Best Gluten-Free Restaurants & Coffee Shops in Anna Maria Island: 2025 Guide

Written By Jennifer Roberts

When you’re gluten-free and the thought of dining out makes your stomach flip (and not in a good way), I see you. Finding places that will not only have gluten free options, but also keep you safe can make or break your vacation, which is why I’ve taken my 10+ years of navigating restaurants with an anaphalactic gluten allergy and have compiled my absolute favorite (SAFE) places to dine on Anna Maria Island (AMI).

AMI is known for its gorgeous beaches and unforgettable sunsets, but when you’re finished with this blog, it’ll be known for its gluten free dining! In this post, I’m giving you the full breakdown: personal stories, my top list of safe and a not-so-safe spot(s), and other coffee shops/dining options you can try!

What Makes Anna Maria Island Different:

Anna Maria Island feels like a breath of fresh air. Unlike so many towns that are still behind the times when it comes to gluten-free safety, AMI is surprisingly progressive. The staff at several restaurants not only know what gluten is—they also understand cross-contamination, welcome my questions, and even ask questions I didn’t think to ask. When someone can confidently navigate these conversations (that we gluten-free folks have to initiate far too often), it makes me feel genuinely seen and cared for.

Here’s my full breakdown of where to eat gluten-free on Anna Maria Island—and a few spots I recommend avoiding. If you're looking to plan an entire week-long vacation with your family on AMI, check out my full vacation planning guide here! (insert link)

Safe Gluten-Free
MUST VISIT Restaurants:

1. The Cheesecake Cutie & Café

This spot is a gluten-free dream! They're extremely knowledgeable and careful about cross-contamination. Perfectly safe for coffee, breakfast bowls, sandwiches (yes, with real gluten-free breads, bagels, and rolls!), plus cheesecakes and sweet treats. See their menu here.

Our Go-To Family Order:

Jason: Horse Roast Beast - Seasoned Roast Beef, Pepper Jack Cheese, Red Onion, Tomato, Lettuce, House Horseradish Mayo on Gluten Free Roll with a Gluten Free Cheesecake Latte.
Jen: BBQ Turkey Bacon Ranch - Turkey, Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Ranch, BBQ Bacon Jam on a Gluten Free Roll with a Gluten Free Iced Chai (it was DELICIOUS).
Landon & Aria: Grilled Cheese & Ham on Gluten Free Bread (that is locally sourced from a bakery in Sarasota)

Dessert:

Gluten Free White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake (MY FAVORITE)
Gluten Free Key Lime Cheesecake (Jason’s favorite)
Gluten Free Plain Cheesecake

**these cheesecakes are insanely delicious and don’t feel like a gluten free comprise at all! 10/10!

I know the owners personally, and they are exceptional, God fearing people who truly care about keeping their customers safe; allergy customers especailly.

2. Poppo’s Taqueria

The staff was aware of gluten, changed gloves, washed hands and only used safe, non cross-contaminated food items. This did limit our options to chicken for the meat, but we were happy to have a safe option. Note: they do have corn tortillas, but the grill is cross contaiminated so there is no way to heat them up safely. See their menu here.

Our Go-To Family Order:

We ordered the gluten-free chicken and brown rice bowl—the only safe base options available at the time—and loaded them up with toppings like cheese, guacamole, honey pickled onions, and sour cream. What stood out? Each topping was pulled from fresh, new containers to prevent any risk of cross-contamination. We even treated ourselves to a soda from the fountain since it's free of high fructose corn syrup—a rare bonus!

3. Smoqehouse

95% of the menu is 100% gluten free, and to level up the healthy eating experience, they fry their fries in a dedeicated gluten free fryer with tallow! Check out thier menu here.

The kids ordered the pulled pork kids meal with tallow french fries and I ordered the rosemary chicken bowl (oh my goodness!) with tallow french fries and coleslaw. Everything tasted delicious and I felt completely safe eating there. I will say, the coleslaw wasn't my top favorite, but it still tasted good. I prefer a creamier coleslaw!  I would ABSOLUTELY recommend going here for a quick order & pay meal on the island.

3. The Chateau

This French inspired (with italian accents) restaurant is attached to a Marriott Hotel and has a sophistocated, upscale atmoshpere. They are knowledgable of gluten and the staff knows how to keep you safe while navigating the menu. Unfortunately, they do not have a dedicated fryer; however, they have pleny of delicious options to make up for it. Here is their menu.

