50 Best Bars near Palmetto

“Live jams and cold beer! Great spot for friends and good times!“

“They actually open at 7am!“

“My wife and I visited Oyster River Rooftop for Valentine’s Day, and overall we had a very pleasant experience. The restaurant is located at the Marriott Hotel & Spa in Palmetto, which really impressed me. The hotel itself is beautiful — easily one of the nicest properties in the area. I also appreciated the added touch of checking in with staff before heading upstairs, since a badge is required to access the upper floors. It definitely gives the space a more exclusive feel.

The restaurant is small and modern — more of an upscale rooftop bar atmosphere that also serves dinner. We were seated outside and enjoyed a wonderful view of the river, which made for a great Valentine’s setting. There was a duet playing live music, which added energy to the evening, though in a smaller space with minimal sound-absorbing decor it felt a little loud at times.

The hostess was very nice and welcoming. I had to smile when she gave “Monsieur” her best shot — I work for a French-based company and speak a little French myself, so I notice those things — but I appreciated the effort to create an upscale ambiance.

Our server was congenial and accommodating. He happily made me a Sangria even though it wasn’t on the drink menu, which I appreciated. His personality leaned more casual than what the restaurant seems to be aiming for, but his friendliness was genuine and well-intentioned.

For food, we started with the Grilled Octopus. It was very tender, though I would have loved a bit more bold flavor. The main courses, however, were outstanding. I had the 16 oz Ribeye with Za’atar butter — cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. My wife ordered the Chilean Sea Bass, which was equally excellent. We skipped dessert as nothing quite jumped out at us, but we left very satisfied with the meal.

All in all, it was a lovely evening with excellent food and a beautiful setting. With a little refinement in front-of-house polish to match the quality coming out of the kitchen, this place could truly hit the high notes. We would absolutely return — especially for the ribeye and the view.“

“The food is great and the service is wonderful!!“

“This place may not look like much from the outside when you first walk by BUT WOW! We stumbled on this fabulous place and have eaten here twice in our short stay in the area. The drinks, apps, entrees and staff are beyond exceptional. I will dream about it 🩵“

“I finally discovered a little slice of Hungarian paradise in Florida! From authentic wines and refreshing Hungarian beer to perfectly seasoned dishes and heavenly desserts, every bite and sip feels like home. Truly unforgettable!“

“WOW! We went last night while in town for a soccer tournament in Tampa.. Drove out to Sarasota to visit family and my cousin suggested here... and WOW the food was AMAZING! The service was FANTASTIC. The atmosphere was even better. This place is a must while in town!“

“We come to Florida every year and this is our first stop. Love this bar. Great people and awesome bartenders 🩵“

“Kali, the bartender, was absolutely AMAZING! She was patient, sweet, and even offered suggestions, when I couldn’t decide what IPA to try! Plus she made us one of her signature shots that was made with chocolate whiskey! Definitely will be back and she is a keeper!“

“I work here and it’s a great place to have a nice cold beer and meet some friends!!“

“Awesome place!! Friendly atmosphere!!“

“Very friendly staff, great burgers, pizza and jukebox. Nice place all around.“

“Amazing food, service and staff. Very pleased to have discovered this wonderful hidden diamond on the water! My new favorite! The baked oyster sampler was a palette of flavors that did not disappoint. Highly recommend.“

“What a great find! Drinks were fantastic, Bartender (Taylor) very friendly and knowledgeable. Thank you for such a fun experience.“

“Had a great nite with Family & friends. Drinks were cold , bartenders were great attentive, and very personable. I great place to relax , meet people and enjoy being with family & friends!“

“Canadian Legion Member for 45 years. I have been coming to the Post 24 Legion for the past 23 years and find it is top notch in every way possible. The Legion is a wonderful building with so many activities, friendly patrons, super staff who serve wonderful meals. I feel extremely lucky to have such a wonderful place to attend during my 6-month snowbird winter here. With much thanks, Wayne“

“We had a fantastic experience at Compass Bar & Chill -- thanks to our wonderful server, Cindy. She was incredibly friendly and hospitable, making us feel right at home from the moment we sat down at the pool area. Cindy promptly took our drink orders and brought them with a smile, then followed up to take our food order. Everything—from the delicious fish tacos to the perfectly cooked quesadillas—was spot on. She checked in to make sure everything was to our liking, and her attentive service truly stood out. Five stars all the way!“

“Great Aerie. Very friendly. Welcome us visitors. Would recommend.“

“The food was delicious with very generous portions. The daiquiri’s were so good! The service was great and the prices were very reasonable. I highly recommend this place!“

“My new favorite LBK restaurant! The Grouper Ruben is AMAZING!“

“great bar makes you feel like home“

“This place is fantastic! The selection is unbeatable, with everything from rare whiskeys to affordable wines and craft beers. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and always willing to help you find exactly what you're looking for—or recommend something new to try. The store is clean, well-organized, and it’s clear they take pride in their business. Prices are fair, and they often have great deals. I always leave here feeling like I got excellent service and value. Highly recommend to anyone looking for quality and variety!“

“The vibes are amazing and the owners are great! Its a safe and inclusive space for all that are sober 💕“

“Cheap drinks, pool tables, and karaoke! I go here all the time and love it!“

“Great service and open before Milton“

“Cassie goes above and beyond she’s very attentive and I respect her for that but one thing I will always make sure is she will always protect me and my disability’s she will always be sure we are good one thing she will listen too is your needs 💕 I love you boo and thank for always kprotecting me ‼️“

