Updated: June 2026
Whether you’re tracking the NFL playoffs, following March Madness, catching a World Series game, or just want a cold drink and a big screen, Anna Maria Island has you covered. The island’s sports bars run the full spectrum, from laid-back dive bars with a handful of TVs to serious multi-screen setups with every major sports package. No matter what you’re rooting for or what time of year you’re visiting, there’s a spot with your name on a barstool.
Here’s my insider guide to the best places to watch sports on Anna Maria Island.
If you want to explore the full dining and drinking scene beyond game day, my Dining on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide is the best place to start.
Hours and sports packages can change seasonally. Always confirm directly with the venue before you go.
Anchor Inn
- 3007 Gulf Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-778-3085
- Daily · 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM
- (4) 50″ and (1) 65″ TVs
- NFL package · MLB package
No frills, strong pours, and a come-as-you-are crowd that actually cares about the game. The Anchor Inn is the kind of place where you slide onto a barstool, order a cold one, and settle in for the long haul. Cash only, so come prepared. It’s also one of my picks in my Best Dive Bars on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide if you want the full rundown on its vibe.
Bortell’s Lounge
currently closed
- 10002 Gulf Drive · Anna Maria
- 941-778-5487
- Monday through Thursday · 3:00 to 11:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday · 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
- Sunday · 12:00 to 11:00 PM
- (6) 75″ TVs at the patio bar · (4) 42″ TVs at the dockside bar
- Big 10 package · NFL package · MLB package
- caters to the Packers
Bortell’s Lounge is a time-honored bar. The vibes are low-key and a jukebox plays perfect beachy tunes. They offer pub-style food menu and serve pizza anytime they are open. Catch all the game-day excitement at Bortell’s.
Bridge Tender Inn Dockside & Tiki Bar
- 135 Bridge Street · Bradenton Beach
- 941-778-4849
- Daily · 11:00 AM to 11:30 PM
- Live Music · Daily · Afternoon and Evening
- (6) 75″ TVs at the patio bar and (4) 42″ TVs at the dockside bar
- Big 10 package · NFL package · MLB package
- caters to the Packers
Right on the Intracoastal Waterway on historic Bridge Street, Bridge Tender is a local favorite for good reason. You’ve got two bar areas to choose from, waterfront views, and a menu of wings, nachos, and grouper Reuben sandwiches to fuel the game-day energy.
Daiquiri Deck
- 107 Bridge Street · Bradenton Beach
- 941-253-3300
- Sunday – Thursday · 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday & Saturday · 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Live Music · Friday, Saturday, and Sunday · call for times
- Happy Hour · Daily · 3:00 to 7:00 PM · 8:00 PM to close
- (4) 65″ and (7) 55″ TVs
- Nationally broadcasted games for College and NFL · SEC, ACC, and BIG10 networks · RedZone for the NFL
Frozen daiquiri in hand, game on the screen, and rooftop seating with a view. Daiquiri Deck pulls off the rare combination of beach bar atmosphere and solid sports coverage. Draft beer specials and shareable food platters make it easy to settle in for multiple games.
Dcoy Ducks
- 5410 Marina Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-778-5888
- Daily · 10:30 AM to 1:30 AM
- Happy Hour · Friday & Saturday · 4:00 to 8:00 PM
- 11 TVs
- Direct TV
Dcoy Ducks is the quintessential local hangout, the kind of place where regulars know each other and newcomers get folded right in. Big screens, cold drinks, and a lively crowd make every game feel like a neighborhood watch party.
Drift-In
- 120 Bridge Street · Bradenton Beach
- 941-778-8565
- Daily · 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM
- Happy Hour · Monday – Friday · 4:00 to 6:00 PM
- 7 TVs
- Cable
For a laid-back dive bar vibe, Drift-In is the go-to hangout. Known for its lively crowd and no-frills atmosphere, it’s a favorite of football fans who love cheering alongside locals. With cheap drinks, plenty of energy, and nonstop game-day spirit, Drift-In always delivers. It also has one of the best game-day calendars on the island, which I cover in detail in my Beach Bar Games on Anna Maria Island: My Insider Guide.