Our Go-To Family Order:

One thing to note about us—we always skip the tap (or even filtered) water when we’re seated and instead go for bottled water, either still or sparkling. It’s a little detail, but if you’ve ever had Florida water… you know. Trust me on this one.
To start, we ordered the gluten-free lobster risotto as our appetizer, and it was absolutely out of this world. Creamy, flavorful, and the perfect portion to share—it was definitely worth the splurge! Unfortunately, this restaurant didn’t offer a gluten-free bread option—or any alternative at all. For a place of this caliber, that was disappointing. I truly believe more restaurants would increase their revenue just by offering a few simple gluten-free upgrades so guests with allergies don’t feel like an afterthought. But I digress…

For our entrées:
Jason ordered a shrimp dish
The kids split a pound of snow crab legs
I went all in with the chef’s special steak of the evening—and added crab legs for a little surf and turf action.
I’m so glad I did, because the steak was enormous and ended up being shared around the table since everyone was still a bit hungry.
My Honest Take:
The food was great—but the price tag? Not so much. Our meal totaled around $300, and while we’ve dined at high-end places before (and have zero issues with the price tag), this one just didn’t deliver the “wow factor” I was hoping for.
Would I eat here again or recommend it?
Yes—if you're not on a strict budget and want a solid meal with a nice atmosphere. But if you're gluten-free and hoping to feel seen, cared for, and treated with those extra allergy-friendly touches, it may leave you wanting more.

4. The Waterfront Restaurant

The Waterfront Restaurant is located on the North side of the island and has a very knowdgable staff and well defined gluten-free options highlighted on their menu. Here is their menu.

I've eaten here many times and love the diversity of their menu. It's absolutely worth the visit.

5. The Sandbar Restaurant

Knowledgable with gluten free needs and options are clearly laid out on their menu.  Here is their menu.

The Sandbar Restaurant is one of my favorite spots to go to and make a whole day out of the experience since this restaurant is located smack dab on the beach! We ususally arrive to the beach early, set up our spot and then walk up to the Sandbar to grab virgin pina coladas from their easy beach access to go window. Whenever we get hungry, we walk up and grab a table. Note: You must wear shoes and a shirt to dine at the restaurnat, so pack accordingly. 
I’ve been often and switch up my orders each time. This time in particular, I tried their crab risotto (as I was still riding the high from The Chateau lobster risotto), but it wasn’t what I hoped it would be.  Regardless, their Summer Berry and Roasted Beat Salad are always refreshing, as is the Chargrilled Octopus and Filet Mignon.

Other Gluten-Free Options to Check Out on the Island:

Coffee Shops We Frequent:

Not So Gluten-FREE
Places to AVOID:

1. 15 South

After a relaxing day on the beach near Anna Maria Island, we decided to head to Lido Key for dinner and a sunset stroll. My go-to Italian restaurant in St. Armands Circle—once a safe haven for gluten-free dining—was sadly closed, likely due to hurricane damage affecting many local businesses in the area. Faced with limited options and hungry kids in the backseat, we did what every gluten-free traveler dreads… we “winged it.” That led us to 15 South, an Italian restaurant across the street that advertised gluten-free pizza and pasta options—music to my ears after being stuck in traffic past 6 p.m.

For dinner, I ordered the gluten-free penne with Alfredo sauce and grilled chicken on the side, while the kids shared a gluten-free cheese pizza. (I avoided eating the pizza myself after spotting a shared wood-fired pizza oven—beautiful, but not safe for someone with celiac disease or a severe gluten allergy.) The staff was kind and our server assured me that my meal would be prepared safely. But about ¾ of the way through my pasta, I noticed the corners of my lips itching—my first sign of a gluten reaction.

I alerted the server, who confirmed that the penne was boiled in clean water. Still, my body told a different story. We paid the bill—my meal was comped—and headed back to where we were staying. Unfortunately, the night ended with Jason having to administer an EpiPen injection when my reaction escalated.

If you’re managing celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, I would not recommend 15 South due to the risk of cross-contamination. While the atmosphere and menu might appeal to those without food allergies, it’s a risky choice for those of us who need truly gluten-free restaurants on Lido Key.

We never made it to the sunset that night, but the experience was a stark reminder of how important safe gluten-free dining is—especially while traveling.

Final Thoughts: Gluten-Free Dining on Anna Maria Island

Dining out with a gluten allergy—especially one as severe as mine—isn’t always easy, but Anna Maria Island truly surprised me in the best ways. From local cafés that take cross-contamination seriously to restaurants where the staff goes above and beyond to make you feel safe, AMI has become one of our favorite places to relax and eat well.

That said, not every place gets it right. And that’s why I wrote this guide—to help you avoid the stress and uncertainty that often comes with gluten-free travel. Whether you're planning a quick weekend getaway or a full family vacation, you now have a solid list of safe, delicious, and celiac-aware restaurants to enjoy.

👉 Don’t forget to bookmark or pin this post for your trip, and if you want even more tips, check out my full Anna Maria Island vacation guide here. Safe travels and even safer eating! (INSERT)

Jennifer Roberts
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