Image courtesy of Sublime Comporta
Europe has perfected the art of the beach club: scenic, stylish, and effortlessly cool. This summer, it’s not just about where you’re staying. It’s about where you’re having lunch: long, lazy meals, crisp wine, and DJ sets timed just right. Whether you’re anchoring your boat off Ramatuelle or sipping mezcal in Mykonos, these are the beach clubs worth planning your trip around.
The French Riviera
Where the beach club as we know it was practically invented—iconic names, legendary tables, and lunches that stretch into all-day affairs. This is classic Côte d’Azur: glamorous, timeless, and still the gold standard.
Le Club 55, Ramatuelle
This iconic institution on Pampelonne Beach needs no introduction. Opened in 1955, Le Club 55 remains the Riviera’s ultimate lunch reservation, beloved by everyone from Brigitte Bardot to Beyoncé. White tablecloths in the sand, impossibly chic regulars, and unfussy classics like grilled langoustines, artichoke salad, and tarte tropézienne set the tone. The service is casual but razor-sharp, the wine cold, and the vibe timeless. Scoring a table in high season is no small feat—but the atmosphere (and the people watching) make it more than worth it.
La Guérite, Sainte-Marguerite Island (Cannes)
This boat-access-only beach club on a gorgeous island off Cannes delivers the kind of lunch that easily becomes your whole day. The setting is classic Riviera—stone terraces, white umbrellas, and yachts bobbing offshore—while the energy builds as the day goes on. Expect Mediterranean-style sharing plates (think truffle pasta and fresh-caught sea bass), strong cocktails, and a fashionable crowd that transitions from lunch to late afternoon dancing with zero hesitation. By the time dessert arrives, there’s dancing in the aisles and no one’s in a rush to leave.
La Réserve à la Plage, Ramatuelle
Sleek but understated, La Réserve à la Plage brings serious design credentials to Pampelonne Beach, with interiors by Philippe Starck and a menu from the team at La Réserve Ramatuelle. This is glam with a side of sea spray: whitewashed timber, soft linen daybeds, and striped parasols facing the Med. Seafood is the star here—catch of the day grilled over coals, wild shrimp, Mediterranean vegetables—served alongside spritzes and polished service. It’s low-key luxury done right, with live music and DJ sets that ease you from lunch into late afternoon lounging.
Spain & The Balearics
Image courtesy of Jondal, Ibiza
From Ibiza’s coolest coves to barefoot lunches on Formentera and fresh seafood in Marbella, these are the Spanish spots that turn midday meals into the main event—sun-soaked, stylish, and always worth lingering over.
Jondal, Ibiza
Jondal, tucked into the crystal-clear cove of Cala Jondal, is Ibiza’s ultimate see-and-be-seen lunch spot and a favorite among celebrities like Leo DiCaprio and Roger Federer. Renowned Chef Rafael Zafra’s menu steals the show—think top-grade seafood, minimal fuss, and standout caviar dishes. You choose the day’s catch and how you want it: raw, grilled, fried, steamed or cured. The setting is chicly understated—wooden tables under shady trees—and the vibe is relaxed but refined. After lunch, grab a cocktail and claim a lounger by the sea. It books out months in advance during summer, so plan ahead if you want a seat at what many say is the best beach restaurant in the Med.
Beso Beach or Juan y Andrea, Formentera
Formentera may be Ibiza’s laid-back little sister, but its beach club scene delivers big. Two of the island’s most iconic spots sit right on the powdery shores of Playa Illetes. Beso Beach leans boho with its straw parasols, sandy floors, and mezcal-laced cocktails. Expect DJs spinning lazy afternoon beats, a barefoot-luxe crowd, and a menu that spans grilled seafood, steak, and standout paella. It’s festive, unpolished in the best way, and often turns into a bit of a party.
Juan y Andrea, just a short stroll away, is more refined but just as magical. Think white tablecloths under palm-thatched pergolas, seafood towers, and waiters wading into the sea to serve the boat crowd. If you can’t decide between the two, start at one and end at the other—they’re both Formentera essentials.
Chiringuito Puente Romano, Marbella
Located on Marbella’s Golden Mile, El Chiringuito at Puente Romano is the kind of beach club that revolves around the midday meal. Set within one of Southern Spain’s most luxe resorts—home to nine restaurants, a world-class tennis club, and a laid-back, family-friendly vibe—it’s all whitewashed wood, linen-draped loungers, and seafood paella served with your toes in the sand. Expect gazpacho, grilled sea bass, Málaga-style sardine skewers, zingy salads, and crisp albariño poured with a smile. The atmosphere is easygoing and sociable, with families, couples, and groups of friends all happily lingering over lunch. There’s a kids’ menu and a vegan menu, so everyone’s covered.
