The Bay Haven
Food scene
This is one of Soujanya’s favorite restaurants. It’s just a few minute drive from “The Bay Haven”. It’s an authentic Italian restaurant with large portions. Every table receives freshly warmed bread with an oil dipping sauce. 5 stars!!
8 locals recommend
Primo! Ristorante
8076 N Tamiami TrailThis is one of Soujanya’s favorite restaurants. It’s just a few minute drive from “The Bay Haven”. It’s an authentic Italian restaurant with large portions. Every table receives freshly warmed bread with an oil dipping sauce. 5 stars!!
Lucky Pelican
6239 Lake Osprey DrThis is recommended by Ann. The fish tacos are amazing! Outdoor casual dining. Be sure to check the hours of operation. Go to this restaurant after a day at the beaches on Anna Maria Island. Bring cash to order a drink while waiting for your table. If you don’t get there early it’s likely you’ll have up to a 45 minute wait. Bring a sweater, it’s a bit chilly during sunset.
98 locals recommend
Tide Tables Restaurant and Marina
12507 Cortez Rd WThis is recommended by Ann. The fish tacos are amazing! Outdoor casual dining. Be sure to check the hours of operation. Go to this restaurant after a day at the beaches on Anna Maria Island. Bring cash to order a drink while waiting for your table. If you don’t get there early it’s likely you’ll have up to a 45 minute wait. Bring a sweater, it’s a bit chilly during sunset.
The service was fast, my kids liked their meals. You pay for kids meals according to height!
30 locals recommend
Anna Maria Oyster Bar - Cortez
6696 Cortez Rd WThe service was fast, my kids liked their meals. You pay for kids meals according to height!
Fun place for families to eat! The kiddos can play in the sand while waiting for your order. It is located at the Sarasota Bay Front. Go early in the morning. Parking can be tough but it’s worth it for the small park, water feature, walking path, cool trees, and amazing boats in the bay. You can sign up ($) to take a dolphin tour and take a photo by an enormous statue of the famous kissing couple at the end of WWII.
171 locals recommend
Oleary's Tiki Bar & Grill
5 Bayfront DrFun place for families to eat! The kiddos can play in the sand while waiting for your order. It is located at the Sarasota Bay Front. Go early in the morning. Parking can be tough but it’s worth it for the small park, water feature, walking path, cool trees, and amazing boats in the bay. You can sign up ($) to take a dolphin tour and take a photo by an enormous statue of the famous kissing couple at the end of WWII.
Patellini's Pizza
1429 Main StPizza delivery with great reviews. Its about 5 miles from the house.
Great family restaurant with indoor and outdoor waterfront dining. It has lunch and dinner specials. Fresh local seafood. My husband ate the crab scallop and shrimp stuffed flounder and thought it was filling and delicious! The kids meals come in a beach bucket! I had the drink, “Key Lime Pie”. It was more like dessert and super yummy! Go before dark. We were eaten by mosquitoes!
57 locals recommend
Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar
5353 S Tamiami TrailGreat family restaurant with indoor and outdoor waterfront dining. It has lunch and dinner specials. Fresh local seafood. My husband ate the crab scallop and shrimp stuffed flounder and thought it was filling and delicious! The kids meals come in a beach bucket! I had the drink, “Key Lime Pie”. It was more like dessert and super yummy! Go before dark. We were eaten by mosquitoes!
Located across the street from Westfield Southgate Shopping Center. It's a fine dining experience that offers Prime steaks, wine and handcrafted cocktails.
24 locals recommend
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
2001 Siesta DrLocated across the street from Westfield Southgate Shopping Center. It's a fine dining experience that offers Prime steaks, wine and handcrafted cocktails.
This is a fine dining experience located on the Bay. The menu changes daily. The executive chef is Daniel Olson.
64 locals recommend
Ophelia's on the Bay
9105 Midnight Pass RdThis is a fine dining experience located on the Bay. The menu changes daily. The executive chef is Daniel Olson.
Incredible atmosphere, kids will love it, amazing food! A true experience! This tiny restaurant is packed and does not accept reservations. We tried to go at 6:00 pm on a Thursday to be met with a 1.5 hour wait. We were too hungry to wait but the atmosphere looked AMAZING! This is definitely on our to-do list for next time!
260 locals recommend
Owens Fish Camp
516 Burns CtIncredible atmosphere, kids will love it, amazing food! A true experience! This tiny restaurant is packed and does not accept reservations. We tried to go at 6:00 pm on a Thursday to be met with a 1.5 hour wait. We were too hungry to wait but the atmosphere looked AMAZING! This is definitely on our to-do list for next time!
This is a local hangout for senior citizens with old school decor. The food is fresh and the service was excellent. Both kids and adults found something yummy to eat. Prices are very reasonable. Keep in mind this is also a market so it might take some getting used to the “fishy” smell, lol! Definitely worth a try if you’re looking for very casual seafood dining.
12 locals recommend
Captain Brian's Seafood Market & Restaurant
8421 N Tamiami TrailThis is a local hangout for senior citizens with old school decor. The food is fresh and the service was excellent. Both kids and adults found something yummy to eat. Prices are very reasonable. Keep in mind this is also a market so it might take some getting used to the “fishy” smell, lol! Definitely worth a try if you’re looking for very casual seafood dining.
This is a local “ma” shop. It’s a cute little bakery with homemade German treats, bread and specialty coffee drinks. It’s located next door to Subway and Captain Brian’s restaurant. It’s often crowded. Get there early if you want a homemade pretzel 🥨.