“Genuine, kind and fun bartenders“

“Cheap drinks, pool tables, and karaoke! I go here all the time and love it!“

“Great staff and fun people! Place is always clean and the bartenders are always friendly. Had a great time with Kim (bartender). Play the shake of the day and have a cold one!!“

“Great service thanks guys will be going back“

“Yummy breakfast ! Eggs Benedict“

“While we enjoyed the food and appreciated them accommodating our large group size, I wish their website was more upfront with not really being a kid friendly spot. No high chairs available. No kids menu available. The 9 year old and 12 year old in our group each ended up with $54 entrees. The pace of our meal was also painfully slow from apps to dessert. This would be fine for adults looking for a leisurely dinner but it just wasn’t necessary for our group and I would have appreciated our waitress reading the needs of our group better. 3 filets we ordered medium rare for our group all came well, which was disappointing.
We will be back but without kids.“

“BAM is awesome! He is a great server“

“Best place ever!! 👍🤘😊 First time here, met the most amazing people“

“Great food and delicious drinks. The waitress was very good and friendly“

“Anna Maria Oyster Bar - Ellenton, FL After spending the day at the Florida State Fair in Tampa, my fiancé and I decided to stop by Anna Maria Oyster Bar in Ellenton—and we’re so glad we did! We ordered fried oysters, French fries, and cheese grits, and everything was absolutely delicious. The oysters were fried to perfection, crispy on the outside yet tender and flavorful inside. The cheese grits were just the way I like them—nice and thick—and the fries were a great complement to the meal. Even better, our food arrived quickly and fresh. Our waitress, Lilly, was fantastic, providing friendly and attentive service. We also appreciated how the rest of the staff greeted us warmly as we walked through the restaurant. It’s little details like that that make a place feel extra welcoming. The restaurant itself was clean and well-kept, including the bathrooms, which is always a big plus. Anna Maria Oyster Bar now has four locations, and after this experience, I’d definitely visit again. If you’re in the Ellenton area and craving fresh seafood with great service, this spot is a must-try!“

“The buffet on Saturdays is excellent!“

“Nice bar and good service. Perfect for the guys while the girls go shopping. Nice range of beers and reasonable prices. Only fault was the very loud shouting from a group at the far end of the bar who used profanities for every other word.Ample parking available.“

“Pizza was fantastic! Serves was amazing and friendly! Highly recommend! We will be back!“

“We have been coming to the island for 5 years and have missed this little Gem, until tonight! Outstanding service, waitress was awesome , Manager’s tonight on point and the crab boils off the chart good! We will be back ! And often! Oklahoma ladies !“

“Hey Fresta's Fresta's
Happy 1st anniversary! I'll take the whole meau and try it all! Meatballs, garlic bread ball, cheese balls and for dessert a baseball cake ball if you have that! I also will like to take couple of swings of those buffalo wings hopefully it gives me a Grand slam smash Burger home run. although it's spring training! I need that real philly taste. To drive it back to Clearwater at Phillies philly spring training camp! I am dying for that taste of that real philly special cheese steak Italian style and that real Italian stallion sandwich that's light out and it knock your shore right off your feet! Omg! Don't forget that philly cheese as well with any kinda pasta that melts in your mouth and down your stomach that you will good hmmm. That was very tasty. That Florida doesn't even have and they cannot even make it correctly that other Florida Italian restaurants and made up philly steak places cannot even make. Pretty tried going back and forward going home to Philadelphia to get these types of delicious Italian food even philly cheese steak. Forget about it about Arizona Italian food. then back to Florida. No other Italian real taste. Finally there is a real Italian restaurant. In westnorth of Florida. Can't wait to get a taste of Fresta's that everyone in Bradenton area is talking about the Philly! philly! Style. 😋 God knows hopefully this real Italian restaurant grow across the state of Florida. See y'all“

“First time tonight and I LOVE this place! The owners and staff were friendly and gracious. I didn't eat, but the menu looked great. I'm excited to go to more events here!“

“My favorite bar is Sarasota/Bradenton. The food reminds me of back home in Pennsylvania. The people remind me of a combination of the best people from the Eagles, Moose, and Elks combined with a family reunion of my favorite family members. I love this place.“

“Been going there for years ! Never had a bad meal and the music talent is great ! Whoever is on the grill cooking those steaks gets it right every time! Keep up the good work ! You guys rock!“

“The best hole in the wall/dive bar around. Great atmosphere and consistent food. Bar staff is awesome and will go out of their way to make you feel at home. I’ve taken numerous guest, relatives, clients there. Awesome place to sit and have a few drinks, eat decent food and listen to some good music from the past.“

“It’s such a fun place to go! Food is great! Our bartender Mackenzie was AWESOME!!!“

“Hi this is the first time I had wrote a review on a restaurant because it's totally worthy it's the best pizza in Manatee County hands down fantastic homemade dough real quality mozzarella brick oven beautiful it's worth driving 30 miles for in my opinion University and whitfield's Sarasota 👍“

“5 stars for family friendly atmosphere, great food, and cold beer! The owners Staci and Josh have worked so hard alongside their staff to bring back the Boiler Room and boy have they outdone themselves! We have been many times since they re-opened the doors, and every time has been great service and delicious food. Kid approved too! They were also very accommodating when we brought 11 family members in for Monday night football! We cannot recommend Boiler Room enough. YUM!“