Coquina Beach — Attraction in Brandenton Beach

A Hidden Gem on Anna Maria Island – Coquina Beach & Grill by the Beach

Nestled at the southern tip of Anna Maria Island, Coquina Beach is a breathtaking blend of natural beauty, serenity, and convenience. This beach offers far more than just soft white sand and sparkling turquoise waters—it provides an experience.

The Beach Itself: Coquina Beach is one of the most pristine stretches of shoreline on the Gulf Coast. It’s clean, wide, and often less crowded than other nearby beaches. Towering Australian pines offer natural shade along the walking paths, and the ample space makes it perfect for families, couples, or solo travelers looking to unwind.

What sets Coquina apart is its accessibility and thoughtful amenities: large free parking lots, clean restrooms, outdoor showers, and well-maintained picnic and BBQ areas. Lifeguards are on duty, adding peace of mind for those swimming in the Gulf.

Grill by the Beach: Just steps from the sand, Grill by the Beach is a delightful surprise. It’s not your average beach concession stand. Instead, it offers a well-curated menu that strikes the perfect balance between casual and satisfying. Freshly grilled burgers, fish tacos, shrimp baskets, and crisp salads are crowd favorites. The portions are generous, prices are fair, and the quality consistently exceeds expectations for a beachside eatery.

The laid-back picnic-style seating, combined with ocean views and a salty breeze, turns every meal into a mini tropical escape. The staff are friendly and efficient, often going the extra mile to accommodate requests.

Extras That Matter:

Coquina Baywalk: A peaceful trail through mangroves on the bay side is perfect for nature lovers and bird watchers.

Sunday Market (seasonal): Adds a local flavor with vendors offering crafts, fresh produce, and beachy treasures.

Accessibility: Paved paths make it easy for wheelchairs and strollers.

Final Thoughts: Coquina Beach is a perfect blend of natural beauty and creature comforts. Whether you're there for a quiet sunrise walk, a full beach day, or just to grab a fish taco while watching the waves, it delivers a five-star experience every time. It's a place that invites you to stay a little longer, breathe a little deeper, and remember what a beach day should...

I enjoyed Coquina Beach. It is very large, long, and has plenty of space for people. When we went, the waves were pretty energetic. It is not a place for wildlife or shelling, it seems. It's more for just swimming, tanning, grilling, or whatever else the locals do. I appreciated that there were changing stations regularly placed along the beach on the parking lot side along with showers. It was very convenient and the best amenities we found at any other beach we went to.

HOWEVER, I want to strongly caution you against going on a weekend. You are going to die of exhaustion of traffic and just the sheer amount of people on the beach. We actually ended up on Coquina because the traffic and parking and amount of people on the northern beaches was already too bad (around 10 AM on a Sunday). They had several parking lots/hundreds of parking spaces BLOCKED OFF by construction! Can you believe it? Just heading into spring break and there's no where to park? Small swaths of beach overflowing with people because of no parking available at other parts? It was a nightmare. We had no less than 15 cars go by us at one point once we were actually parked, asking us if we were leaving. We were only at the car like 10 minutes getting something out.

Our biggest mistake was trying to ride the beach trolley up the island to check out other things instead of driving and losing our parking spot. We got up to Manatee Public Beach (eventually) after probably 20 minutes of waiting in traffic, then decided to get on the opposite trolley. But they decided to wait another 15 or so minutes parked because the trolleys were so off schedule. So we spent probably about an hour waiting and in traffic traveling just from Coquina (southern) to Manatee Public Beach and back. We finally got in our car and tried to get out of there around 4-5 PM I believe. Again we were in about 25 minutes of stop and go traffic just to get off the island (around 2.3 miles). I will never go back to AMI, probably not even on the week days. It's just not worth it. When traffic gets bad, it...

My family & I had a WONDERFUL time at Coquina Beach last Saturday. The traffic was mind boggling to say the least, but the beach itself was AWWWWWSOME!!!😍😍😍

There are many shops on both sides of the road, if you need or want to buy something to eat or drink. As well as stocking up on beach paraphernalia. Along the way, we passed a few Publix, pharmacies, and more. They also have quite a few hotels & air bnb's out there, so I suggest booking in advance.

People were friendly & literally happy to be out. Social distancing was kept, but people still said hi/hey, shook hands, and patted backs. People were simply happy to see one another. Families played in the sea...How we've all forgotten the need of being close & near others. COVID-19 is a stark reminder, that humanity & love of it and each other is crucial to our survival.

We were able to grill, change our clothes, wash off, and go to the bathroom. Beach security was great, and it was pretty clean. The beauty of the white sands are evident in my pictures. There was an emergency, as a fellow beach goer needed assistance on land. Help was dispatched quickly, professionally, & thoroughly. Otherwise it was a beautiful day. The waves were manageable, the water was actually warm & inviting, we spotted minnows, and even collected a few seashells.

I was mourning a dear friend of mine that day. I kid you not, I thought for a brief moment, I saw his outline in the clouds. Being on the beach with family, watching the tides, clouds, birds, and people, reminded me of how beautiful & precious life is. And as the sun started to set? Coquina Beach cradled me in comfort. Loved it!!!

I say, pack-up the family & head out to Coquina Beach. It's a wonderful & beautiful place to experience. The sunset is simply...