Beach clubs are how people ‘do’ the beach these days.
Gone are the days when you just rocked up at a strip of sand you liked the look of (which hopefully had some sort of restaurant attached for refreshment), hired a sunbed and a parasol and then gathered the soggy, dirty towels up at the end of the day.
No, no, NO. Now it’s full service, extensive wine, champagne and cocktail menus, top-class international food, live entertainment and swimming pools. Oh, thank goodness.
Move over Miami, step aside Ibiza, there’s a new home to hedonistic pool parties and beach clubs: Marbella. And from the deep-down decadent and crazy to more relaxed and elegant affairs, here’s our pick of the very best…
Marbella
Nikki Beach
The beach club that basically started it all, Nikki Beach is still the venue that sets the standards. The restaurant delivers quality dish after dish across a ‘global favourites’ menu with a few local Spanish flourishes. The sushi is fresh, the seafood platter is one of the best in Marbella (with or without the outrageous theatre that accompanies it to your table or poolside bed) and their key offerings are rotisserie-style chicken, lamb or suckling pig.
Food aside, the partying reputation of this hugely successful chain of beach clubs needs little or no introduction. It’s difficult to convey just how fabulous the parties are. The entertainment is BIG – think Cirque du Soleil and you wouldn’t be far from some of the events.
The whole place has an air of extravagance about it, so it’s easy to see why it’s always on the list of the best beach clubs in Marbella. There are ample beds poolside, easy access to the beach, covered dining and a seriously well-stocked bar. The tagline is ‘Tell only your best friends’. The secret is well and truly out, but it never disappoints.
Don’t miss their Amazing Sundays, Full Moon Parties, White Parties, and… well, any of their events, actually.
Address: Playa Hotel Don Carlos, Carretera de Cadiz, Km 192, 29600 Marbella, Malaga; 952 83 62 39
Website: Nikkibeach.com.
Puerto Banus & to the West
Ocean Club Marbella
Ocean Club in Puerto Banus is a dazzling vision of white and light blue. It’s beside the beach but not on it – so if you’re a sand hater, it’s the Marbella beach club for you – while the decked terrace is adorned with circular beds that mirror the shape of the pool.
The party atmosphere ramps up and up throughout the day into the early hours of the morning. The atmosphere is relaxed during the afternoon until the sun sets when the no-holds-barred pool parties, complete with theatrical performances, begin and the music blasts out over the Med.
On the themed nights, nothing is too over the top to thrill the crowds who queue to enter – these parties are legendary. On specific nights the pool is transformed into a stage where entertainers (including plenty of famous names) whip the crowd into an outdoor, amphitheatre-like frenzy.
The cocktail list has a great selection of mojitos as well as the usual suspects. As for the lunchtime restaurant, it serves the likes of sushi, pizzas, pasta, salads, kebabs, club sandwiches, burgers and other food for party-goers. The choice of alfresco or indoor eating is a welcome extra for those needing a bit of respite from the midday sun.
Address: Avenida Lola Flores, S/N, 29660 Marbella, Malaga; 952 90 81 37
Website: Oceanclub.es.
La Sala by the Sea
La Sala by the Sea certainly scores well on the convenience front: it has its own designated parking and valet service in the centre of Puerto Banus, so you can park up and be out of your car stretched out on a bed, drink in hand, in the blink of an eye.
This relatively small beach club in Marbella has its own circular-shaped pool (though not as large as many others), a restaurant, treatment rooms and its fair share of party action during the summer. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner with an emphasis on seafood with the odd Asian twist. The drinks menu is average, serving the usual suspects – it’s neither surprising nor disappointing either.
If you want to hire a beach bed around the club, towels and fresh fruit come in the hire price. However, if you’d like to sunbathe on the beds on the beach they charge extra for the towels. Weekly parties are held, often you need to book in advance.
Address: Av Jose Banus, 29660 Marbella, Malaga; 952 81 38 82
Website: Lasalabythesea.com.
THE ORIGIN BEACH SOUL MARBELLA
This isn’t a beach club in Marbella per se; it’s more a beach restaurant with a pool. Over towards Puerto Banus, The Origin Beach Soul may not be the liveliest of our selection but its first-line beach location is great and you may have visited its older sister in Mallorca.
The lagoon-shaped pool is an inviting change to the sea and the vibe is relaxed and family-friendly. The menu is said to be 0km with Asian notes running through it, with tapas to sharing plates and a raw menu too. Sunbathing-wise you can book beds, nests or balibeds. This is a good option for a brunch-to-dinner beach day.
