The best beach clubs in Europe

Coccaro Beach Club, Puglia

The Coccaro Beach Club in Savelletri is the place to come if you want to be pampered. Located directly on its own private beach, they take care of everything. Large, luxurious daybeds? Tick. Chic, laidback design where the white and blue perfectly reflects the sea? Tick. The freshest sushi and best oven-baked pizza served on a breezy terrace overlooking the crystal-clear Mediterranean? Tick, tick, tick. But there’s even more at Coccaro in beautiful Puglia: a Kids’ Club to look after the little ones, dreamy on-site massages, al fresco yoga… the list goes on.

Sublime Beach Club, Comporta

Sublime Beach Club lives up to its name, with a setting straight out of a picture book. Created as a spin-off of the luxuriously casual Hotel Sublime, the location on the endless sparkling sands of Praia do Carvalhal couldn’t be better. While the area has gained the attention of visitors you’d usually find on Pampelonne Beach in Saint-Tropez, Sublime manages to retain its laid-back, barefoot atmosphere, so leave the heels and designer handbags at home. With comfy sunbeds and parasols during the day and an excellent restaurant by night, come for the day, kick off your shoes, take in the fabulous views of surf and sand and tuck into a plate of chipirones fritos. Or head next door to the newly-opened Sal Restaurant with its stunning terrace and excellent dishes, a true Comporta classic that just recently moved from Pego to Carvalhal beach. The new Jncquoi Beach Club on Pego Beach (where the legendary Sal restaurant was until autumn 2022) is scheduled to open in late summer 2023.

La Cabane des Estagnots, Seignosse-Hossegor

Another hard-to-beat location, right on the wide expanse of beach of Les Estagnots between Seignosse and Hossegor – our favourite French Atlantic spot for an aperitif with a view of the sunset. This simple, lively and family-friendly spot opens at 9am, perfect for your first cup of coffee after hitting the surf or taking a bracing dip in the ocean. The menu at La Cabane des Estagnots is big on regional classics, with a good choice of fresh fish and salads, plus child-friendly options such as fish and chips. There’s a good wine list, freshly-mixed cocktails and a choice of ice creams and snacks throughout the day.

Another great beach club is just further down the beach towards Hossegor. Lou Cabana at Culs-Nus beach offers not only delicious snacks and equally beautiful sunsets, but also yoga classes in the morning a few times a week. Check online for schedule.

Parostia Restaurant at Cosme Hotel, Paros

Only a few minutes from the enchanting harbour town of Naoussa on the Greek island of Paros, this gorgeous new beachside restaurant is part of the newly-opened Cosme Hotel. The setting of Parostia, just steps from the shimmeringly turquoise Aegean Sea, is perfect, with soft sun loungers to wile away the day on, before sauntering to the dappled shade of the restaurant. Then feast on Mediterranean-Greek cuisine, sip on a refreshing cocktail, listen to the chilled-out music and let your mind slow down…

Carpe Diem Beach Club, Hvar

Ever since Prince Harry holidayed on Hvar, the Croatian island has been known worldwide as a party hotspot. During the day, the vibe is more laid back, especially at the lovely Carpe Diem Beach Club, where you can relax on loungers right by the sea or try the delicious sushi by the pool. As the day draws to a close, the mood shifts as guests enjoy sundowners and the music cranks up. Celebrated international DJs heat up the atmosphere every night of the week; if you’ve loved partying into the wee hours in Ibiza, you’ll adore Hvar.

La Réserve à la Plage, Saint-Tropez

The South of France is the birthplace of the beach club, and there is a whole string of legendary spots along Pampelonne, some of which have been around since the 1950s. Our favourite, for its family-friendly, casual-yet-elegant atmosphere, is La Réserve à la Plage, part of the beautiful hotel in Ramatuelle. Here, a love of chic design meets the laissez-faire flair of France. Just a few steps from the sea, the sun loungers are a great place to relax while the little ones play in the sand or splash in the water within sight. In the evening, it turns into a smart Michelin Guide restaurant, and hosts regular concerts and DJ sets.

10 Punto 7, Formentera

On one of Formentera's most beautiful beaches, the family-run Beach Restaurant 10.7 has a secluded location and gorgeous views of the crystal-clear sea. During the day, kick back and feast your eyes on the intense shades of turquoise and blue, while in the evening, the front-row seats to the spectacular sunset, accompanied by cool beats, sets the scene. 10 Punto 7’s award-winning Mediterranean cuisine is known for its Asian influences, and for those who prefer something more exclusive, there is the option of coming by boat – simply enter the coordinates given on the website and arrive in style.

Bootshaus, Weissenhaus Baltic Sea

In the midst of a beautiful park with wide avenues, lush green meadows and its own castle hotel, this rustic-chic boathouse is located directly on the beach next to the fancy luxury resort Weissenhaus, on the Baltic Sea. As Bootshaus even welcomes guests who are not staying at the hotel, you can arrive to spend the whole day on the beach, pottering on the sand, splashing in the sea and spending balmy summer nights on the picturesque terrace. Those who want a little more privacy can opt for one of the beach cabanas – be sure to reserve one in advance through the website. 

Experimental Beach Club, Ibiza

We love this cool, fun brand, and their beach club ticks all our boxes. With sun beds in the sand and the azure waves just a few steps away, this club does a good mix of relaxing Mediterranean vibes on the one hand, and great music and the popping of champagne corks on the other. Las Salinas nature reserve is right there, and you can stay in the just-opened Montesol Experimental in Ibiza Town, too. Trendy but kiddie-friendly, Experimental Beach Club is as well suited to a relaxed family lunch as it is to early evening cocktails with friends or romantic sundowners. You're more of a Mallorca traveller? Of course we have a few suggestions for you: we like Es Vivers in the north of the island and Assaona in Palma. 

Hippie Fish, Zandvoort

To the west of Amsterdam, in the Dutch town of Zandvoort, lies this gem of a place. Set right on 9 km of sandy beach, overlooking the North Sea, Hippie Fish is, as the name suggests, a boho-chic kind of hangout. Natural materials such as wood and raffia mingle with 50 shades of beige to create something as stylish as anything you’d find in Bali or Ibiza. Those who want to take a little of that hippie flair home will find it in the cool in-house store. From furniture and wall hangings to the ever-popular parasols, a takeaway from here will ensure those summer vibes continue long after you return home. Children and dogs are, by the way, very welcome at Hippie Fish.

Salt & Silver, St. Peter-Ording

This third incarnation of the celebrated restaurants in Hamburg is a gorgeous beach restaurant, towering eight metres above the sea in one of the area's famous pile dwellings. The sea views are correspondingly jaw-dropping, while the menu is a fantastic mix of freshly-grilled seafood, steaks and the signature dish: just-caught ceviche that sings of the sea. Ingredients at Salt & Silver focus on local and seasonal, so expect lots of delicious dishes from the Eiderstedt peninsula. And the atmosphere? Lively, no matter the time of day or whether you’re indoors or out on the breezy terrace.

If you come across a fantastic beach club on your travels this summer, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line: hello@niche-traveller.com