With summer well underway, it’s likely your European jaunts are set in stone.
Yet, there is always time to squeeze in a weekend break to a beach club somewhere exotic. If the thought of sea, sun and sand isn’t enough to lure you in, beach clubs also offer relaxed restaurants, cocktails delivered to your day bed and some offer wellness treatments to boot.
From Italy to France, Greece to the Netherlands and even a hedonistic haven right here in the UK, here’s our pick of Europe’s best beach clubs.
Maçakizi in Bodrum, Turkey
Located in Bodrum’s most exclusive bay, the Maçakizi beach club (part of Maçakizi hotel) counts Hollywood heavyweights among its clientele. The four decade-old beach club also boasts a luxury bar and restaurant serving up delicacies like delicate sea bass and hearty racks of lamb.
Ftelia Beach Club in Mykonos, Greece
You'll find white-washed buildings with a pop of terracotta when you arrive at Ftelia beach club. The recently-opened club is one of Europe’s most seductive, with its elegant setting in Ftelia bay and panoramic view of the sea. Mediterranean cuisine is served here, so expect to see the likes of Mykonian sea urchin, grilled octopus and beetroot puree on the menu.
Coccaro Beach Club in Puglia, Italy
With access to two beaches (Coccaro Beach Club and Le Palme Beach Club), you’ll be spoilt for choice with this stunning stretch of Italian coastline. The former offers a divine fish restaurant, boutique and mini club with babysitters for kids. The latter comes with a cocktail bar, children’s playground and a number of private cabanas and gazebos to choose from.
La Réserve à la Plage in St Tropez, France
The newest beach club on the European circuit, hotel La Réserve Ramatuelle’s new club, La Réserve à la Plage, is the place to be seen this summer. Located along the famed Pampelonne beach in St Tropez, a complimentary shuttle takes guests from the hotel to the club, where they will find luxe lounging chairs, a spa offering both wellness and fitness programs as well as a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Aiyanna in Ibiza, Spain
With a relaxed, barefoot-chic and an award-winning restaurant, this is the Ibiza beach club to visit when you want a dose of serenity. Driftwood chandeliers cement the luxury beach shack feel and the colourful designs will instantly lift spirits – as will the view of the sparking ocean on its doorstep.
Palazzo Avino on the Amalfi Coast, Italy
Billed as the only hotel in Ravello with a private beach club, Palazzo Avino’s ‘Clubhouse by the Sea’ offers stunning, and secluded, seaside views of the Amalfi Coast. Day beds are strewn across a platform overlooking the deep blue waters while a set of white stone steps take you directly down to the water’s edge. For when the sea is too chilly, there is also a small swimming pool to dip into as well as a restaurant to dine in.
Phi Beach, Sardinia
For the serious partier, Phi Beach offers a dreamy golden-sand beach by day and a dancing paradise at The Rock Club by night. Located in front of the Napoleonic fortress of Forte Cappellini, you’ll also find a salt-water pool, Mediterranean restaurant and a beach bar here.
Hotel Tresanton in Cornwall, UK
If you’re forgoing the continent for a staycation this summer, consider Hotel Tresanton in the pretty Cornish fishing village of St Mawes. Created by British hotelier Olga Polizzi, Tresanton is a cluster of houses with sea views across to St Anthony’s lighthouse. The beach club is open from 9am to 6pm daily where everyone (not just hotel guests) can enjoy the sun-soaked terraces.
Hippie Fish in Zandvoort, Netherlands
Just 45 minutes by train from Amsterdam in the coastal town of Zandvoort, you’ll find the coolest beach club along the seafront: Hippie Fish. With fresh seafood served inside the white wooden hut, opt for one of the outdoor seats to enjoy the golden hues reflected from the sea as the sun sets.
Assaona Gastrobeach Club Palma in Mallorca, Spain
With Palma’s cathedral visible from the beach, you’ll feel a world away from the busy Mallorcan centre at Assaona. With sun loungers and Balinese beds on the white sand beach, the stand-out here is the sun-soaked dining area with wooden and straw fixtures. Serving up modern Mediterranean fare, it’s best to pair food with a cocktail from the extensive menu.
Nammos in Mykonos, Greece
Already an icon among regular Greek island hoppers, this decade-old beach club keeps getting better and better. Its latest addition are £3,700-per-day cabanas that come with their own butler, a seven-course menu for six people and a private hot tub. Keep your eyes peeled for famous faces; Leonardo di Caprio and Mariah Carey are Nammos regulars.
Gecko Beach Club in Formentera, Spain
With beach cabanas and lazy hammocks bordering Migjorn beach, Gecko Beach Club is where the DJ will be spinning beats all day long and waiters will be delivering cocktails to your lounger when you need a top up. The Mediterranean food served here is fresh and seasonal, and the club offers a range of wellness treatments, beauty therapies and massages to choose from as well.
Le Club 55 in St Tropez, France
Located along the same stretch of Pampelonne beach as La Réserve à la Plage (a nine-minute walk away), celebrities like Bono, Elton John, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell - and even royals like Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice - have been spotted here in the past. It's the place to see and be seen in St Tropez, but just make sure you book ahead.
Purobeach Illetas in Mallorca, Spain
A party pad for the wellness tribe, Purobeach Illetas is located on a small peninsula in Mallorca and puts just as much emphasis into wellbeing as having a good time. Spend the day lazing on a day bed or have a massage by the sea, listening to the waves crash against the shore.
Theros Wave Bar in Santorini, Greece
At the very far end of Santorini’s best beach, Vlychada, you’ll find Theros Wave Bar. Here, you’re a world away from Oia’s sunset crowds – and the solitude only adds to the charm. With dreamy sunbeds, stunning surroundings and delicious cocktails, this is where to head to see the best of the Greek island.
