Because not all sun loungers are created equal.
As the height of summer gradually begins to dip, the true connoisseurs of warm-weather travel step forward. August and early September offer a sweet spot for those in search of sun-drenched indulgence without the bustle; fewer queues, easier table reservations, and beach club teams with just that little bit more time to perfect the details. It's luxury travel's best-kept secret: late summer means better service, not second-best.
And when it comes to the beach clubs still buzzing in all the right ways, we’ve curated the definitive list. From hidden sanctuaries along the Adriatic to barefoot elegance on the Côte d’Azur, these are the top spots where you can still claim the best seat in the house (or cabana).
Club Dauphin, Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Vibe: Old money elegance with a contemporary twist
Best for: Poolside posing, Med-side martinis, Dior resort-wear sightings
Accessed via a glass funicular that glides down a cliffside, Club Dauphin is Riviera leisure at its most iconic. Late summer here is a masterclass in slow luxury; fewer Insta-snappers, more serenity. Float in the heated infinity pool, order another martini, and let the setting do the rest.
Winged Boots difference: Pair with a suite at the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, for the full Slim Aarons fantasy. We’ll handle the details.
Scorpios, Mykonos
Vibe: Bohemian bliss meets party playground
Best for: Sunset rituals, sound bath sessions, and dancing on the sand
Still reigning supreme over summer shenanigans, Scorpios is more than a beach club: it’s a whole vibe. Expect mezze platters the size of your sunliunger and lunches that drift into moonlit rituals, with art collectives and DJ residencies still going strong through early September. You might even get a better view of the fire dancers, without jostling for space.
Winged Boots difference: We’ll reserve a prime cabana, sync your visit with a signature sunset set, and ensure the bottles are on ice ahead of your arrival.
Casa Jondal, Ibiza
Vibe: Farmhouse-cool meets precision gastronomy
Best for: Culinary credentials and understated star power
By late August, the Ibiza crowds begin to thin, and Casa Jondal truly shines. It’s relaxed, refined, and all about the detail – think linen-covered tables, just-caught langoustines, and service that somehow knows what you want before you do; all sound-tracked by clinking glasses and murmured Spanish. New for 2025: a private pool terrace for long, lazy lunches with your feet in the water.
Winged Boots difference: Arrive by yacht and dine under the pergola. We’ll sort the mooring, transfers, and rosé.
La Réserve à la Plage, St. Tropez
Vibe: Retro Riviera reimagined
Best for: Subtle glamour, barefoot afternoons, and under-the-radar indulgence
As high season winds down, La Réserve’s brand of chic minimalism takes centre stage. Philippe Starck’s elegant design sets the tone for long lunches, white sand strolls, and seafood platters you’ll be thinking about all winter. The vibe is quiet confidence, so no velvet ropes are needed.
Winged Boots difference: Bookend your daybed with a suite at La Réserve Ramatuelle and enjoy chauffeur-driven access to the beach.
Laganini, Palmizana (near Hvar), Croatia
Vibe: Rustic-chic meets Adriatic cool
Best for: Barefoot luxury, seafood lovers, and off-radar escapism
Set on a tiny pine-covered islet just off Hvar, Laganini is where in-the-know travellers go to drop anchor (both literally and figuratively). Think driftwood cabanas, shaded terraces, and seafood so fresh it hardly needs seasoning. By late August, the energy softens as laid-back house music wafts through salty air and velveteen waves caress the pebble shoreline. It’s less scene, more sanctuary – with style.
Winged Boots difference: Arrive by private boat from Hvar Town, and we’ll have your daybed, wine, and table at the water’s edge ready and waiting.