Freckled Fin
- 5337 Gulf Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-251-3930
- Sunday – Thursday · 11:00 AM to 11:00PM
- Friday & Saturday · 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM
- Live Music · Tuesday, Thursday, Friday through Sunday · 7:00 to 11:00 PM
- Live Music · Saturday · 3:00 to 6:00 PM
- Happy Hour · 3:00 to 6:00 PM
- (12) 55″ TVs and (1) 85″ TV
- NFL Sunday ticket · Big 10 network · MLB extra innings · all streaming services
- Tampa Bay Bucs receive priority
If you want the full sports bar experience on AMI, Freckled Fin delivers. An Irish pub atmosphere, a serious TV setup, hearty pub grub, and a spirited crowd that gets loud when it counts. Game-day drink specials make the whole package even better.
Hurricane Hanks
- 5346 Gulf Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-778-5788
- Food · Sunday – Thursday 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM
- Food · Friday & Saturday 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Bar · Daily · 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM
- 4 TVs
- Locally televised games
Hurricane Hanks is a cozy neighborhood favorite with more personality than its size suggests. The menu leans into craft cocktails and comfort food, craft beers pair well with the burgers and fresh seafood, and the casual beach-town atmosphere makes it a great pick when you want to watch the game without the full sports-bar scene.
Island Time Bar & Grill
- 111 Gulf Drive South · Bradenton Beach
- 941-782-1122
- Sunday – Thursday · 11:00 to 10:00 PM
- Friday & Saturday · 11:00 to 11:00 PM
- Happy Hour · Monday through Friday · 11 :00 to 5:00 PM
- 20 TVs ranging from 55″ to 80″
- Direct TV with NFL Network and NFL Package · SEC and ACC channels
- Fan following for Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Detroit Lions
Island Time is one of the most well-equipped sports bars on the island, just steps from the sand. Twenty TVs, a spacious outdoor patio, bucket beer specials, Tailgate appetizer platters, and a full menu of burgers and fresh seafood. This is where you go when you don’t want to miss a single play.
Kokonut Hut
- 900 Gulf Drive North · Bradenton Beach
- 941-778-1919
- Daily · 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM
- Live Music · Daily · 6:00 to 9:00 PM
Kokonut Hut brings a relaxed tropical twist to game day. Multiple TVs, cold drinks, casual bites, and a beachfront vibe make it a fun option when you want to keep the atmosphere light while still keeping one eye on the score.
Slim’s Place
- 9701 Gulf Drive · Anna Maria
- 941-567-4056
- Tuesday – Sunday · 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Monday · 3:00 to 10:00 PM
- Happy Hour · Monday – Friday · 3:00 to 5:00 PM
- 12 TVs
- Direct TV
- caters to the Philadelphia Eagles
Slim’s is a local hang where the TVs are always on and the pub fare hits the spot. Philly cheesesteaks, wings, and burgers make for a solid full-day-of-football setup.
Sports Lounge
- 118 Bridge Street · Bradenton Beach
- 941-778-5689
- Daily · 12:00 PM to 2:30 AM
- Happy Hour · Monday – Friday · 12:00 to 7:00 PM
- 15 TVs ranging from 42″ to 50″
- NFL and MLB Packages · College football
- caters to Chicago Bears
Don’t let the name fool you. Sports Lounge skews more dive bar than traditional sports bar, but what it lacks in frills it makes up for in character. No food menu, but you’re welcome to bring your own. Sunday NFL beer bucket specials and a lively crowd of locals and regulars make it worth a visit.
Tommy Knockers Saloon
- 111 7th Street North · Bradenton Beach
- 941-896-8555
- Sunday – Thursday · 11:00 AM to midnight
- Friday & Saturday · 11:00 AM to 1:00 AM
- caters to Ohio State and Buffalo Bills
Tommy Knockers is a no-frills local saloon that comes alive on game days. Multiple TVs, a steady buzz during the big games, and a laid-back bar atmosphere with zero pretense. Easy, comfortable, and exactly what it needs to be.
The Ugly Grouper
- 5704 Marina Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-896-8033
- Daily 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Live Music · Daily · 5:00 to 8:00 PM
- Live Music · Saturday & Sunday · 12:00 to 3:00 PM
The Ugly Grouper is the place to go when you want game day to feel like a party. The tiki-style outdoor setup, large screens, tropical cocktails, and fresh seafood make it one of the most fun watching environments on the island. Family-friendly too, which is a bonus if you’re traveling with kids.
Coastal Close
Anna Maria Island doesn’t do anything halfway, including sports bars. Whether you’re a die-hard fan counting down to kickoff or just someone who wants a cold drink and something on in the background, there’s a barstool here with your name on it. The game’s always better with salt air and a sunset on the side.
— izzy