Day beds and DJs: the Marbella beach-club scene, the back story

About Day beds and DJs: the Marbella beach-club scene, the back story

By the ULTIMATE Marbella Editorial Team

Marbella’s coast is lined with beach clubs, from glamorous party clubs to quiet chiringuitos.

A coast of beach clubs

Few places in Europe have made the beach club as much a part of daily life as Marbella. Along the coast from Puerto Banús to Elviria you find everything from the famous party clubs, where DJs play to a crowd on day beds, to simple chiringuitos where the fish comes straight off the grill.

Three kinds of club

It helps to know which kind you are walking into. Party clubs such as Nikki Beach and Ocean Club are about music, champagne and people-watching, and they get busy in the afternoon. Restaurant clubs, such as La Sala by the Sea or the clubs of the big hotels, put the long lunch first. And the traditional chiringuitos are casual, family-friendly and much simpler.

Pick your beach club the way you pick a restaurant: by the mood you want.

How booking works

In high summer the best day beds and front-row loungers are booked days ahead, and many clubs ask for a minimum spend rather than a fixed price for a bed. The rules change by season and by day, so ask when you book, and confirm whether children are welcome: some clubs are adults-only at certain times.

When to go

The season runs roughly from spring to autumn, peaking in July and August. Some clubs scale back or close in winter, while others stay open for sunny weekend lunches. Sunset is the moment many clubs come alive.

Our advice: decide first whether you want a party, a long lunch or a quiet beach, then book that one club early rather than trying several in one day. For a classic, simple day, a chiringuito with grilled sardines is hard to beat.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Day beds and DJs: the Marbella beach-club scene, the back story before you go.