This iconic Anna Maria Island restaurant adds new dining options
There’s a fresh look and new food to try at the Sandbar Seafood + Spirits restaurant on Anna Maria Island.
Last year, Beachside Hospitality Group bought the iconic Sandbar from Ed Chiles and Chiles Hospitality in 2024.
Now the new owners have completed renovations and added two new dining options to the restaurant at 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria.
They are Beachside Bites, a walk-up window for breakfast and light fare, and Sweet Willy’s Ice Cream Shoppe.
Anna Maria’s Sandbar adds new dining options
Beachside Bites is on the south side of the Sandbar and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Some menu items for Beachside Bites include:
- Avocado toast
- Breakfast sandwiches
- Pastries
- Smoothies
- Fruit bowls
“We realized there just weren’t many healthy, quick breakfast options on the island — and since the market concept was already in development, it felt like the perfect opportunity to fill that gap,” Beachside Hospitality Group CEO Greg Powers said in a news release. “The response has already been great, as demand picks up, we plan to expand both our hours and the menu.”
Sweet Willy’s Ice Cream Shoppe is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. inside the Sandbar. Its name references Powers’ daughter, Sylvia, whose nickname is “Silly Willy.”
It’s the first Sweet Willy’s location on Florida’s Gulf Coast, with other shops in St. Augustine, New Smyrna Beach and Fort Pierce.
Sweet Willy’s menu features:
- Rotating ice cream flavors
- Handmade waffle cones
- Old-school sundaes
- Milkshakes
Sandbar restaurant gets updated look
According to the news release, Beachside Hospitality added new flooring, furniture and lighting inside the restaurant. They also upgraded bar and kitchen equipment and added privacy fencing and updated lighting to the Sandbar’s event venue space.
“It was important to us that we rebuild with a purpose and prioritize the guest experience in the process,” Powers said in the news release. “We wanted a fresh, vibrant look, but without losing the charm that’s made this beachfront favorite so beloved for decades. It’s been such a joy to see people enjoying the new spaces, and to watch weddings and private celebrations continue at the Grand Pavilion — it really brings it all full circle.”
Beachside Hospitality Group bought the Sandbar from Ed Chiles and Chiles Hospitality in 2024.
For more information about the Sandbar, visit SandbarDining.com.
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This story was originally published June 6, 2025 at 5:50 AM.
