6 Glamorous Beach Clubs For Sun-Drenched Fun This European Summer

From Amalfi Coast chic to laidback Spanish bohemia, these elegant spots are where the cool crowd will hang out this year for long, leisurely lunches and twinkling evenings of cocktails and ambient beats. Here’s our edit of the most glamorous beach clubs to visit this summer…

1. Isolotto Beach Club

Born from a family’s love affair with the breathtaking landscape and charming spirit of Monte Argentario, LA ROQQA is a recently transformed chic boutique hotel with an accompanying spectacular Beach Club, Isolotto, that will bring a cosmopolitan feel to this special peninsula that is connected to the Tuscan mainland by one piece of land shouldered by two lagoons. As the first and only destination beach club on Argentario Island, this vibrant new hotspot, debuting in spring 2024, will bring a contemporary meaning to Italian resort life in the alluring harbour town of Porto Ercole. Isolotto is located just a stroll away from the hotel in a secluded bay, with views over the small island after which it is named. Unique to the region’s rocky landscape, Isolotto is the only sandy stretch of coastline on the island. Where discreet luxury meets genuine hospitality, Isolotto is home to two vibrant beachside restaurants serving a fresh and colourful menu of locally sourced fish and seasonal grilled dishes. In true Italian ‘villeggiatura’ style, the shoreline is dotted with understated umbrellas and loungers, and for the more active beachgoer, an open-air gym and yoga pavilion is perfectly positioned on the sloping lawn steps from the shoreline. With complimentary access for hotel guests-in-residence, at Isolotto, one can enjoy a plethora of activities both on land and water – exploring the beauty of the destination by sea on bespoke boat trips to nearby coves, enjoying private pottery lessons, cycling and hiking trails, beachside spa treatments, and more.

HOW: Rates at LA ROQQA start from €435 (currently approx. £370) on a B&B basis and include daily loungers at Isolotto Beach Club. For more information, visit: www.laroqqa.com

2. Il San Corrado di Noto

Italian island escapes don’t get much better than Il San Corrado di Noto; a transformed ancient Masseria in Val di Noto, Sicily’s serene UNESCO World Heritage destination, set just a stone’s throw away from the Sicilian seaside. The first luxury boutique resort of its kind in the region, Il San Corrado di Noto is the perfect option for travellers seeking balmy climes, sandy white beaches, a slice of Sicilian authenticity, fabulous food, exceptional service, and an abundance of space and privacy.  Ideal for sun-drenched days, the resort is home to a private beach club open in the summer months, and located just a short drive from the property, accessible via a complimentary shuttle service. Here, guests can choose from sunbeds lining the soft white sand or languid lunches at the vibrant restaurant and bar looking out onto the warm azure blue of the Mediterranean coast. With heritage and wellbeing at its heart, the resort is home to just 26 suites and eight pool villas, two swimming pools, including an expansive 100m long heated pool as well as a spa, comprising a hammam, Finnish sauna, frigidarium, solarium and relaxation space, fitness suite and tennis court. Serving grown up glamour at its very best, Il San Corrado Di Noto is steeped in elegance, total privacy, contemporary Baroque charm, bright and spacious design. Back at the resort, each spacious suite is complete with an outdoor patio, while the one and two bedroom pool villas offer flexible accommodation options for couples, friends, and families. 

HOW: Rates at Il San Corrado di Noto start from €680 (currently approx. £579) per night on a B&B basis. The beach club is open in the summer months from May 2024 – September 2024. For more information, visit: www.ilsancorradodinoto.com

3. Da Gioia by Hotel La Palma

Reimagining a Capri icon when it opened in summer 2023, Oetker Collection’s 11th hotel is a complete transformation of the original Hotel La Palma that dates back to 1822 – the first and oldest hotel on the island. A short drive from Capri’s southern coast, guests will discover Hotel La Palma’s elegant, yet buzzing Da Gioia by La Palma beach club in the Marina Piccola, home to the island’s most famous beaches and restaurants. Da Gioia invites visitors to enjoy all day dining with delicious offerings devised by Italian culinary hero, Michelin-starred Chef Gennaro Esposito and curated by Executive Chef, Vincenzo Balzano. Also open to non-hotel guests, visitors come from yachts and neighbouring hotels as the beach club is a desired meeting place for long, lazy lunches. Internationally renowned interior designer, Francis Sultana oversaw Da Gioia’s chic transformation and with stunning views of the iconic Faraglioni, the club has 42 day beds, perfectly positioned for dips in Capri’s picturesque waters. It also boasts a private beach for up to eight, serviced by a dedicated team and accompanied by a host of exclusive amenities. With the house DJ capturing Capri’s inimitable island vibe, Da Gioia is the place to rendezvous and revel in the very best that Capri has to offer. Starting this summer, Da Gioia will also now be open for dinner, starting 15 June 2024 every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.