10 locals recommend
Mama G's Coffee Bakery
8431 N Tamiami TrailThis is a local “ma” shop. It’s a cute little bakery with homemade German treats, bread and specialty coffee drinks. It’s located next door to Subway and Captain Brian’s restaurant. It’s often crowded. Get there early if you want a homemade pretzel 🥨.
Grocery
Publix Super Market at Broadway Promenade
1044 N Tamiami TrailTarget is located just a few miles north on 41 from “The Bay Haven”. It’s a super easy drive and has everything you need. They also deliver via Shipt.
25 locals recommend
Target
8151 Dr M.L.K. Jr St NTarget is located just a few miles north on 41 from “The Bay Haven”. It’s a super easy drive and has everything you need. They also deliver via Shipt.
Winn-Dixie
1010 53rd Ave EFun Things To Do
SURFIT USA-Kayaks, Paddleboards & Surf
190 Taft DrMote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
1600 Ken Thompson PkwyThe John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
5401 Bay Shore RdThis is an upscale shopping plaza near Lido Key Beach. There are plenty of restaurants, shops (boutiques), ice-cream and music. Try eating at “The Columbia”. We ate at Cha Cha Coconut next door to the Columbia. It was an expensive meal for mediocre (at best) food. If your kids are into arcades, you’ll find one near the Ben Jerry’s!
297 locals recommend
Saint Armands Circle
Saint Armands CircleThis is an upscale shopping plaza near Lido Key Beach. There are plenty of restaurants, shops (boutiques), ice-cream and music. Try eating at “The Columbia”. We ate at Cha Cha Coconut next door to the Columbia. It was an expensive meal for mediocre (at best) food. If your kids are into arcades, you’ll find one near the Ben Jerry’s!
The Preserve is free to guests. There is a big tree house play structure for the littles to run and play. It’s a popular hangout for local playdates.
193 locals recommend
Robinson Preserve
1704 99th St NWThe Preserve is free to guests. There is a big tree house play structure for the littles to run and play. It’s a popular hangout for local playdates.
Things To Do In Sarasota
2075 Main StThis is a great list of fun things to do while visiting Sarasota. Enjoy!
Beaches
You have to check out this beautiful beach. It has the whitest sand and clearest water in the world! Bring snorkel gear. My boys spotted THOUSANDS of living sand dollars! They could dive under water and pick them up!!! It’s a really busy beach so if you’re going in high season, get there early! A concession stand is located at the beach but it could be a long hike to get to it after you set up your spot for the day.
798 locals recommend
Siesta Beach
You have to check out this beautiful beach. It has the whitest sand and clearest water in the world! Bring snorkel gear. My boys spotted THOUSANDS of living sand dollars! They could dive under water and pick them up!!! It’s a really busy beach so if you’re going in high season, get there early! A concession stand is located at the beach but it could be a long hike to get to it after you set up your spot for the day.
This is a beautiful beach located near the trendy and upscale shopping at St. Armands Circle. This beach is the closest to “The Bay Haven”. If you like to look at expensive houses take a drive around the neighborhood. You’ll be seeing multi-million dollar homes! You can walk to St. Armand’s from the beach (about .5 miles). The beach is beautiful and very calm. It’s great for swimming.
442 locals recommend
Lido Key Beach
400 Benjamin Franklin DrThis is a beautiful beach located near the trendy and upscale shopping at St. Armands Circle. This beach is the closest to “The Bay Haven”. If you like to look at expensive houses take a drive around the neighborhood. You’ll be seeing multi-million dollar homes! You can walk to St. Armand’s from the beach (about .5 miles). The beach is beautiful and very calm. It’s great for swimming.
Longboat Key
AMI has an “Old Florida” feel. Quaint shops, beautiful beaches, 7 miles of white sand. We love love love Anna Maria Island. Our favorite beaches are Coquina and Bean Point. Bean Point is very calm and less busy. It’s also a great beach to go shelling.
374 locals recommend
Anna Maria Island Chamber
5313 Gulf DrAMI has an “Old Florida” feel. Quaint shops, beautiful beaches, 7 miles of white sand. We love love love Anna Maria Island. Our favorite beaches are Coquina and Bean Point. Bean Point is very calm and less busy. It’s also a great beach to go shelling.
Coquina Beach is beautiful. There is a large parking lot and shaded trees with picnic tables. If you set up near life guard tower #9 there is a small tiki bar that serves drinks, ice-cream and sandwiches. They take credit cards. There is also a tiny park for the littles. Adults and teens can use the volleyball nets. Rustic bathrooms are provided as well.
138 locals recommend
Coquina Beach station
Coquina Beach is beautiful. There is a large parking lot and shaded trees with picnic tables. If you set up near life guard tower #9 there is a small tiki bar that serves drinks, ice-cream and sandwiches. They take credit cards. There is also a tiny park for the littles. Adults and teens can use the volleyball nets. Rustic bathrooms are provided as well.
Traveler advice
Don't miss
Information Regarding Red Tide
https://mote.org/research/program/environmental-health/beach-conditions-report-red-tide-information. https://myfwc.maps.arcgis
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Emergency Services
https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/__manatee_ready__emergency_planning
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Emergency Shelters
https://manateegis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=e4602daf0e2a49b39927cb729a821466
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Local Weather
Consider following local meteorologists Denis Philips on Facebook for weather information.
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Travel Insurance
https://www.insuremytrip.com
Book before you go
Deep Sea Fishing: Captain Ron Gauthier
https://fishingbooker.com/profile/view/124192
Book before you go
Personal Chef
https://www.chefbrunowu.com/