10 Kid Friendly Restaurants in Bradenton FL

The writer was hosted for this trip.

Bradenton and Anna Maria Island cater to vacationing families so it isn’t hard to find kid friendly eats. Here are a few of our favorite family restaurants in Bradenton FL.

A Word About Dining in Bradenton FL

Fish Tacos in Bradenton FL — SheBuysTravel tip: Always ask your server what’s good/what’s popular. In Bradenton, the answer will often be fish tacos. They didn’t disappoint! Photo credit: Jill Robbins

Peak tourist season runs from March through September. While you won’t necessarily find crowds, although more people are discovering Bradenton thanks to direct Southwest flights, do expect restaurants to be busy, especially at peak dining times. Our best advice is to commit to not being on a strict timetable, pack some snacks for the kids and be ready to wait for a table. Most places don’t take reservations unless it is for a large party.

Restaurants may not have a dedicated kids menu. If your kids won’t eat a full adult portion, definitely talk to your server about what kid-friendly eats they’re able to concoct for you.

This is a friendly town used to catering to tourists and families. Most restaurants will offer specials, catch of the day or off-menu items, so make sure you ask if you don’t see what you’re looking for.

1. The Beach House

woman holding a tropical cocktail at a Bradenton FL restaurant — Most kids friendly restaurants in Bradenton FL will include great eats and drinks for adult guests, too. Winning all around. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

Located at 200 Gulf Dr N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217, The Beach House serves lunch and dinner.

The Beach House is a popular dinner spot (and one of our favorite kid friendly restaurants in Bradenton FL) because it is a great place to watch the sunset. There’s ample patio dining available. The company that owns The Beach House also owns a farm so much of their produce is locally sourced.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Don’t miss any dessert with blueberries at The Beach House.

2. Hurricane Hanks

Hurricane Hanks looks like a hole in the wall but the food and service are awesome. This is a place popular with the locals and for good reason!

There is no dedicated children’s menu but our server offered several kid friendly off-menu options. This casual, welcoming pub is located at 5346 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217.

3. The Ugly Grouper

metal fish sculpture at the Ugly Grouper, a kid friendly restaurant in Bradenton FL — If you make it to The Ugly Grouper, this provides a great backdrop for memorable vacation photos. Photo credit: Visit Bradenton

The Ugly Grouper is a great outdoor restaurant located at 5704 Marina Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217. Everything is under a canopy and there are games for the kids, making this one of our top picks for kid friendly restaurants in Bradenton FL.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The Ugly Grouper tacos are famous! Don’t skip them!

4. The Waterfront

Hamburger at waterfront, kid friendly restaurant in Bradenton FL — Bradenton is known for great seafood but you can find lots of kid friendly options, including cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, and macaroni and cheese. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

The Waterfront Restaurant is located on Anna Maria Island. The address is 111 S Bay Blvd, Anna Maria, FL 34216. They offer indoor and outdoor seating with beautiful views.

The Waterfront has a dedicated kid’s menu that includes familiar favorites like macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese.

5. Oak & Stone

Beer at Oak and Stone in downtown bradenton — Each of these glasses is one ounce. Obviously, the beer tasting isn’t for the kids but Oak & Stone has a great kid’s menu. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

If you are exploring downtown Bradenton, Oak & Stone is a don’t miss. Don’t let the wall of beer taps fool you – this place is kid friendly.

Oak & Stone is a great pizza and beer place with dozens of options for craft beer. If you want to sample beer, you’ll need to register with your ID and then you are free to serve yourself. Beer is priced by the ounce. That makes it easy to taste and sample different beers.

The dedicated kids menu includes chicken fingers, grilled cheese, burgers and of course, pizza.

pizza at Oak and Stone a kid friendly downtown Bradenton FL restaurant — Oak & Stone offers pizza, sandwiches, salads and kids fare. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

Oak & Stone is located in the same building as Springhill Suites in Bradenton (102 Old Main St, Bradenton, FL 34205.) A rooftop bar/dining experience is also available. This hotel offers the best views of the downtown Bradenton area.

6. The Donut Experiment

Donut Experiment donuts in Bradenton FL — These warm, freshly frosted cake donuts with your choice of toppings are a hit with kids of every age. Photo credit: Jill Robbins

Located on Anna Maria Island (210c Pine Ave, Anna Maria, FL 34216) The Donut Experiment is a don’t miss for any donut lover. Donuts are made to order and it’s just as much fun to watch them being made as it is to eat them. Well…maybe not but close!

When you are making your list of kid friendly restaurants in Bradenton FL, do not miss this one. It’s a must.

7. The Sandbar

The Sandbar is one of the most famous restaurants in Manatee County. Here you’ll find great food, friendly service and the best sunset views on the gulf coast. Catch brunch and jazz on Sundays.

Located at 100 Spring Ave, Anna Maria, FL 34216.

8. Gulf Drive Cafe

The Gulf Drive Cafe is a great place to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner. They have a great selection of seafood, steak, pastas and small plates. They’ve got a large and varied breakfast menu, too. From waffles to quiche to benedicts and anything else you can think of for the most important meal of the day, Gulf Drive Cafe has it.

Located at 900 Gulf Dr N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217.

9. Ginny’s and Jane E’s

Whether you are looking for a local option for your morning coffee or a quick bite for lunch, Ginny’s and Jane E’s can deliver! Located on Anna Maria Island (9807 Gulf Dr, Anna Maria, FL 34216) this cute coffee shop opens at 7:00 a.m. Their lunch menu includes soups, quiches, sandwiches and more. They also serve beer.

10. Whitney’s on Longboat Key

Whitney’s LBK is another great brunch option. They have a dedicated brunch menu with sweets, eggs, salads and more. They also offer an all-day menu with more options plus an extensive drink menu.

Whitney’s is closed on Mondays. Located at 6990 Gulf of Mexico Dr, Longboat Key, FL 34228.

Getting Around Anna Maria Island with the Kids

brightly painted school bus, one of the Monkey Bus fleet in Bradenton FL — I found the parking to be fairly limited on Anna Maria Island. The Monkey Bus is free. Please tip your driver. Photo credit: Anna Maria Island

If your family dining experience takes you to Anna Maria Island, you’ll want to look into public transportation options. Both are free and can eliminate trying to find a parking space. I found parking to be limited on Anna Maria Island in general.

Anna Maria Island Trolley: The trolley stops are plentiful and there’s an app you can download to help you better use the service. There are 14 different stops so you’ll be able to get where you need to go using the trolley. Look for the green trolley sign – they are not hard to spot.

Monkey Bus: Call for a free ride from noon to 3:00 a.m. – (941) 565-6542. These busses are fun to look at (they’re converted school buses with some wild paint and lights) and are karaoke-equipped. How fun does that sound? Please tip your Monkey Bus drivers.

Got a Favorite Kid Friendly Bradenton Restaurant?

Tell us! This list isn’t all-encompassing. There are endless places to grab good food in Bradenton and Anna Maria Island but we hope this list will get you started as you plan your own mouthwatering adventure!

Want more suggestions on family restaurants in Bradenton FL? Check out the Bradenton Gulf Island tourism website for additional ideas.