TRAVEL
The absolute highlight
of our visit was dinner
at the Beach Bistro.
The exhibits in the museum captivated us, as we
viewed a vast array of Florida history.
The absolute highlight of our visit was dinner
at the Beach Bistro, which is one of the best
restaurants in Florida according to both of us
and Zagat, which says it is one of the best in
America. We often drive here for dinner and
return home, thinking that we should do this
more often. However, since we were staying on
the island, we went for a nightcap at the Doctor’s
Office, so named because it was once the office
of the island’s doctor. It is another creation of
Sean Murphy, who owns the Beach Bistro and
Eat Here restaurants with his wife Susan. The
classic crafted cocktails and exceptional bar fare
have made the Doctor’s Office the most popular
watering hole in the area. You can’t really say
you have been to the island if you haven’t had
a drink there.
After that full evening, we slept late the next
day, ready to return home. But before we did so,
we wanted to see Bradenton’s Village of the Arts
that is located just south of downtown. It is a
community of galleries, studios, specialty shops,
restaurants and other ventures, which are housed
in colorful 1920s cottages. Our first stop there was
at the wonderful Arte Caffé where Chef Remo
Mambelli and his wife Meridith serve exquisite
Italian fare and baked goods. After lunch, we
visited many artists who were selling their own
creations or operating galleries that featured a
wide variety of works by other artists. We vowed
to return to the Village of the Arts on a First Friday
or Saturday of the month, when their vibrant art
walks draw thousands of visitors. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information on lodging
and events, contact BradentonGulfIslands.com.
The Doctor’s Office bar specializes in “prescriptions” based on gin,
vodka, tequila, rum, whiskey and other mood adjusters.
The Arte Caffé in Bradenton’s Village of the Arts is one of the many
businesses that make this vibrant community of artists so appealing.
156 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017