HOW: Rates at Hotel La Palma start from €900 (currently approx. £782) per night. Da Gioia by La Palma beach club is open from 09:00 – 18:30 for sun loungers. For more information, visit www.oetkercollection.com/hotel-la-palma

4. Marinella Beach Club at Borgo Santandrea

Perched on a cliffside 90m above sea level, overlooking the fisherman’s hamlet of Conca dei Marini, Amalfi Coast, is Borgo Santandrea. Co-owned and run by the Orlacchio and De Siano families, the hotel was renovated to become a masterpiece in mid-century design fused with classic and inimitable Mediterranean style, giving prominence to local Amalfi and Campania craftmanship. Recently completed, and debuting in full for the summer 2024 season, Borgo Santandrea has its very own private beach and suitably chic Marinella Beach Club – a stunning converted 19th century boat house that was once a haven for fishermen, before being transformed into a vibrant, elegant social hub where gourmands and sunseekers can revel from midday to midnight. The Marinella Beach Club can be reached by either strolling through the hotel’s magnificent vertical gardens or by elevator from the top of the hotel. Under the culinary director of Executive Chef, Crescenzo Scotti, the lunchtime beachside menu is all about the very best local ingredients and diners can also enjoy romantic moonlit evenings by the sea. All the best local ingredients are sourced, creating delicious dishes perfect for long, al fresco Italian style lunches. There is also Marco, the ‘Master Pizzamaker,’ on hand to craft traditional Neapolitan style pizza, championing the very best flavours from the Campania region.

HOW: Room rates at Borgo Santandrea start from €990 (currently approx. £850) in a Junior Suite. The Marinella Beach Club is reserved for hotel-resident guests and is open daily from 08:00 – 19:00. For more information, visit: www.borgosantandrea.it 

5. Finca Cortesin

The independently owned Finca Cortesin, Andalusia is one of the finest luxury resorts in Europe. It comprises an award-winning 67-suite hotel; stunning contemporary-designed villas for purchase and rental; one of the best championship golf courses in the world; an outstanding spa and sports facilities; some of the best Japanese raw cuisine outside of Japan; exclusive shopping area and, a Beach Club with a dreamy 35m infinity pool. The resort is located in one of the most tranquil and sought-after enclaves of the Andalusian coast, not far from the picturesque village and tranquil hills of Casares, as well as within easy reach of Sotogrande, Marbella, and Malaga. Taking advantage of its proximity to the coast, Finca Cortesin’s 6,000m² Beach Club is conveniently located in the Bahía de Casares just 1km from the hotel, with a complimentary shuttle service from the main hotel every 10 minutes for guests. The Beach Club welcomes discerning hotel guests seeking to relax in an exclusive setting throughout the summer months, exuding elegance in an understated location featuring teak wood floors, lush gardens, Balinese beds, and über-comfortable sun loungers dotted around a beautiful beachside infinity pool.  Its restaurant and pool bar, directly on the beachfront, offers the best in Mediterranean cuisine including delectable paellas, seafood, and traditional Andalusian rice dishes, all impeccably served in true Finca Cortesin style.  At dusk, the hotel’s expert mixologists prepare fragrant cocktails to enjoy at sunset – the ideal accompaniment to the beautiful surroundings.

HOW: Finca Cortesin is located 15 minutes from Gibraltar and 50 minutes from Malaga airports respectively, making it easily accessible and the perfect place to stay when visiting Andalusia. Sotogrande is 20 minutes away; Puerto Banús, Marbella – 30 minutes; and Jerez is just over one hour. Rates at Finca Cortesin start from €695 (currently approx. £596) + VAT per night in an entry-level Junior Suite, including breakfast. The beach club is open from 11:00 – 19:00 and for more information, please visit: www.fincacortesin.com/beach-club

6. Thanos Hotels & Resorts’ Antasia Beach Club

Set on the sandy beach of the Kato Pafos seafront is the charming Antasia Beach Club. Just minutes away from the iconic Almyra and Annabelle hotels, the club welcomes guests of all ages – locals and hotel residents alike. From morning coffees with a view, to relaxed beach days and parties under the stars, this venture from family-owned Thanos Hotels & Resorts offers delicious all-day dining and drinking in a laid-back ambiance, with wooden sunbeds and the Mediterranean ocean lapping at guests’ feet. The club has been designed by Cypriot architects, Georgios and Constantinos Psomas, alongside interiors by Baranowitz & Kronenberg Architecture. The sleek, minimalist design is complemented by shades of white and blue throughout and custom-built furniture made in Cyprus. An impressive spiral staircase that leads towards the sky and an expansive terrace with views over Paphos Castle, is a defining feature. The food menu has been created by Chef Akos Richweisz under the supervision of award-winning David Goodridge, Executive Chef of Thanos Hotels and Resorts. It features a fusion of Mediterranean and Asian flavours, combining locally sourced ingredients, herbs, and spices for a unique dining experience. Dishes include feta and watermelon salads, spicy prawn burger with papaya and mango slaw, and sushi platters, as well as tuna, wild seabass, and tuna uramaki rolls. Antasia brings an exciting vibrant venue to the shores of Cyprus, with ocean and sunset views and events for all, from cutting-edge art exhibitions and fashion events to visiting DJ nights. Antasia’s restaurant, bar and beach club also offers private event hire including beach weddings, rooftop birthday parties and special anniversaries. Against a backdrop of sea and sky, Antasia sets the scene from dusk until dawn. 

HOW: For more information, please visit www.antasiabeachclub.com/home