown Holmes Beach, making it an easy spot to walk to from your vacation rental. Their bar menu is extensive, with shrimp cocktails, muffuletta sandwiches, cheese plates, and even duck liver pate, but you're here for the cocktails.

A few local favorites include:

• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang – Beefeater gin, muddled blackberries, fresh lemon, and St. Germaine elderflower liqueur

• Last Word – Beefeater gin, green chartreuse, Luxardo maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime

• Preferred Remedy – Old Overholt rye, Nux Alpina black walnut liquor, sweet vermouth, black walnut bitters

The Doctor's Office is a family-friendly bar with excellent food and accessibility options for everyone to enjoy their offerings!

2. Hurricane Hanks

• Website:   https://hurricanehanks.com/

• Address: 5346 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217

• Opening hours: 11.30 am – 9 pm Sunday to Thursday / 5.30 pm – 10 pm Friday & Saturday

Chances are you are one of the many who enjoy a delicious dining experience alongside your favorite cocktails while on your annual getaway down Gulf Drive. If so, then Hurricane Hanks, a local sports bar, is calling your name. Primarily with indoor seating, they do have a few tables suitable for outdoor dining.

With a menu ranging from fish tacos to crab cakes to fried artichokes, this is one establishment that takes full advantage of the nearby water. But you want to hear more about those delicious cocktails, right? There are many, and they all taste unbelievably like a vacation.

We're talking about tasty drinks such as the Chambord Lemon Drop or a classic but organic Strawberry Margarita. If you're feeling adventurous, try their Hurricane!

3. Bamboo Island Bar

• Website:   https://www.bambooislandbar.com/

• Address: 119 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

• Opening hours: 4 pm – 9.30 pm Monday to Thursday / 4 pm – 11 pm Friday & Saturday

As perhaps one of the highest-rated Anna Maria Island bars along Bridge Street, Bamboo Island Bar attracts plenty of tourists year-round, but it's a favorite among locals too. Their food menu is quite limited, with its small plates, and each dish is somewhat expensive, yet fancy, so you'll likely want to stick with their drink menu, which is reasonably priced. Don't worry, there are plenty of   fantastic restaurants to fill up at before heading to Bamboo!

A cocktail in this spot near   Cortez Beach will set you back less than $10 per person, which is slightly cheaper than other options in the area. When it comes to the drinks, you will not be disappointed. The Brazilian Vodka Sangria, Island Mule, Mimosas, and other cocktail staples make appearances.

But the island time bar also features fruity island drinks that are, in my opinion, the law to try when you're on vacation. Bamboo Island Bar regularly features live music that adds to the island vibe. Here, you'll come for the drinks and stay for the live entertainment.

4. Dcoy Ducks Bar & Grille

• Website:   https://www.dcoyducks.net/

• Address: 5410 Marina Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217

• Opening hours: 10.30 am – 2.30 am daily

If you prefer to chill with a young crowd hanging out along Marina Drive, get a little bit rowdy (within limits), and generally have a good time on the weekend, Dcoy Ducks Bar & Grille may just become your new home-away-from-home here at Anna Maria Island.

Dcoy Ducks may not be known for their food, but with a nightlife like this, you can head here after a delicious meal at an   Anna Maria Island restaurant and enjoy a fantastic cocktail made in front of you at the bar. The bartenders are attentive, friendly, and happy to help out-of-towners find their new favorite drink.

Of course, if you're not open to trying anything new, Dcoy Ducks does feature more of the vacation staples such as margaritas, which are fan favorites.

5. The Ugly Grouper

• Website:   https://www.uglygrouper.com/

• Address: 5704 Marina Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217

• Opening hours: 11 am – 10 pm daily

Now, with a name like that, you would expect something a little dingier, right? You'd be wrong, though, because The Ugly Grouper is a highly-rated beach bistro along the marina. Looking more like a beach house than a restaurant, this spot is true to the typical Florida style. The food is fantastic, the drinks are plentiful, and dancing is encouraged.

You may especially love the outdoor seating as you sip your margarita in absolute style. If you're feeling a little peckish, The Ugly Group is also a sought-after eatery. We suggest you try the gator bites, bruschetta, ugly nachos, or jumbo wings, which come out of the kitchen at lightning speed.

But if you're here for the drinks, as we suspect, here are a few local favorites to try on your next trip:

• Coral Reef – Svedka cucumber lime vodka, watermelon liquor, pineapple & lime soda

• Beach Babe – Svedka raspberry vodka, sour, lemon-lime soda, and cranberry juice

• Anna Maria Mule – Tito's handmade vodka, key lime juice, cranberry, Gosling's ginger beer

Alongside their original favorites, The Ugly Grouper also features frozen drinks, Classic Island Libations, and margaritas. We give preferential treatment to the Mermaid Mojito, with its lime, mango, or dragon berry flavors that are ideal for a beachfront happy hour.

6. Freckled Fin Irish Bar

• Website:   https://gulfdrivetiki.com/kokonut-hut-anna-maria-island-bar/

• Address: 900 Gulf Dr N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217

• Opening hours: 7 am – 1 am daily

We would be remiss to create a list of the best bars on Anna Maria Island and not mention one actually on the beach! Don't worry, we've got you covered with The Kokonut Hut. This is where you'll want to go if you're looking for the stereotypical tiki bar in the sand to end your day.

Known as a bar and grill, you can come hungry and enjoy the waterfront restaurant while you dive into delicious fresh catch specials, topped off with a great cocktail. While this place might look small, they have a large drink and food menu, so you're sure to find something for everyone in your party.

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