The best beach clubs to drop anchor at, from old favourites to new hotspots

From the barefoot glamour of a new Tuscan outpost to a reimagined Riviera hideaway, BOAT charts a course to the beach clubs worth cruising into this summer. Whether you’re seeking all-day feasting, designer sunbeds or off-radar charm, these destinations deliver sunshine and style in equal measure.

The sunshine state:The Beach Club at The Boca Raton, Florida

Founded in 1926, The Boca Raton resort is a mainstay of luxury Southern Florida hospitality, with five hotels spread over 136 hectares on Lake Boca Raton and the Atlantic Ocean. After eight months of refurbishments that included an entire internal remodel, the Beach Club reopened in January this year. Both an ultra-luxe hotel and a five-star beach club, it’s one of the area’s most exclusive establishments, as you need to be either a hotel guest or one of the fortunate few with a resort membership to be able to make use of its many top-tier facilities and activities.

Down at the beach itself you’ll find smart white sunbeds and cabanas decked out by Vilebrequin placed in prime position for the best of the Florida sunshine, with the cool waters and gentle waves of the Atlantic just footsteps away. There’s a SnappyScreen sunblock booth that sprays you with sunscreen on the boardwalk, where you’ll also find three expansive swimming pools and friendly, thoughtful service from the team bringing drinks, ice cream and light bites to the deckchairs.

Daytime here is family-friendly territory, so kids and teens will find plenty to keep them entertained both in and out of the water, from beach toys and rides along the seafront, to pop-up giant inflatable slides on the beach and a smart games room designed with older ones in mind. Dining options are hard to beat, with the freshly revamped Marisol serving Mediterranean-inspired fare all day – think Greek mezze – overseen by award-winning chef Johnny Spero. 

There’s also a brand-new restaurant, Onda, set right on the beach – a grown-up affair with an adults-only policy. The menu is set to change each season, with winter 2025 featuring Dominican seafood dishes cooked up in partnership with executive chef Adriano Venturini of the Eden Roc Cap Cana. If you’re lucky enough to visit this spring, make sure to order the delicious poached shrimp. And, if you’re not keen on lazing on the beach all day, there are endless activities to keep you busy, from the Palmera Spa, electric bikes to explore the resort on, and even an 18-hole golf course where you can practise your swing.

Best by boat: Tender services to and from the beach club can be arranged in advance through the Boca Raton Marina.

The French twist: La Môme Riviera, South of France

If ever a luxury hospitality brand was going to shake up the beach club scene, it was bound to be Maybourne. Having perfected the art of crafting some of the world’s best hotels (The Connaught, Claridges and The Berkeley in London, and The Maybourne Beverly Hills among them), its team has now turned its attention to beach clubs, and La Môme Riviera is setting a new standard.

First opened in 2023 following the launch of the Maybourne Riviera Hotel (which sits perched in the hills above, offering impressive views of Monaco and the Italian border), the beach club has – as of this summer – been taken into the very experienced hands of brothers Ugo and Antoine Lecorché. 

The masterminds behind the La Môme Plage, La Môme Cannes, and La Môme Monte-Carlo, La Môme Riviera is a final sign of dominance in dining across the Cote d’Azur from the duo. who have long had strong ties to Maybourne (La Môme London can be found at The Berkeley on Wilton Place).

DJ sets and live music are on the menu, alongside cocktail oysters, grilled lobster, Katso-sandu Wagyu beef and enough truffle dishes to keep the whole of Monte-Carlo satiated.

Service is impeccable, with attentive, smartly dressed staff always on hand. The club has already proved to be a popular spot for private events – including Chanel’s launch of its Monaco haute joaillerie collection – and guests can book out the entire venue for private lunches, cocktails and dinners. Jetting in for August on the Côte d’Azur? Make sure to stick around for the 15 August when you will find unbeatable views of the Assumption Day fireworks across the bay.

Best by boat: The beach club’s private tender service can pick up from yachts anchored around Cap Martin.

The Italian job: Isolotto Beach Club, Monte Argentario, Italy

Rustic Tuscan charm meets the glamorous dolce vita at Isolotto, a brand-new beach club on Monte Argentario. Connected to the mainland by a small road that splices through scenic lagoons, the island is home to Porto Ercole, the charming harbour town on the east coast with slips and berths of up to 25 metres alongside eateries and bars. Il Pellicano is famously located a 10-minute drive away, and La Roqqa, the island’s newest luxury hotel, is a short walk up the hill. 

Three years in the making, Isolotto was created in partnership with La Roqqa and opened in 2024, with the hotel offering a door-to-door shuttle service for guests and visitors. On arrival, guests find an idyllic set-up that stretches over a sizeable area where there used to be two separate clubs. It’s barefoot-on-the-beach vibes here, with Mediterranean maquis, bougainvillea, jasmine and citrus trees in the surrounds, giving a true back-to-nature feel.

Deckchairs are available on a lush lawn area as well as directly overlooking the waves, and there’s access straight into the refreshingly cool waters of the Med down the steps into the sea. The real catch here, though, is the food; the outdoor dining set-up overlooks the cliff edge and offers fresh fish, a sizzling barbecue, ice creams, cheesecake and, naturally, for an Italian eatery, an impressive take on tiramisu.

Best by boat: Guests can be dropped off directly (via the beach) or boats can moor in Porto Ercole, where the La Roqqa team can meet guests and drive them to the beach club.

 The club classic: Nikki Beach Saint-Tropez, South of France

A stalwart of the South of France beach club scene, Nikki Beach is a long-time favourite that hasn’t lost its sparkle in 20 years of hosting long, lazy lunches followed by champagne-popping parties that run through the late afternoon. Still fresh from recent renovations, the expanded boutique currently has collaborations with jewellery and fashion brands Mercedes Salazar and MC2 Saint Barth in store.

Best by boat: Yachts can anchor close to the beach club on Pampelonne and radio the Nikki Beach skipper for a tender. 

First published in the April 2025 issue of BOAT International US Edition. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.