Words by Deanne Kaczerski, Shari Mycek; Ann Abel, Katie McElveen, Becca Hensley, and Jake Emen. Each hotel is being equally honored in no particular order.
When our roving team of in-house editors and contributing writers returned from travels this year with ongoing tales of beach clubs — new openings, surprise experiences, and noteworthy designer collaborations — we knew we had to add a new Very Best category. Our concept of the ideal beach club goes beyond simple sun loungers on the sand with beach service to include full-on dining (noteworthy restaurant), lounging, and swimming experience. Those receiving our Very Best Beach Clubs for the very first time:
Puente Romano Beach Resort, Marbella
Puente Romano is one of the classic resorts that put Marbella on the map more than a half-century ago, and its beach club remains one of the chic-est addresses in town. Its Chiringuito, that paradigm of Spanish oceanfront living, manages to be vibrant without being intimidating, buzzy without being overwhelming. While it serves breakfast — lemon ricotta pancakes, the inevitable avocado toast — the way to go is a feet-in-the-sand lunch of luxe dishes like oysters, truffle risotto, wagyu burgers, or straight-from-the-sea fish that’s simply grilled in the Josper. Of course, beach chairs and umbrellas are ready for your siesta.
Marina di Bardi at Grand Hotel Bristol & Spa, Portofino Coast, Italy
Why elbow your way through the throngs of cruise ship day trippers in Portofino when you can gaze at the charming town’s pastel-hued houses from a more exclusive corner of the Portofino Coast? With riveting views of the Italian Riviera and the Ligurian Sea, Grand Hotel Bristol Resort & Spa, a Small Luxury Hotel of the World, in Rapallo promises a more authentic experience at its newly launched Marina di Bardi. Three minutes from the hotel by private shuttle, the sexy beach club sports a marina, a private crescent of sand, water sports, a restaurant, and unforgettable sunsets.
Desa Potato Head, Seminyak, Bali
Bali’s Desa Potato Head is more than a hotel. It’s a community, a beach club, and some would say, a lifestyle. The Potato Head Beach Club came first, and it’s an all-day, all-night space for revelry that attracts an endless procession of partiers listening to internationally acclaimed DJs. Hotel guests receive priority access to in-demand seating — a combination of daybeds, lounge chairs, and beach mattresses — but either way, you’ll need to claim a space early to experience firsthand what all the hype is about.
Clubhouse by the Sea, Palazzo Avino, Ravello, Italy
A short drive from Palazzo Avino’s famed “pink palace hotel” (a driver will transport you), the hotel’s chic Clubhouse by the Sea is not to be missed. Hugging the cliffs of the tiny Amalfi beach town of Marmorata, the Clubhouse — instantly recognizable by Palazzo’s signature pink-and-white umbrellas — features five levels (restaurant, garden, pool, beach deck, and direct water access). For ultimate privacy, secure a set of loungers and umbrellas on the lowest tier, with ladders leading directly into the sea. You can climb back up to the restaurant for a leisurely lunch, or do as we did, and have the servers deliver aperitifs and pizzas fresh from the wood-burning oven.
The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Opened just this past year (February 2024), we were there for the splash. Which included the grand opening of The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai’s super vibey, super spacious So’OL Beach Club. Set along two miles of pristine white sand beach and palms, and enveloped in lush greenery, the club features oceanfront and floating cabanas, sun loungers, hammocks, an inviting bar, and a pool deck with dining areas that stretch to the ocean’s edge. Our favorite find: the hidden dark pool. Relax as attendants deliver handcrafted margaritas, fresh-made guacamole, and other local fare from Mexican chef Tomás Bermudez.
Lido Villaggiatura, A Villa Sant’Andrea Beach Club, Taormina, Italy
Just in case waterside chaise lounges, concierge service, and fully stocked cabanas all overlooking Italy’s Bay of Mazzarò aren’t enough, at the Lido Villeggiatura beach club you can also tour the dramatic Sicilian coast aboard the club’s 35-foot power boat on a full or half-day adventure. The club also offers sunrise yoga, aromatherapy sessions, cabana massages, beachside dinners, and DJ-fueled sunset celebrations.
Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf St. Barthélemy, France
The Shellona beach club is steps away from Hôtel Barrière Le Carl Gustaf. It’s appropriately named, too, for its shell-covered beach in a picturesque little cove. The space includes serviced lounge chairs and a sit-down restaurant serving Greek and Mediterranean fare. The bumping lounge music and the bottles of bubbles both start early at this sceney, sexy destination.
METT Hotel & Beach Resort, Bodrum, Turkey
The Mett Bodrum’s Folie beach club is perhaps the daytime party outpost in a destination known for such offerings. That’s no small feat. Things turn up a notch or two higher during the weekend afternoon cabaret performances, a spectacle you won’t want to miss. Plus, the hotel itself features actual sandy beach access, rare for an area with a mostly rocky shoreline.
Feature image courtesy of Shari Mycek
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