Anna Maria Island coffee - Island Real Blog

North Shore Cafe – a New Great Addition to Pine Avenue

There’s a new little café on Pine Ave in Anna Maria City that you must visit! The North Shore Café specializes in coffee, teas, smoothies, and more! Its a great spot to get something on the healthier side for breakfast and lunch.

Need a caffeine fix? They’ve got you covered with one of their Cold Brews, Cappuccinos, or Macchiatos. If you prefer tea over coffee then you’re going to love their specialty teas, like the London Fog (earl grey tea with vanilla, rock sugar, & steamed milk). They even have Matcha Lattes! Moving on to menu items that will fill you up, they have a great selection of delicious smoothies, acai bowls, as well as pastries & bagels, avocado toast, and lunch sandwiches. My favorites are the Jacaranda Smoothie, the Acai Hemp Protein Bowl, and the Caprese Sandwich.

Stop by the North Shore Café any day of the week (besides Tuesdays when they’re closed to restock and recharge) for drinks or a bite to eat. You’re on island time, so you better enjoy every second of it!

North Shore Cafe
304 Pine Ave, Anna Maria, FL 34216
(941) 900-2671

The BEST Little Coffee Haus in Holmes Beach

There might not be a Starbucks on Anna Maria Island, but that surely doesn’t mean you’re out of luck when it comes to grabbing a quick cup of Joe. Just head over to the Island Coffee Haus in Holmes Beach. This cute little coffee shop offers coffee, tea, pastries, and more!

Island Coffee Haus opened its doors for the first time back in 2012, and is open for business every day from 8am – 4pm. They also offer free WIFI.

On the menu here for beverages there are coffees, teas, smoothies, and fresh pressed green juice. And if you want a bite to eat to go with your drink, they offer pastries along with breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, and bagels. While you wait for the friendly staff to prepare your drink or snack, check out the merchandise they sell! Great locally made art, jewelry, signs, and more.

Island Coffee Haus (Located in the same space as Scott’s Deli)
5350 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217
(941) 896-4870

The Waffle Press

Anna Maria has a new walk up snack option with the Waffle Press, located next to Pineapple Junction at 425 Pine Ave. This cozy spot specializes in Liege waffles, a sweeter and smaller cousin of the well-known Belgian waffle. Liege waffles are dough based and yeast raised, caramelized on the outside and with crunch of pearl sugar throughout. Each fluffy, crispy bite is amazing!

Waffle Press has a few yummy creations to choose from such as the Grand Slam which includes peanut butter, chocolate and bananas yet you can still create your own masterpiece with any mixture of toppings. If you are a purist, order the aptly named Purist which is a simple waffle with a sprinkling of cinnamon or sugar. It may have a simple name yet the taste is anything but simple! During my visit I opted for the Canadian which had maple butter and bacon on top of the hot freshly made waffle. There are also savory options and my friend tried the Birdie which included turkey, bacon, avocado and tomato jam. Both were amazing!

Smoothies, coffee including espresso and cappuccino are featured as well. Nondairy mylk options are available plus a few locally sourced baked goods. The day I was there the bagels looked amazing and I was tempted to indulge yet resisted, knowing I can go back.

Stop in the Waffle Press next time you visit AMI for breakfast, a snack or maybe dessert after enjoying dinner at any of the island’s fantastic eateries.

Best coffee shops on Anna Maria Island!

One of the beautiful things about Anna Maria Island is the escape from the norm. You won’t find many of your run of the mill coffee places, you will discover something better! As a fellow coffee connoisseur I may have a few suggestions on where one might find the perfect cup on the island. This list is in no particular order, consider it a map.

If your vacation rental is near Bradenton Beach then you will more than likely visit the fabulous staff at Back Alley Treasures on multiple occasions, sometimes twice in the same day. To start with…great coffee, locally roasted and fresh ground. Add to that the fresh baked goodies and a great little wine selection and you have the makings of a perfect little pit stop! You can also order online if you are on a mission to be the first footsteps on the beach.

If you chose a Holmes Beach Vacation rental then you will more likely find yourself getting your caffeine fix at the Island Coffee Haus. This little coffee house has everything you need to kick start your morning, from rich espresso to full leaf teas and cold pressed green juice. They also have a wonderful medley of pastries and little breakfast sandwiches.

If you opted to stay at The Blue Bayou in Anna Maria City you have a great option that is probably within walking distance, or at least biking distance! Aptly named the North Shore Café, this is a great new addition to the northern coast of the island. This coffee shop is located directly at the end of a canal on Pine Ave with a spectacular backyard with tables, chairs and even cornhole. Great smoothies, homemade granola and some expert baristas make this a must stop. The café does not have a website yet but I will add a link as soon as they do.

I would wager that most of the Anna Maria Island rentals have a coffee maker, but you are on vacation after all. Sometimes it is just nice to pamper yourself and let someone else do the brewing for you. The best days always start with coffee on the beach. Enjoy!

coffee on the beach — This is where I want to be!

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

Breakfast on Anna Maria Island – The Donut Experiment

The Donut Experiment is an amazing spot for donuts and coffee! When choosing breakfast on Anna Maria Island there is definitely no shortage of options. But there is only one place where gourmet donuts are baked fresh daily and topped with your choice of crushed M&M’s, Fruity Pebbles, Oreos and so much more.

The Donut Experiment

Located at 210 Pine Avenue, The Donuts Experiment is a staple of the breakfast community coming out with new and more creative recipes every day.

scavenger hunt donuts

AMI Donuts is the brain child of Shawn and Cecilia Wompola. Shawn formerly a police officer and Cecilia, a retail buyer for QVC, vacationed to Anna Maria. They dreamed of one day making it their home. Their only complaint while vacationing here was the lack of good doughnuts on the island. What could be more obvious? Now, a year and a half later, you can stroll down Pine Avenue and be lured by that tantalizing smell of fresh, tasty doughnuts. The Wompolas will welcome you in the door of Anna Maria Doughnuts with a big smile and such a creative array of sumptuous treats like the Golden Grahams S’more donut or the all new the sriracha donut.

So next time you find yourself in need of a delicious pick me up, stop in and try some of the one of a kind recipes like Key Lime or the Cinnamon Sugar (personal favorites of Shawn and Celia) or the Maple Bacon (my

favorite) I can assure you won’t be disappointed.