Beachouse Ibiza, Playa d’en Bossa, Ibiza
Vibe: Mediterranean minimalism meets barefoot bohemia
Best for: Wellness-minded travellers, creative souls, and those seeking stylish simplicity with substance
A decade-old Ibiza favourite nestled along Playa d’en Bossa’s sunlit dunes, Beachouse is a sanctuary of sun-warmed wood, thatched parasols, and crystal-clear Aegean views. By late summer, the energy softens: lazy breakfasts, yoga on the beach, and drifting into sunset feasts under lantern light, all accompanied by soulful moonlit dinners reminiscent of the old days on the White Isle. There's even a great offering for little beach bums with kids' yoga, crafts, face-painting, and games daily.
Winged Boots difference: We’ll secure your front-row daybed, book a table timed to sunset, and arrange seamless transfers, ensuring your Beachouse experience feels as effortless as the setting itself.
Sublime Comporta Beach Club, Carvalhal, Portugal
Vibe: Rustic-chic meets wild Atlantic theatre
Best for: Gourmet beach dining, cinematic sunsets, and design that lets nature do the talking
Flanked by windswept dunes and fragrant pine forest, Sublime Comporta Beach Club feels like a secret outpost at the edge of the world. Plates of octopus and tiger prawns arrive grilled to perfection, accompanied by Portuguese wines and a soundtrack of sea spray and stillness. In August and well into September, the light turns golden, and every meal feels like a scene from a sun-drenched film.
Winged Boots difference: We’ll reserve a front-row table timed to the tide, arrange post-lunch spa access back at the hotel, and ensure your Vinho Verde arrives before the starters do.
Nikki Beach, Ibiza
Vibe: White‑linen glamour meets island party pulse
Best for: Chic shows by the sea, DJ-backed brunches, and seriously-stylish downtime
Perched on the sands of Playa d’en Bossa, Nikki Beach is pure Ibiza in late summer: relaxed but elevated, sexy but easygoing. Bumping Balearic beats, rosé towers, and sprawling daybeds set the stage. With the crowds thinning in August-September, the rhythm stays electric (minus the jostling that the earlier part of the season can bring).
Winged Boots difference: From pre-selecting your magnum to timing your arrival between DJ sets and sushi platters, we’ll choreograph your Nikki moment to feel entirely off-the-cuff, but perfectly executed.
Beach Club Hvar, Croatia
Vibe: Heritage glamour meets modern, design-led edge
Best for: Glamorous day-to-night lounging, vintage-meets-contemporary style, and swim-up sophistication
Set beneath the arches of a 1920s white-pillared colonnade, Beach Club Hvar is where yachters, flavour-seekers, and island-hoppers pause to sip, swim, and be seen. The scene is golden hour rosé and chilled Adriatic elegance, all with a Champagne bar backdrop and cinematic views across the Pakleni Islands. By late summer, the tempo eases just enough to make it feel like your own private Riviera.
Winged Boots difference: From yacht-to-lounger transfers and a pre-stocked cabana to spa appointments set for post-sunset cool down, we’ll have every ripple smoothed before you even dock.
Zuma Beach House, Mykonos
Best for: Elevated beach dining, design-forward lounging, and golden-hour grazing
Tiered into the cliffs above the Aegean, Zuma Beach House is where precision meets panorama. Clean lines, infinity pools and low-key luxury set the scene, while robata platters and signature cocktails arrive with sunset as the main event. Later in the season, the tempo mellows, the guestlist refines, and there’s space to savour every detail; from sashimi to skyline.
Winged Boots difference: We’ll reserve a VIP table with poolside or sea views and arrange bespoke bottle service timed to sunset, so your evening flows as if choreographed.
The Winged Boots Verdict
Late summer is when the magic happens; warm seas, golden evenings, and just enough breathing space to enjoy it all without rushing. Whether you’re after beachside fine dining in Ibiza, iconic cliffside pools in France, or an off-the-track hangout near Hvar, our team of travel experts is here to tailor it to perfection.
Let's plan your beach club break
Speak to your Winged Boots Travel Manager now by calling us on 0203 816 0985 or submitting an online enquiry. The best seat in the sun is still within reach.
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