Summer’s Last Hurrah: A Euro Beach Club Guide
Beach clubs are a core part of the European summer experience. Long, leisurely lunches drift into seaside afternoons spent listening to good music, soaking up sea views and people-watching from your spot beneath a shaded sunbed.
Right now it is peak season, which means reservations disappear quickly, especially at the most coveted spots. Having a well-connected advisor call the right person on your behalf can be the difference between getting in and getting turned away. Below are some of my favorite beach clubs across Europe. Let’s find the one that speaks to you and make it happen.
Greece
Alemagou (Mykonos). The rugged shoreline and turquoise waters of Ftelia Bay create a fitting backdrop, where reed-thatched ceilings, dry-stone walls, and giant cacti set a boho-chic vibe. Settle in with cocktails and elevated Aegean fare like wagyu gyros and langoustine-studded orzo before the energy kicks up with DJ sets that last well after the sun goes down.
Bond Beach Club (Kea). The ferry from Lavrio takes just an hour to reach Kea, which has all the Aegean magic of more famous Cycladic islands at a fraction of the crowds. The kitchen is led by one of Athens’s most celebrated chefs, and the island’s hiking trails and fishing villages round out the stay. For anyone after true Greek island quiet, this is a lovely first choice.
Kyma Pool and Beach Bar (Athenian Riviera). Thirty minutes from the Acropolis, the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens occupies its own 80-acre peninsula with three private beaches on the Saronic Gulf, rare territory for a resort this close to a capital city. The pool complex is Olympic-sized, Mediterranean dining runs throughout the day, and it is easy to turn an Athens trip into a city-and-coast stay.
Scorpios (Mykonos). Defying the stereotypes of tabletop dancing and sparkler-spiked champagne bottles, this Soho House-owned club leans into Greek culture with its DJ sets and programming of artist talks and wellness workshops. The Sunset Ritual, which weaves together live music and meditation, is an event worth building your afternoon around.
Spilia (Mykonos). If you want to make your beach-club experience a real occasion, this lesser-known pick is the way to go. Guests arrive by boat, dock at the rocks of a sea cave, and enjoy a long leisurely lunch before shifting into party mode. It is one of those only-in-Mykonos experiences, especially good for anyone who has been to the island a few times before.
Italy
Borgo Santandrea (Amalfi). Private sandy beaches are rare on the Amalfi Coast, which makes this cliffside hotel’s beach club setup genuinely exceptional. Eight elevators connect the terraced property down to the shore, where the restaurant and bar deliver food and drinks directly to your sunbed and a private dock puts Positano, Capri, and Amalfi within easy reach by boat.
Cone Club (Costa Smeralda, Sardinia). Set on a quiet cove at 7Pines Resort, this spot is all about making a splash. Guests arrive by boat and disembark on a private pier, pick their own catch from a fish-market-style display, and hit the water for flyboarding or waterskiing, with DJs keeping the crowd dancing into the small hours.
La Fontelina (Capri). Open since 1949, this classic tucked beneath the cliffs impresses with sweeping views of the Faraglioni islands and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The pergola-shaded restaurant excels in seafood, from spaghetti alle vongole to grilled langoustines and whole fish carved tableside, and the signature blue-and-white loungers are ideal for an afternoon with a book.
La Scogliera (Positano). Just across the water in Positano, this is a polished but low-key cliffside spot where you can eat lunch with your feet practically in the sea. The kitchen goes well beyond the usual seaside fare, with paccheri with lobster and delicate crudo platters that complement a chilled glass of rose. Save room for the tiramisu.
W Beach Club (Sardinia). The marina at Poltu Quatu has always been one of Costa Smeralda’s most picturesque corners, and the new W Sardinia gives it a property to match. A beach club and pool complex overlook the yacht-filled harbor, the waterfall-fed Secret Garden pool tends to fill up early, and the hotel runs a daily boat to a private island beach when you want to escape the scene.
