11 Bradenton Restaurants with Waterfront Views

If you have the opportunity to visit Bradenton, Florida, then you should definitely take it.

delicious food served at a waterfront restaurant in Bradenton

Bradenton is one of the most beautiful cities on Florida’s gulf coast where you can find all sorts of luxurious shopping malls and pristine beaches to spend your days here soaking up the hot Florida sunshine.

That’s not even the best part, though. After you’ve had your fill of shopping sprees and suntanning, it’s time to grab a bite to eat, and where better to eat in Bradenton than at a restaurant with a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico and the Manatee River? 

Best Waterfront Restaurants in Bradenton

  1. PIER 22 Restaurant, Patio & Catering
  2. Anna Maria Oyster Bar – Cortez
  3. Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant
  4. Woody’s River Roo 
  5. Beach House Restaurant
  6. Wicked Cantina Bradenton Beach
  7. Oak & Stone
  8. Caddy’s Bradenton
  9. Riviera Dunes Dockside
  10. Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill – Manatee River
  11. Tide Tables Restaurant and Marina

If that sounds like something you’re interested in, then keep on reading because I’ve put together a guide ranking all the greatest waterfront restaurants Bradenton has to offer so that all my fellow foodies out there will have no trouble finding a delectable meal with a picturesque view. 

PIER 22 Restaurant, Patio & Catering

1200 1st Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: 941-748-8087
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PIER 22 takes the number-one spot on my list of Bradenton waterfront restaurants to check out while you’re in town and it’s really easy to see why once you visit this place.

I’ve listed PIER 22 before on my list of favorite places to eat in the city overall, but this time it’s all about the view. 

You’ll find PIER 22 off of 1st avenue in the Twin Dolphin Marina, just around the corner from The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature.

What makes this such a great place to eat is that I love watching all the boats come and go down the Manatee river.

Anna Maria Oyster Bar 

200 Bridge St, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
Phone: 941-778-2662
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Up next is Anna Maria Oyster Bar down on the immaculate Bradenton Beach, situated right on the Bradenton Historic Street Pier. 

If you’re looking to grab a bite to eat after a day of fishing, then this is your restaurant. I always stop by Anna Maria for some fresh seafood if I don’t have any luck catching my own. 

I recommend the king crab legs to anyone that visits Anna Maria, but only after an order of their fresh oysters.

I prefer my oysters served Rockefeller-style, but there are plenty of other options to choose from. 

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant

995 Riverside Dr, Palmetto, FL 34221
Phone: 941-729-0616
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The next place I want to mention is called Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant. This place is actually located directly across the Manatee River from PIER 22 in the Safe Harbor Regatta Pointe marina in the Palmetto Historic District. 

What I love most about Riverhouse, besides the gorgeous riverside view, is the sheer variety of delicious food they offer on their menu.

You can choose between land-based delicacies, fresh seafood, tacos, pasta, and even burgers as well as sliders.

There’s something for everyone here at Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant, so don’t be afraid to bring the whole family and all your friends. 

Woody’s River Roo

5717 18th St E, Ellenton, FL 34222
Phone: 941-722-2391
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Just south of the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex and the Ellenton Premium Outlets off of 18th Street East is another one of my favorite waterfront restaurants with a beautiful view of the Manatee River called Woody’s River Roo. 

Woody’s River Roo is pretty unique in the best ways possible. It’s a spacious, open-air restaurant with tons of outdoor seating on picnic tables as well as an outdoor bar. 

My favorite foods to order that I think everyone should try from here are definitely their reuben sandwiches because both grouper and corned beef reubens are available here. Another great option is a good, old-fashioned cheeseburger. 

Beach House Restaurant

200 Gulf Dr N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
Phone: 941-779-2222
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Beach House Restaurant is up next and I really think you’re going to love this place when you see the amazing view of the water that you get right from your table.

You can find Beach House off of Gulf Drive North on Bradenton Beach, nestled right into the soft sugar sands of the shoreline. 

You simply have to start with one of their signature cocktails when you get to Beach House.