Italy & Portugal
Image courtesy of Sublime Comporta
Two countries that know how to do seaside meals right. From cliff-hugging classics on the Amalfi Coast to breezy, barefoot lunches in Comporta, this is slow living at its most stylish.
La Fontelina or La Scogliera, Amalfi Coast
Two of the most iconic beach clubs on the Amalfi Coast, La Fontelina and La Scogliera are destinations in their own right—drawing crowds as much for their kitchens as for their cliffside settings.
La Fontelina is a Capri classic. Open since 1949, this impossibly glamorous beach club is tucked beneath the cliffs with views of the Faraglioni—Capri’s famed rock formations rising from the turquoise Tyrrhenian Sea. Its signature blue-and-white loungers dot the rocks, and the pergola-shaded restaurant is beloved for seafood staples like spaghetti alle vongole, grilled langoustines, and whole catch of the day carved tableside.
Just across the water in Positano, La Scogliera is another exclusive spot for a long, leisurely lunch with your feet practically in the sea. The setup is polished but low-key—white canvas daybeds, chilled rosé, and a standout menu that goes well beyond the usual seaside fare. Expect dishes like paccheri with lobster, delicate crudo platters, and tiramisu that’s worth staying late for.
Sublime Comporta Beach Club, Portugal
Set among the rolling dunes and pine forests of Portugal’s chicest beach town, the beach club from design-forward hideaway Sublime Comporta channels the same relaxed, rustic-chic spirit as the hotel. The aesthetic is all bleached wood decks, canvas shades, and endless Atlantic views, just steps from Praia do Carvalhal. The menu leans into coastal Portuguese flavors—think oysters, just-caught fish, and organic vegetables straight from the hotel’s garden. It’s not loud or flashy, and that’s exactly the point. This is a place for slow lunches, crisp vinho verde, and barefoot afternoons where time stretches and blurs with the tide.
Cone Club, Sardinia
Perched on a quiet cove of Sardinia’s upscale Costa Smeralda, Cone Club is more than just a beach club, it’s an all-day affair. Set on the grounds of 7Pines Resort, it’s got a private pier for boat arrivals, a fish market for picking your own catch, and a cocktail list curated by mixologist Martina Bonci (of Gucci Giardino fame). Days drift from beachside crudo and burrata to jet skiing and fliteboarding; nights begin with the ringing of the sunset gong and end with DJs and dancing under the stars. Come for lunch, stay ‘til 1am—it’s that kind of place.
Greece & Turkey
Image courtesy of Maçakızı Bodrum
From Mykonos’ golden-hour rituals to Bodrum’s growing buzz, these Eastern Mediterranean favorites are where soul meets style. Think mezze and mezcal, wooden decks and table dancing, all with a strong sense of place.
Scorpios, Mykonos
You may have preconceived notions about the Mykonos beach club scene—dancing on tables, champagne showers—but Scorpios surprises in the best way. Owned by the Soho House Group, it skips the chaos for something more civilized: a trendy, well-travelled crowd gathers for sunset rituals, mezze, and mellow DJ sets. Music blends Greek instruments with electronic beats, while cultural and spiritual programming adds depth—from live talks with artists to wellness workshops like somatic movement and sound meditations. The world-famous Sunset Ritual inspires calm as the sun dips into the Aegean, before the vibe ramps up with electric dancing energy. For another top-tier choice in Mykonos, Principote offers a similarly upscale experience but with a more exclusive feel and a stricter dress code.
Alemagou, Mykonos
Alemagou is a mood. Wild and windswept on Mykonos’ untamed Ftelia Bay, 10 minutes from Mykonos town, its design is earthy and simple with reed-thatched ceilings, dry-stone walls, giant cacti and pumpkin-shell lanterns. Days start slow with lounging on giant sunbeds, cocktails served in coconut shells, and Greek-inspired dishes like ceviche and seafood linguine, then build toward sundown with DJ sets that slip into electric beach parties. The vibe is easy and international and the design integrates seamlessly into the scrubby Cycladic landscape. Oh and be sure to say hello to Maggie, Alemagou’s resident goat.
Maçakızı Bodrum
A longtime favorite on the Turkish Riviera, Maçakızı blends boutique hotel, beach club, and haute dining into one glamorous, all-day playground. Perched on the hillside in Türkbükü, it’s known for its floating teak decks, crystalline Aegean views, and boat-to-lunch arrivals. The scene is sun-drenched and stylish—think gauzy kaftans, Aperol in hand, and a who's-who of Istanbul creatives and international regulars. The menu brings a fresh, Turkish take on Mediterranean flavors: grilled octopus, zucchini fritters, wild herbs, and whatever the fishermen brought in that morning. As the sun dips, the music picks up and golden hour fades into dancing.