Address: Urbanización Coral Beach, N-340, km 176, 29602 Marbella, Málaga
Website: originbeachsoul.com
PLAYA PADRE
©Playa Padre Marbella
Playa Padre burst onto the Marbella beach club scene in 2017 with a star-studded opening attended by Pamela Anderson and Maria Bravo. Situated by Marbella Port on the eastern edge of the city, this Balinese-styled haven offers boho-chic interiors and an Ibiza-inspired vibe.
By day, Playa Padre is all about chilling on the beach: guests can choose to recline on front-line sunbeds or get the full VIP experience on a Balinese bed, both of which enjoy full waiter service. The kitchen offers fusion Spanish/Mexican cuisine, along with sushi and salads. Guests have the option of dining in the restaurant or having their food delivered directly to their sunbed, just in case they’re too relaxed to move!
As the sun sets, the party starts. Throughout the summer, Playa Padre hosts numerous special events featuring top DJs from around the world, including Boho Sunday parties where guests are encouraged to don their best boho outfits to drink, dance, and unwind from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Address: s/n, Calle playa del cable, 29603 Marbella, Málaga 650 82 22 26
Website: playapadre.com/
PLAGE CASANIS
©Plage Casanis Restaurant
Generally regarded as one of the chicest beach bars in Marbella, La Plage Casanis enjoys an enviable location almost at the water’s edge. Concept-wise, think luxurious restaurant meets soulful beach shack. Natural wood and bamboo both feature heavily in the decor, resulting in an elevated shabby-chic aesthetic that embodies pure summertime.
The menu’s not half bad either. The cuisine is mainly Mediterranean with French influences, complemented by Argentine grill specialities. Noteworthy dishes include the delectable “black” paella with squid ink, along with fresh seafood and shareable plates such as croquettes and pil-pil shrimp.
The drink menu features champagne, cocktails, mocktails, smoothies, and much more. Guests can choose to eat in the restaurant or on a luxury sunbed or Balinese bed facing the Mediterranean.
Live music is also a key element of the Plage Casanis experience. Resident DJ Jordi Ruzis keeps the tunes coming throughout the day, tempting you to abandon relaxation and hit the dance floor with his mellow blend of house and Ibiza classics.
The bar is also a great spot to see out the weekend. Every Sunday, Plage Casanis host the Sunday Sunset Ritual – a feel-good party with cocktails, music and dancing, with no Sunday Blues in sight!
Address: Urbanización Golden Beach, Playa Real de Zaragoza, 29604 Marbella, Málaga (+34) 952 83 78 62
Website: laplagecasanis.com
Further West – San Pedro to Estepona
Club del Mar
Club del Mar is part of the five-star Villa Padierna Palace Hotel complex. They don’t offer entertainment in the evenings but it’s a wonderfully relaxing place in which to hang out during the day, whether you’re stretched out on the beach enjoying the full waiter service or eating high-quality food in the light and airy beach house.
(Top LVC tip: check out their caviar menu – it’s to die for. We also love the paella)
Address: Av. Bulevar Principe Alfonso de Hohenlohe, 29602 Marbella, Malaga; 952 82 09 00 ext. 22189
Website: Villapadiernapalacehotel.com.
BARBILLON
©Barbillon Marbella
Already a well-known hang-out in Madrid, Barbillon has only recently opened its doors in Marbella and is quickly establishing itself as one of the best new beach clubs.
Located in the Guadalmina Baja urbanisation, this oh-so-stylish beach bar and restaurant covers over 4,000m2 and comprises 3 main areas: the bar/restaurant (with capacity for up to 350 covers), the beach with its rows of luxury sunloungers, and the pool area complete with private beds.
Barbillon’s menu focuses on local ingredients and regional cuisines like grilled sardines and fresh bream but also throws a few international curveballs into the mix to keep things interesting, such as tempura prawns with miso vinaigrette and kimchi mayonnaise or red shrimp carpaccio.
Drink-wise, all the classic cocktails are accounted for, along with some interesting newbies such as Inka, a smoked cocktail with pineapple, lime, and pisco or Islas del Amo, with hints of pomegranate, blackberry, and mezcal, blended with a splash of champagne.