They have some great concoctions like something called a Pain Kicker that’s made with spiced rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, and a floater to top it off. 

Wicked Cantina Bradenton Beach

101 7th St N, Bradenton Beach, FL 34217
Phone: 941-281-2990
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Wicked Cantina is a laid-back place to hang out by the water in Bradenton and enjoy some delicious cocktails with absolutely delectable food.

They serve all kinds of cuisine here at Wicked Cantina, but the specialty is definitely the Mexican dishes, not to mention the tequila selection. 

What I recommend you try from here is a burrito because they’re probably my favorite thing on the menu as far as food is concerned.

I also recommend a margarita from their long list of variations. Don’t forget to come here during happy hour, too, for some really great deals. 

Oak & Stone – Downtown Bradenton

102 Old Main St, Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone: 941-357-4306
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Up next is Oak & Stone over in Downtown Bradenton off of Old Main Street, right across the way from the Manatee Downtown Central Library.

This place is fantastic both for the food and the unbeatable views of the river from high up on their outdoor patio. 

When you get to Oak & Stone, be sure to try one of their pizzas. I think the pizza here is utterly incredible because you can actually choose from a variety of sauces other than traditional tomato sauce when you build your own like BBQ sauce, ranch, roasted garlic sauce, or seasoned herb oil.

Caddy’s Bradenton

801 Riverside Dr E, Bradenton, FL 34208
Phone: 941-708-3777
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Caddy’s Bradenton is the next place on my list and for very good reason. This place is located off of Riverside Drive East next to the Tarpon Pointe Marina, offering stunning views of the bridges spanning the Manatee River as the boats pass by. 

I usually go for an order of the seafood chowder to start off with when I come to Caddy’s. After that, I usually opt for something like the grouper sandwich or a crab cake BLT which isn’t something that I see very often at other restaurants. They also serve a delicious selection of tacos here as well that are worth a try. 

Riviera Dunes Dockside

102 Riviera Dunes Way, Palmetto, FL 34221
Phone: 941-304-3689
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Right across the street from the Palmetto Estuary Nature Preserve and just next to the Bradenton Area Convention Center is a wonderful waterfront restaurant called Riviera Dunes Dockside.

I really love coming here because it’s at such a convenient location and the food never disappoints.

What I usually order from Riviera Dunes Dockside is the catch of the day that comes with two sides.

You never know what the catch of the day is going to be until you get there, but you know it’s going to be as fresh as possible when you order it from here.

Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill – Manatee River

5313 19th St E, Ellenton, FL 34222
Phone: 941-263-3111
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Whiskey Joe’s Bar & Grill is another amazing place to eat on the riverside that offers absolutely spectacular views of the water to go with your delicious meal of fresh seafood.

You can find this place off of 19th Street East, right across the 301 from Super 8 by Wyndham Ellenton Bradenton Area.

This waterfront restaurant is going to take you on a tropical vacation with all of their tropical cocktails and thatched palmetto-covered tables sitting right in the sand.

I always grab a strawberry daiquiri or something else frozen to combat that brutal Florida heat.  

Tide Tables Restaurant and Marina

12507 Cortez Rd W, Bradenton, FL 34210
Phone: 941-567-6206
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Lastly, we arrive at Tide Tables Restaurant and Marina. This place is located all the way down Cortez Road, just before the Cortez Bridge near Annie’s Bait & Tackle and Cortez Watersports. It’s the perfect place to eat after a day of fishing or renting jet skis. 

I love how convenient Tide Tables Restaurant is if you’re on a boat thanks to their restaurant-side marina where you can actually dock your boat and go eat.

I love tying up to their dock and grabbing some of their fresh fish tacos or one of their amazing sandwiches to refuel before getting back out on the water. 

Final Thoughts

As you might expect, this little coastal gem of a city has plenty of places to eat by the water when you’re in the mood for a delicious meal with an unbeatable view.

Bradenton has no shortage of restaurants on the water where you can get both of those things and more. 

If you’re not looking to eat by the water in Bradenton, maybe check out this list of waterfront restaurants nearby in Sarasota!

Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!

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