Beach Clubs to Add to Your Bucket List

World famous for its stunning coastline, dramatic cliffs, colorful villages and vibrant Mediterranean charm, the Amalfi Coast is the ultimate summer hot spot, and adding to its appeal is the Italian appreciation for the fine art of beach clubs. Case in point, One Fire Beach Club, located right beneath Casa Angelina and accessible via a glass elevator and 200 steps. A dedicated area is reserved exclusively for hotel guests, and although the rest is open to the public, the club’s hidden location keeps crowds at bay. A sun worshipper’s paradise, this west-facing beach is the only one in the area that stays shade-free late into the evening. With live music sessions, stunning views and sunbed service, there’s no dreamier way to spend a holiday.

The winner of our 2023 Kiwi Collection Hotel Awards for Best Beach Hotel, COMO Parrot Cay is the epitome of breezy barefoot living. The private island resort is beloved by A-listers, several of whom own villas on Parrot Cay—don’t be surprised to find yourself pulling up a chair beside the likes of Christie Brinkley and Keith Richards. More wellness-focused than most, the COMO Beach Club offers items such as green juices and fresh salads topped with lobster and avocado, alongside the usual fare of artisan cocktails. The energy here is casual and carefree, while retaining the same impeccable service and sleek design found throughout the island. At night, the ambiance livens up with music you can dance to.

Once a rustic finca, Marbella Club Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa was turned into a hotel in 1954 by Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe, and has since evolved into a legendary Costa del Sol hideaway. Rich in Andalusian traditions, the property blends heritage and innovation while retaining its original charm. The beating heart of the resort is undoubtedly The Beach Club, decorated in pastel hues of white, pink and minty green, with a vintage aesthetic reminiscent of 1950’s Acapulco. The service is low-key, informal and seamless; most staff have been here a lifetime and are referred to by their first names. The raw bar features Mexican classics such as ceviche and aguachile, while the grill serves up freshly caught fish and lobster.

Blissfully removed from the hectic pace of the island’s capital, Le Sereno on St. Barth’s is an intimate, family-owned boutique hotel spanning 600 feet of prime waterfront real estate. It’s one of very few St. Barth’s hotels that can claim a beachfront location, and they make full use of their pristine stretch of shoreline. Their beach club offers kayaks, paddleboards and snorkeling gear for exploring the lagoon, and spa treatments can be enjoyed in a charming waterfront pavilion. Just steps from the gently lapping waves, they serve light, simple dishes under the shade of swaying coconut trees to a soundtrack of tunes that will lull you into a state of tranquility.

Located on a concealed cove on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast that requires guests to set sail to reach it, Yazz Collective offers an unparalleled beachfront atmosphere without the usual throng of tourists. The all-day dining options incorporate fresh seafood and seasonal vegetables harvested from the resort’s own gardens, and the cocktails provide a twist on much-loved classics, including chilli margaritas with passionfruit cream and signature Yazz Mules with pineapple and ginger. Plush Bali beds scattered along the beach make for prime relaxation spots. On weekends, the volume ramps up and the sandbank transforms into a dancefloor, with resident DJs taking center stage to host sunset sessions.

Flaunting a French Riviera-style aesthetic in the most exclusive area of the city, SLS Cancun’s private, open-concept Bungalow Beach Club offers a much more escapist ambiance than Cancun’s typical scene. They’ve taken a worldly approach to both their culinary and musical offerings; on any given day, wood-fired pizza, tacos and seafood can all be enjoyed alongside a laid-back selection of house, disco or funk tunes from a rotating series of DJs. Inspired by the natural beauty of the location, the sophisticated, eco-chic venue features comfortable day beds, cozy fire pits and spectacular views.

With six outdoor swimming pools, 12 restaurants and lounges, a 40,000-square-foot spa and Miami’s hottest nightclub, Fontainebleau Miami Beach dominates its share of the coastline. It’s a hotbed of activity at all hours of the day and night, and the endless temptations on property will make even the most curious traveller reluctant to leave. For adults-only celebrations, Fontainebleau’s Arkadia Day Club & Pool serves as the ultimate seaside playground. Weekends bring theme parties and a resident DJ spinning tunes all day long. For a true VIP experience, guests can book a private cabana with a flat-screen TV, high-speed internet access and personal butler service. Once the sun sets, the dance party heads straight on to the iconic LIV Nightclub.

Perfectly capturing the balance between history and contemporary luxury, Boscolo Nice Hotel & Spa has been styled to offer the ultimate city stay, including all-day dining options, a spa and a rooftop pool terrace. Further adding to the five-star experience, guests enjoy exclusive access to part of the famous Ruhl Plage, located a 10-minute walk from the hotel in the stunning Bay of Angels. Established in 1920, Ruhl Plage is one of the oldest and most prestigious private beaches in Nice. The reserved area includes sunbeds in the front row, so hotel guests are treated to unobscured Côte d’Azur vistas. This famous spot also offers a solarium terrace, personalized service and a menu of authentic Niçoise cuisine.

Nestled in Cap Cana, the Dominican Republic’s most exclusive beachfront community, Eden Roc at Cap Cana is a world-class resort with a lavish beach club to match. Available only to resort guests and club members, Eden Roc Beach Club features an infinity pool overlooking crystal-clear Caribbean waters, dedicated beach butlers and private access to the resort’s strip of sparkling white sand. The club also has several delectable dining options to choose from: the Blue Grill + Bar for the perfect fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors, La Palapa for seafood and traditional Dominican fare, or the Beach Bar for a variety of internationally-inspired appies and cocktails.

One&Only Reethi Rah has always epitomized the striking otherworldliness of the Maldives, but recently they’ve taken it even further, teaming up with venerable Italian fashion brand Missoni to transform its classic Beach Club into the Missoni Resort Club. The new look features custom furniture and Missoni’s signature patterns, capturing the essence of carefree tropical living through a vivid spectrum of blues, greens and whites. The private cabanas, DJ booth, double-sized sunbeds and oval rattan swings swishing from the palms remain as alluring as ever, but now echo the spectacular surrounding landscape through the brand’s distinctive design scheme.