Address: Urbanización Guadalmina baja, calle 3 s/n. 29670 San Pedro Alcántara, Málaga. 628 99 12 30
Website: barbillon.com
BESO BEACH
©BesoBeach Estepona
Bringing Ibiza vibes to the Costa del Sol, this recently opened beach bar is located in the Western region of Marbella towards Estepona. This is the Beso group’s fourth location in Spain – the brand is already established in Formentera, Sitges and Ibiza, each location identifiable by its iconic, Instagram-able bench on the sand, emblazoned with the phrase “#NoHayVeranoSinBeso (NoKiss, NoSummer)
The vision of interior designer Lázaro Rosa-Violan and partner Angie López, the décor features natural and sustainable materials in line with the boho-chic aesthetic. The menu features Basque-Mediterranean cuisine and offers dishes such as black rice with aioli and scallops and off-menu, personalised paellas featuring the Catch of the Day. Other must-try dishes include the charcoal-grilled matured beef cutlet, the Bilbao-style turbot, or the Formentera-style lobster served with homemade chips and fried eggs.
Beso Beach prides itself on keeping the party going all summer and hosts weekly evenings of live music featuring a diverse range of artists and genres, including Latin, jazz, and techno. Once a month during the summer, they also host the renowned Beso de Luna party, which includes a themed dinner, show, and performance artists. If you’re looking for nightlife, this is one of the best beach clubs in Marbella to enjoy just that!
Address: Playa El Padron, Km160, N-340, 29689 Estepona, Málaga 971 34 99 00
Website: besobeach.com
East of Marbella
La Cabane Beach Club
Part of Hotel Los Monteros, this impeccable Marbella beach club is a pristine wash of blue and white with interiors courtesy of Dolce & Gabbana. Clean-lined sunbeds and shades line a very welcoming pool indeed – this is a daytime-only club so there are no crazy parties or dancers, just a relaxed place to lounge by the sea. The welcome package you receive when you hire a lounger includes fruit skewers, towels and personalised waiter service.
Address: Calle Jabali, 29603 Marbella, Malaga; 952 76 27 20 – Stay just a stone’s throw away at the exquisite Villa Las Artes.
Website: Lacabane.com
NOSSO Summer Club Marbella
Nosso is pure summer good-time vibes. There are regular live DJs and music along with single and double beds to hire as well as lounge seating (towels are included in the bed rental).
This beachside restaurant, as with all beach clubs in Marbella, gets busy, so if you want to spend the day here, book early. The food isn’t as good as others in our list but for a light bite, it’s absolutely fine. There’s even a little shop for some beachy holiday momentos too.
Address: Av. del Limonar, 124, 29604 Marbella, Málaga
Website: Nosso.com
And a little further afield…
Finca Cortesin
Yes, we know Finca Cortesin isn’t technically a beach club in Marbella, but so classy is its beach club that we just couldn’t leave it out! It’s an elegant and sophisticated affair where you relax immediately upon arrival, want for nothing and feel thoroughly loved throughout your stay and leave feeling utterly serene.
The tasteful seating and sunbeds are either clustered around the infinity pool or facing out to sea on this attractive, and less developed stretch of coast. The restaurant serves up casual seafood and rice dishes, but to Finca Cortesin’s five-star standard.
Address: Bahia de Casares, Malaga
Website: Fincacortesin.com
THE BEACH CLUB AT LA RESERVA CLUB SOTOGRANDE
©LaReserva Sotogrande
Ok, so technically it’s not a Marbella beach bar, but we feel The Beach Club is well deserving of a mention anyway. Located within the exclusive La Reserva resort in Sotogrande, the club stands on the shores of an impressive man-made lagoon which hosts a variety of water sports such as kayaking, paddle boarding and jet boarding.
If this all sounds a little too high octane for you, don’t worry – The Beach Club also has a much more chilled side. Sun loungers and beds are ranged across the sand at the shore of the lake, on what La Reserva proudly calls “the first and only private beach in Spain”. There’s also an adult-only pool with sun-loungers for those desiring a peaceful swim. Waiter service is available both on the terraces and across the 2,800 m2 of sandy beach.
The restaurant and bar offer an A la Carte menu of light, fresh dishes prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Top picks to try are the Valencian rice with red shrimp and the Teriyaki salmon with pumpkin puree, spicy mango tartar and a yoghurt dressing.
It’s also a short drive from our very own Villa Chanya, making it an ideal location for a family day out. There’s even a kids club to keep the little ones entertained while you sip on champagne in the shade.
Address: Av/ La Reserva, s/n, 11310 Sotogrande, Cádiz 628 99 12 30
Website: lareservaclub.com
Summary
There’s no better way to enjoy the beach than at a beach club in Marbella. These luxurious options are ideal if you want to spend hours sunbathing or sipping cocktails in an elegant setting with some of the finest entertainment on the island. We’ll see you there!
Planning a party-filled summer break on the Costa del Sol with friends? Check out our collection of luxury Marbella villas to rent.
Want to book a bed or get VIP entrance at one of the best Marbella beach clubs? Our concierge will happily arrange it for you.
Rebecca Nayler
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