The Five Hottest Beach Clubs
Every celebrity has a favorite beach club where they go to relax and party at some of the world's most exclusive destinations.
Every summer, a select few draw the biggest names and chicest crowds. In St. Tropez, motorized rafts and dinghies shuttle celebrities to the shore from their private yachts. In Ibiza, they arrive on the back of a Ducati motorcycle wearing sundresses that flap in the wind.
If you're looking to join the party, here's where to go:
Suada Club; Istanbul, Turkey
Stars spotted: Olivier Martinez, Roberto Cavalli and Uma Thurman
Suada, off the shores of Turkey's Bosporus straight, is home to three restaurants and a nightclub. It attracts Istanbul's elite, who arrive by ferry or private yacht.
By day, the activity centers on Suada's Olympic-size swimming pool, which is surrounded by mattress-style loungers covered in white linen. By night, the space becomes a star-studded nightclub that features views of the Istanbul skyline, which spans two continents.
Wet Republic, Las Vegas
Stars spotted: Sean "Diddy" Combs, Carmen Electra, Lindsay Lohan
Year-old Wet Republic has become Sin City's prime pool for jetsetters looking for private cabanas and A-list celebrities. The adults-only club offers two saltwater pools, extravagant waterfalls and a lounge with a 60-foot marble bar. VIP bungalows and cabanas feature oversize daybeds with menu of Veuve Clicquot Champagne snowcones and Red Bull popsicles.
Le Club 55; St.-Tropez, France
Stars spotted: David and Victoria Beckham, Steve Spielberg and Mariah Carey
On an August day, the traffic to Club 55 is almost intolerable with bumper-to-bumper Bentleys and open-top Ferraris carrying platinum bombshells. On the day I was there, one blonde passenger decided it was best to hop out, take off her stilettos and run. It was Paris Hilton. She arrived to a thick forest of overgrown bamboo surrounding a beach bungalow with white canopies at this lavish beach club on the Mediterranean.
At Club 55, a wooden pier extends into the water, luring stars away from their mega-yachts. No matter how famous or well known, guests should expect to fight for prime lounge chairs, which can cost 100 euros in the high season to use. More modest types may prefer a simple lunch in the main dining room.
Marlin Ibiza, Spain http://www.bluemarlinibiza.com/
Stars spotted: Jade Jagger and Kate Moss
Blue Marlin is all about the beach. The late breakfast crowd arrives at 10 a.m. before making their way to rows of reservation-only sun loungers. Inside, a massive open-air lounge is furnished with leather sofas and armchairs that give a Soho-meets-Bali vibe.
Its restaurant shouldn't be overlooked, with its convenient and delicious menu of seafood. At night, the space comes to life as an open-air lounge and nightclub with DJs spinning funky tunes till 6 a.m. during the high season.
Phi Beach; Sardinia, Italy
Stars spotted: Flavio Briatore, Anne Hathaway and Cristiano Ronaldo
Phi Beach hit the Sardinia scene in 2005 and quickly became the hottest beach club on the island. The club's backdrop, an 18th-century naval fortress, couldn't be more idyllic. It's removed from the hustle of Porto Cervo, but still close enough to make it back for dinner at Cipriani.
By day, Phi Beach serves a lively club for the neighboring hotel as well as 20-something locals in search of lounge chairs that don't require a $1,500-a-night room. The restaurant is one of the best in the area, known for its light lunches and causal dinners of grilled seafood and Mediterranean dishes. By night, it's a dance club with DJs spinning beach grooves under the stars.
Every summer, a select few draw the biggest names and chicest crowds. In St. Tropez, motorized rafts and dinghies shuttle celebrities to the shore from their private yachts. In Ibiza, they arrive on the back of a Ducati motorcycle wearing sundresses that flap in the wind.
If you're looking to join the party, here's where to go:
Suada Club; Istanbul, Turkey
Stars spotted: Olivier Martinez, Roberto Cavalli and Uma Thurman
Suada, off the shores of Turkey's Bosporus straight, is home to three restaurants and a nightclub. It attracts Istanbul's elite, who arrive by ferry or private yacht.
By day, the activity centers on Suada's Olympic-size swimming pool, which is surrounded by mattress-style loungers covered in white linen. By night, the space becomes a star-studded nightclub that features views of the Istanbul skyline, which spans two continents.
Wet Republic, Las Vegas
Stars spotted: Sean "Diddy" Combs, Carmen Electra, Lindsay Lohan
Year-old Wet Republic has become Sin City's prime pool for jetsetters looking for private cabanas and A-list celebrities. The adults-only club offers two saltwater pools, extravagant waterfalls and a lounge with a 60-foot marble bar. VIP bungalows and cabanas feature oversize daybeds with menu of Veuve Clicquot Champagne snowcones and Red Bull popsicles.
Le Club 55; St.-Tropez, France
Stars spotted: David and Victoria Beckham, Steve Spielberg and Mariah Carey
On an August day, the traffic to Club 55 is almost intolerable with bumper-to-bumper Bentleys and open-top Ferraris carrying platinum bombshells. On the day I was there, one blonde passenger decided it was best to hop out, take off her stilettos and run. It was Paris Hilton. She arrived to a thick forest of overgrown bamboo surrounding a beach bungalow with white canopies at this lavish beach club on the Mediterranean.
At Club 55, a wooden pier extends into the water, luring stars away from their mega-yachts. No matter how famous or well known, guests should expect to fight for prime lounge chairs, which can cost 100 euros in the high season to use. More modest types may prefer a simple lunch in the main dining room.
Marlin Ibiza, Spain http://www.bluemarlinibiza.com/
Stars spotted: Jade Jagger and Kate Moss
Blue Marlin is all about the beach. The late breakfast crowd arrives at 10 a.m. before making their way to rows of reservation-only sun loungers. Inside, a massive open-air lounge is furnished with leather sofas and armchairs that give a Soho-meets-Bali vibe.
Its restaurant shouldn't be overlooked, with its convenient and delicious menu of seafood. At night, the space comes to life as an open-air lounge and nightclub with DJs spinning funky tunes till 6 a.m. during the high season.
Phi Beach; Sardinia, Italy
Stars spotted: Flavio Briatore, Anne Hathaway and Cristiano Ronaldo
Phi Beach hit the Sardinia scene in 2005 and quickly became the hottest beach club on the island. The club's backdrop, an 18th-century naval fortress, couldn't be more idyllic. It's removed from the hustle of Porto Cervo, but still close enough to make it back for dinner at Cipriani.
By day, Phi Beach serves a lively club for the neighboring hotel as well as 20-something locals in search of lounge chairs that don't require a $1,500-a-night room. The restaurant is one of the best in the area, known for its light lunches and causal dinners of grilled seafood and Mediterranean dishes. By night, it's a dance club with DJs spinning beach grooves under the stars.
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