Tag: cafe

Back Alley Treasures – Coffee, Wine, Craft Beer, and Funky Treasures

Get yourself a cup of coffee or an ice cold beer while you shop for local art and unique gifts to bring back home. Back Alley Treasures is a really cool bar and store located on Bridge Street (across the street from the Fish Hole)

Really, this place is super funky and fun. Find art by local artists, jewelry, clothing, stained glass, etc. Everything in this place is colorful and fun. Even if you don’t buy anything, It’s a great place to get a drink and hangout.

Speaking of drinks, they have tons to choose from. There are coffee drinks, smoothies, frozen lemonade, beer, and wine. Plus, you can make any of their smoothies or lemonades boozy, or ask for your coffee drink to be spiked. On one of our hot summer days, a frozen lemonade with a little (or a lot) of alcohol sounds pretty nice if you ask me.

Back Alley Treasures is open Monday – Saturday from 9AM – 8PM, and open Sunday from 9AM – 5PM.

Address:
108 Historic, Bridge St
Bradenton Beach, 34217

The Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe

The AMI Beach Cafe is a great toes in the sand dining spot! Imagine this, the beach, the sun, the sand, people watching, AND FOOD! It doesn’t get any better than that!  It is located right on the public beach at 4000 Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island.

This is the perfect place for breakfast on the island. Enjoy your cup of coffee, maybe even an order of their all-you-can-eat pancakes, and take in the gorgeous Gulf view. Oh, you didn’t wake up for breakfast did you? That’s okay because they serve lunch and dinner too! Don’t worry they didn’t forget about you late risers.  If you think I skipped telling you about putting on regular clothes, your wrong, I didn’t. You can wear anything here, your swim suit, pajamas, work clothes, wedding dress, anything. Ordering is quick, simple, and fun. Just pick your favorite menu option, place your order at the window, pay for the meal, grab a number, then sit back and wait.

An atmosphere like this is hard to find. Laid back people, sunshine and waves, live music, it is absolute perfection. Chances are, if you’ve been to the Island, you’ve most likely enjoyed a meal at the Beach Cafe. And if you haven’t, then what are you waiting for? There is a reason not only tourists, but locals as well, love this place! They also have ice cream and shopping! Yes, you can cool down with a scoop of cookies’ n cream ice cream for dessert and then stroll right on into the gift shop for some island memorabilia.

Oh, and that’s not all!

The Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe also offers beach rentals. They offer rentals for beach chairs, cabanas, and umbrellas. Even better, upon request they offer beach wheelchairs.

Where: 4000 Gulf Drive  Holmes Beach, FL 34217
Phone: (941) 778-0784
Hours: Open EVERYDAY from 7:30am – 8pm

Want some more ideas on where to have a great breakfast on Anna Maria Island?  Visit our breakfast information page.

Coquina Bike Path ~ Bradenton Beach – Anna Maria Island’s Best on The Beach

Anna Maria Island is a great place to take a family walk, bike ride, or just enjoy the breath taking views of the Gulf of Mexico. Don’t let the name fool you, the Coquina Bike path is not for just bikes but includes patrons strolling down the Gulf Waters.  The Coquina bike path is paved and stretches between Coquina beach and Cortez Beach.  Located in Bradenton Beach just south of Bridge Street, you will find Cortez Beach.

This beach offers free parking and lots of it!  As you move further south into Coquina Beach, you will find public restrooms, picnic tables, beach showers, and lifeguards on duty.  Coquina beach also has a café that serves burgers and hot dogs right on the beach.

One of my favorite things to do is take a nice, easy bike ride through Coquina Beach. I start at the south end of the island under the Long Boat Key Bridge and head north towards Cortez Beach along the paved path. Take the time to enjoy island wildlife as you are greeted by squirrels, native birds like the Blue Heron, and if you are lucky, you may see dolphins or manatees enjoying their Florida lifestyle.

If you can’t bring your own bicycle, there are lots of places to rent them on Anna Maria Island.   Most folks love Bradenton Beach because there are plenty of accommodation choices as well as dining and shopping within a stroll away.

The BEST Little Coffee Haus in Anna Maria

Holmes Beach – I have found it!!!!  Found what you ask?  Only the BEST iced mocha on Anna Maria Island!

Let me take you back to the beginning… well not that far back!  My coffee addiction began slowly about three years.  A cappuccino here or a quick cup of coffee from the Keurig at my parent’s house, but now I cannot go a day without my java fix.  I’m not ashamed to admit that I even indulge multiple times throughout the day now!  One of my favorites has now become the iced mocha especially this time of year when hot coffee just won’t work.

Well enough about me let me tell you about the amazing Island Coffee Haus on Holmes Beach.  To be honest I hadn’t even gone in until recently because I thought it would be super expensive and I have become a bit of a Starbucks snob L  I decided today was the day to step outside my comfort zone!

As I walked in the first thing I noticed was how light and bright the shop is which is very different from Starbucks.  Personally I love bright colors and do not need dim lighting and muted décor to enjoy my caffeine.  It’s also very beachy, but cozy at the same time.

Right as you walk in the pastry case calls to your taste buds, and then the rich aroma of the coffee tickles your nose.   I was now drooling, and I only had one foot in the door!  Next I hear a very cheery “Hello… what can we get started for you?”  This really warmed my heart because that is exactly what they say when you walk in to any local Starbucks.  I hadn’t even looked at their menu, but let me just say they had me at hello.

If you know anything about me you know I do not make changes easily, and I do not like to go to new places because it makes me uncomfortable.  I am an efficient person, so when I walk in somewhere I have a plan and know exactly what I’m getting so I don’t look stupid.  I am so glad they had their menu spelled out on a large chalkboard hanging right above the counter to make it easy for me to see quickly what I wanted.  I zeroed right in on my favorite…the iced mocha.  Oh but then they gave me a choice of dark OR white chocolate, and I didn’t hesitate for a second and chose dark.  It just seems to complement espresso so well.  Now I waited to see if they would be making it using a mix or fresh ingredients.  To my pleasure the entire drink was from scratch!  They even make their owner whipped cream which of course I had to have on top.

Now they are making my drink, so I take the time to look at their pastries because I was on my lunch break after all, and I needed to eat something.  I saw bagels, scones, large cinnamon rolls and muffins.  Most of these are made in house, but she did admit they purchase the bagels and scones.  They are fresh though from that morning.  I decided on a blueberry scone, and let me just tell you I couldn’t tell it wasn’t homemade.  They also have light meals including salads, breakfast sandwiches and regular sandwiches like their cranberry chicken salad… I will definitely try that next! You can get fresh fruit yogurt parfaits or oatmeal if you are looking for something on the lighter side.

Not a coffee drinker, like I used to be? Well then you are in luck because they have things for you as well.  They have made to order smoothies as well as different teas and bottled drinks.

When you all come to Anna Maria Island make sure you take time to check out Island Coffee Haus located in the plaza with Hurricane Hanks.  Even if you only have a few minutes I promise you will not be disappointed.  Make sure to let me know what you all think as well!

Island Coffee Haus, LLC

5350 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach

(941)896-4870

Monday through Saturday 7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Sunday 7:00 am – 1:00 pm.