There are a number of good restaurants and bars in Bradenton, and more if you venture onto Anna Maria Island or into Sarasota. The more traditional "grill & bar" types include Woodson Brothers Seafood Grill (intersection of Manatee Avenue with 75th Avenue W), Rockerfellas at 5520 14th Street W and Zios (533 14th Street W). The atmosphere is slightly rowdier at places such as Grego's Almost to the Beach Tavern (4332 Palm Sola Boulevard), McSwiggins Pub, (1301 8th Avenue W), Banana Factory II (10104 Cortez Road – a sports bar with live music on weekend nights and karaoke on Thursdays) and The Lost Kangaroo (427 Old Main Street – a full liquor bar with many imported beers).

Anna Maria Island, just off the coast of Bradenton, is another popular destination and features many small bistros and intimate restaurants along its beaches. There is a Beach House Restaurant just as you come off the Cortez Road bridge, but drive further north and you will find a much larger variety of places to eat.

If none of the above interests you, there is always the movie theater. Desoto Dollar Movies has six screens that play recently released (though not opening weekend) movies. Shows generally start between noon and 10pm. Tickets are only 50 cents on Tuesday and $1.50 after 6pm every other day, so grab this opportunity to see some good movies for dirt-cheap prices.