El Silencio, Ibiza
El Silencio Ibiza is the beach-based outpost of the David Lynch-designed Paris nightclub of the same name, and it’s every bit as cool as the original. Mallorcan architects Moredesign created the weathered wood interior, which works perfectly on Cala Moli, a lovely little beach on the south-west coast of the island. In the kitchen, Argentinian chef Mauro Colagreco flame grills whopping great hunks to tremendous effect, and the bar is the brainchild of French-Irish cocktail master Remy Savage. The sprightly dancefloor is enlivened by a huge plush octopus and a giant pink foot, and there are parties around the pool at night. Head there on weekend mornings for sound baths and cacao ceremonies.
Aiyanna, Ibiza
The giant Guatemalan parasols flap prettily in the breeze at English DJ-turned-restaurateur Dave Piccioni’s beach club on Cala Nova, just north of Santa Eularia on Ibiza’s east coast. It’s more laid back than sister venue Amante, and the aesthetic has a kind of barefoot charm to it with its driftwood chandeliers and weathered wicker. The food is exceptional – za’atar-spiced chicken grilled in the jasper oven, Peruvian-style seabass – and lit up at night it’s a joyous colourful place (be sure to order the club’s signature off-menu cocktail made from Mezcal Amores, ginger beer, raspberry and chilli).
10.7, Formentera
Like all the best places in Formentera, you have to trundle down a curious little road to get to this insider-y, off-the-beaten-track beach club that sits in splendid isolation on gorgeous Playa Migjorn. The décor is classy without being showy – white-washed wood, director’s chairs, rattan furniture on the roof – and the food is a mix of beautifully cooked Mediterranean classics and decadent sushi platters. The rooftop bar might just be the island’s best spot for sundowners.
Scorpios, Mykonos
Designed by leader-of-the-pack studio Lambs and Lions in Berlin, Scorpios has changed the game for beach clubs, reimagining the space as a kind of hedonistic boho travelling camp, all muted colours and leather cushions, driftwood and frolicking lovelies. It’s now much-imitated the world over but the original, which sits proudly on a rocky outcrop near Paradise Beach in Mykonos, is still the best.
Yazz Collective, Fethiye
There’s no road access to the Yazz Collective, so you need to either moor up yourself or book a ride on their nippy little speedboat to gain entry to this glorious beach club with rooms, set in a private cove on the Turkish coast just south of Fethiye. All lushly planted gardens and tranquil Aegean waters, it’s a laid-back place during the week, with food by rising star Mustafa Otar, who uses his traditional Turkish oven to turn super-local ingredients into things of wonder: dry-aged tuna steaks and hummus topped with fermented pomegranate molasses. At the weekend, the place fills with Istanbul’s it-crowd throwing back fiery chilli margaritas and whooping it up.
Nammos, Mykonos
With its 20th birthday not far off, Nammos is something of a grand dame of the Mykonos beach club scene and it’s still got all the trappings you’d expect of a well-established front runner: great location on pretty Psarou beach, superb service and a star-studded clientele. The excellent seafood is sourced daily by their man-in-a-boat, and the cuts of beef are kept in specially designed glass-fronted dry-aging cabinets. The tranquil blue and white colour scheme has a preppy nautical feel that perfectly suits the vibe of the island.
David Annand has lived in Hackney for 20 years and is slowly coming to the realisation that he will never move to the countryÂ