Spain
Beso Beach and Juan y Andrea (Formentera). Two of the island’s most iconic spots sit side by side on the powdery shores of Playa Illetes. Beso Beach goes boho, with straw parasols, sandy floors, mezcal cocktails, and lazy DJ sets. Juan y Andrea, a short stroll away, is more refined: white tablecloths under palm-thatched pergolas, seafood towers, and waiters wading into the sea to serve the boat crowd.
Chiringuito Puente Romano (Marbella). The most family-friendly of these picks sits within Puente Romano Resort on the Costa del Sol, a smart choice for multigenerational groups or travelers with young kids. The atmosphere is easygoing and sociable, there are dedicated kids’ and vegan menus, and the hotel setting adds convenience.
Jondal (Ibiza). Ibiza’s premier lunch spot is high on style and low on fanfare, a big reason it draws a discreet, well-heeled crowd to this crystal-clear cove on Cala Jondal. The menu is extensive but emphasizes fuss-free preparations of simple ingredients. Choose the day’s catch and how you want it prepared, add fresh vegetable sides, and savor every bite at the well-shaded wooden tables.
Mar Sea Club (Mallorca). Nestled amid gardens just steps from the sea, The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca’s beach club is open to day visitors as well as hotel guests, so it can work in any Mallorca itinerary. The Michelin-caliber kitchen puts a Latin American twist on the Mediterranean menu, and the cocktails are equally considered.
France
Le Club 55 (Ramatuelle). Celebrities from Brigitte Bardot to Beyonce have flocked to this French Riviera icon since it debuted in 1955. The experience is polished on every level: white tablecloths, grilled langoustines, artichoke salad, tarte tropezienne, and outstanding local wines. Scoring a table in high season takes advance planning, but the Pampelonne Beach location and people-watching make it worth the effort.
La Guerite (Sainte-Marguerite Island, Cannes). Its boat-access-only location on a forested island creates a sense of exclusivity. Classic white umbrellas dot the stone terrace, yachts bob offshore, and tables fill with Mediterranean sharing plates like truffle pasta and fresh-caught sea bass, with more guests dancing as the sun dips.
La Reserve a la Plage (Ramatuelle). Interiors designed by Philippe Starck and a kitchen run by the La Reserve Ramatuelle team give this Club 55 neighbor serious pedigree. Whitewashed timber, linen daybeds, and striped parasols lend an understated glamour, while the menu of fresh-caught seafood and grill-kissed Mediterranean vegetables celebrates the simple pleasures of summer.
Beyond
Sublime Comporta Beach Club (Comporta, Portugal). It is easy to lose track of time amid the rolling dunes and pine forests of this coastline, which is part of the appeal. Between the Atlantic-facing bleached-wood decks and an ultra-fresh menu drawing from the hotel’s garden and surrounding coast, afternoons have a way of dissolving into the tide. A relaxed, subdued choice.
Mulini Beach Bar (Rovinj, Croatia). Rovinj is one of the most beautiful towns on the Adriatic, and this minimalist Istrian spot lets you appreciate the scenery from the vantage point of a well-cushioned sunbed. The cocktails are solid, the crowd is relaxed, and the views justify staying longer than planned.
Macakizi Bodrum (Turkbuku, Turkey). Istanbul’s creative class and regulars from across the globe have been loyal to this Turquoise Coast lounge for decades. The scene is built around floating teak decks and crystalline Aegean views, with boat-to-lunch arrivals that set the mood. The kitchen brings a Turkish sensibility to Mediterranean staples like grilled octopus and zucchini fritters.
The Reef Club (St. Julian’s, Malta). Set at the tip of a private rocky peninsula, The Westin Dragonara Resort’s lido gives direct access to some of the clearest, calmest water in the Mediterranean. A pool deck occupies the upper level, sea ladders descend into a sheltered cove, and a snack bar lies in between. Day passes are available to non-guests, making it an easy addition to any Malta stay.
Let’s find your spot by the sea
Whether you want to add a beach day to an itinerary we have already planned or build a new trip around a club that caught your eye, I am here to put it all together, including the well-timed call that gets you the table. I own a luxury travel business, and this kind of planning is the part I love.
Book a Discovery Call and let’s plan your summer by the sea.