Dock Side Eating and Beach Rentals – Part 1 (Bradenton, AMI, and Palmetto Area) - Luxury boat rentals for experienced boat enthusiasts

Archived post: fleet, rates, hours, and locations may have changed. Current rentals are for experienced boaters only, 9 AM to 5 PM, from Scott Moore Boat Ramp, 8607B Cortez Rd W, Bradenton, FL 34210.

Bluwave Boat Rental launches many boats from the Palmetto, Anna Maria, and Bradenton area. We are always getting asked about good places to stop and eat while on the water for the day. We make suggestions and point out restaurants but just verbally mentioning these establishments doesn’t really provide what our customers need. Like any good skipper, a float plan is essential – well making more of an eating plan is good too. Even if you know where a restaurant is from the roads on land, it doesn’t mean you will recognize the dock and area from the water. There may be mangroves you have to negotiate or a cluster of restaurants sharing the same docks and it is difficult to see the restaurant you are searching for. We will take the time to name some of these places and hopefully even put pictures of the docks out here to assist you in finding your goals. Heck, we may just tempt some of you to forgo the sandwiches and decide to stop at dockside café next trip out!

The most easterly place we will start with is Woody’s on the Manatee River just past I-75 on the north shore. This is fairly easy to recognize from the water. “WE ARE THE LOCAL FAVORITE FOR TRUE “OLD FLORIDA STYLE DINING” AT ITS BEST! LOCATED RIGHT ON THE BEAUTIFUL MANATEE RIVER IN ELLENTON. “Follow the channels all the way, stay out of the shoals on your way but worth the trip.

Next on Anna Maria Island inland side, the City Pier is a restaurant with a fantastic view and mixed reviews averaging 3.5 stars. There is room to moor at the dock and eat. Great break from Egmont or Passage Key or some eats. Use extreme caution due to shallow water.

Farther south past the Cortez Causeway on AMI is The Bridge Tender which has excellent food and a great view, often times includes live music. This is a nice place to eat.

Cross over the bay to the Bradenton side and you will find Star Fish Company dockside restaurant. Over 4 star rating and excellent food, great environment, right on the water. This one will not disappoint.

A little further east and there are 3 places from fine dining to burgers; Swordfish Grill, Cortez Kitchen, and Cortez Bait and Seafood, all local favorites and great dockside places to eat.

We hope you will plan to visit one of these restaurants next time you are out you will enjoy any one of these and get a great experience at the same time. Discover more on your own and let us know so we can publish them as well and link to them on our website. Look up some of these before your rental date so you can see the location and the view from Google Earth or the website, some way to identify the place from the water. Don’t let yourself go home hungry or disappointed.

Note: The lodging links below are for third-party lodging businesses, not BluWave rentals. BluWave does not operate these properties.

Vacation Beach Rentals

What about a great place to stay? There are some of the best places to stay for the best rates available on Anna Maria Island. Rent a whole house, Condo, a hotel room or cottage, even AirBNB sailboats, etc. Here are places BluWave Boat Rental would highly recommend with people we know personally and trust completely. Call or stop in and talk to the friendly, helpful people located right onsite ready to put together a great package for you!