Beach clubs have come a long way since the days of tyrannical nightclub-style entry and ‘no carbs before Marbs’ dress code. That’s probably because the climate has changed too. Hot summer days are as likely in Stockholm as San Antonio, thus beach clubs have become more prolific, competitive and design-conscious. Here’s our pick of the coolest, hottest new openings in Europe this year.
Beauvallon sur Mer, St Tropez, France
When this storied Belle Époque palace hotel reopened on the French Riviera after sitting under dust sheets for two decades, it came with a pretty special new beach club. The designer? Dorothée Delaye, who transformed Mimosa restaurant at London’s Langham, and Monte Carlo Beach Club in Monaco. The chef? Yannick Alléno, who has no fewer than 17 Michelin stars under his toque. And the pool? A 25m mosaic art deco masterpiece. If you’re not a hotel guest, the beach club will collect you for free in Saint Tropez by speedboat. And if you’re a guest, your walk down to the coast swings past the 2002 Serpentine Summer Pavilion by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Toyo Ito — relocated piece by piece from London.
Miori, Gocek, Turkey
When you learn that miori translates to ‘village by the water’, the scale of this new Turkish Riviera beach club makes sense. The tricky geography, accessible only by boat, also explains why Miori’s owners have laid on such impressive entertainment for those who manage to reach it: a pontoon beach club, floating swim decks and six food experiences, all linked by timber walkways, stone terraces and over-water platforms. Even non-swimmers love the club thanks to the food. After a lunch of nigiri at Oko, or hand-made pasta at Isabel’s, they can order a digestif at Riva Lounge. There’s even a working bakery open to passing yachts.
Laugarás Lagoon, Sellfoss, Iceland
Day-trippable from Reykjavik, and close to Geysir and Gullfoss on the Golden Circle, brand-new Laugarás is the rare European swimming club that’s open year-round. It’s the architectural vision of Iceland’s T.ark Architects with interiors by Californian designer Anthony Bacigalupo, who have shaped more than 1,000sqm of geothermal lagoon waters. There’s a walk-behind waterfall, forest bathing, a meditation grotto, two waterfront saunas and the indoor Ylja restaurant, all wrapped in turf or clad in Icelandic clay and red lava.
Mare by Casa Tua and Riva Lounge, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Beach clubbers get two for the price of one this summer on the Amalfi Coast. On Capri, legendary restaurant Casa Tua opens a seafront location with a beach club as part of Hotel La Palma. Its 42 sun beds have views to Faraglioni, aka ‘the Dolce and Gabbana of rock formations’, and eight lucky bathers can book access to a further portion of private beach. Meanwhile on the mainland in Amalfi, the Borgo Santandrea hotel, a 1960s stunner, has launched Riva Lounge, a collaboration with the 185-year-old ship-designer Riva. Visitors can now reach the beach club by classic wooden Riva boat, and drink at its new water’s-edge bar.
Zolotas Beach, Athens, Greece
By the time you read this, there will be a dozen new beach clubs on the Athenian Riviera, thanks to the ongoing Ellinikon coastal redevelopment project, partly by Foster + Partners. So let us simply tell you about our favourite launch among many: Zolotas Beach, the waterside club of the Four Seasons Astir Palace. It was already gorgeous, but this summer the Greek fashion label Rianna + Nina, patronised by Rihanna, Madonna and Jared Leto, colour-bombed the new seafront restaurant with new geometric parasol prints and bright Mediterranean motifs. Bring sunglasses. It’s a lot.
Amu Venice, Italy
If you’re a beach-club buff and looking for the next big thing, Amu Venice is the one to watch, though you’ll likely have heard of it before. The restaurant-club concept was first launched on the Côte d’Azur at Fairmont Monte Carlo, with an outpost opening later at Gran Marbella Resort. Now the brand is coming to Venice’s Hotel Excelsior, the Venice Film Festival’s home base with a private stretch on the Lido. It opens later this summer with 299 beach cabanas, a pool bar and terrace restaurant overlooking the Adriatic.
