Football season is always an exciting time, whether you’re a passionate NFL fan, following college football, or simply enjoying the camaraderie and excitement of game day.
If you’re visiting Anna Maria Island and don’t want to miss out on the big game, you’re in luck. The island offers a variety of lively sports bars and laid-back beach bars where you can cheer for your favorite team, enjoy great food, and catch all the action on the big screen.
Here’s a roundup of the top sports bars on Anna Maria Island, where you can catch every touchdown in a welcoming atmosphere.
Contents
Anchor Inn
- 307 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
The Anchor Inn combines a no-frills dive bar feel with strong pours and a come-as-you-are atmosphere. It’s the ideal spot to sip a cold drink while keeping up with every touchdown or home run.
Bortell’s Lounge
- 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
The Bridge Tender Bar is located on Inter-coastal Waterway on historic Bridge Street. A favorite sports bar amongst locals, it offers plenty of games for everyone. Bridge Tender features TVs at their patio bar and dockside bar. On the menu you’ll find chicken wings, nachos, grouper rueben sandwiches, and other pub fare items.
Daiquiri Deck
- 107 Bridge Street · Bradenton Beach
- 941-253-3300
- Sunday through Thursday · 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and 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
With multiple TVs and rooftop seating, Daiquiri Deck, is a great place to catch a football game while enjoying the sunset and sipping on a frozen daiquiri. Generally they offer draft beer specials and food platters such as wings or taco platters that feed about four people during games.
Dcoy Ducks
- 5410 Marina Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-778-5888
- Daily · 10:30 AM to 1:30 AM
- Happy Hour · Friday and Saturday · 4:00 to 8:00 PM
- 11 TVs
- Direct TV
At D Coy Ducks, cheering for your favorite team comes with a side of laid-back island vibes. With big screens, cold drinks, and a lively crowd, every game feels like a local celebration.
Drift-In
- 120 Bridge Street · Bradenton Beach
- 941-778-8565
- Daily · 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM
- Happy Hour · Monday through 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.
Freckled Fin
- 5337 Gulf Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-251-3930
- Sunday through Thursday · 11:00 AM to 11:00PM
- Friday and 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 love the buzz of an Irish pub, the Freckled Fin Irish Pub is the perfect place to catch the game. With a spirited crowd, plenty of TVs, and game-day specials like $22.95 domestic buckets and $6 Guinness, it’s a football fan’s haven. Add in hearty pub grub, ice-cold drinks, and ample seating, and you’ve got the ultimate game-day spot.
Hurricane Hanks
- 5346 Gulf Drive · Holmes Beach
- 941-778-5788
- Food · Sunday through Thursday 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM
- Food · Friday and 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 favorite game-day hangout, welcoming both locals and vacationers alike. Surrounded by large TVs and a casual beach-town atmosphere, you can enjoy craft beers, juicy burgers, and fresh seafood while cheering on your team.
Island Time Bar & Grill
- 111 Gulf Drive South · Bradenton Beach
- 941-782-1122
- Sunday through Thursday · 11:00 to 10:00 PM
- Friday and 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
Just steps from the sand, Island Time Bar & Grill offers the ultimate tropical setting to catch a football game. They offer $18 domestic buckets of beer, $22 import buckets of beer, $39.95 Tailgate appetizer platter, and large orders of wings
With big-screen TVs, a spacious outdoor patio, and a lively island vibe, it’s a favorite for sports fans looking to sip cold drinks and soak up the atmosphere, all while enjoying a full menu of appetizers, burgers, and fresh seafood.
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 is a lively spot to watch sports with a relaxed, tropical twist. Multiple TVs around the bar make it easy to catch your favorite games while enjoying the beachfront atmosphere. Pair the action with cold drinks and casual bites for a fun, island-style game-day experience.
Slim’s Place
- 9701 Gulf Drive · Anna Maria
- 941-567-4056
- Tuesday through Sunday · 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Monday · 3:00 to 10:00 PM
- Happy Hour · Monday through Friday · 3:00 to 5:00 PM
- 12 TVs
- Direct TV
- caters to the Philadelphia Eagles
Slim’s Place is a local hang-out offering plenty of TVs and a laid-back atmosphere. The bar serves a menu of pub fare, including Philly cheesesteaks, wings, and burgers, making it a great spot to settle in for a full day of football.
Sports Lounge
- 118 Bridge Street · Bradenton Beach
- 941-778-5689
- Daily · 12:00 PM to 2:30 AM
- Happy Hour · Monday through Friday · 12:00 to 7:00 PM
- 15 TVs ranging from 42″ to 50″
- NFL and MLB Packages · College football
- caters to Chicago Bears
The Sports Lounge is a prime spot for catching your favorite games, with plenty of TVs and a lively, welcoming crowd of locals and visitors. Fans can enjoy Sunday NFL specials like 5 domestic beers for $15, 5 import beers for $20, and 5 seltzers for $20. While there’s no food menu, guests are welcome to bring in their own eats, making it a flexible and fun game-day hangout.
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 and Sunday · 12:00 to 3:00 PM
For an exciting outdoor game day experience, head to The Ugly Grouper. This tiki-style bar and restaurant offers a fun, family-friendly environment with large-screen TVs throughout the space, perfect for catching the game while enjoying the Florida weather. The Ugly Grouper is known for its fresh seafood, live music, and tropical cocktails, but it’s also a fantastic place to watch football.
Until next time…
· izzy
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