Condé Nast Traveler interviewed Romée de Gorïanoff, co-owner of Experimental Beach in Ibiza (amongst other places), for his favorite beach bars/clubs. His picks span from Long Island to Greece, the first two are included below and the full list of top 5 with detailed descriptions of each can be found here.
Juan Y Andrea – Formentera, Spain – Thanks to its breezy boho affect, it’s easy to overlook the jagged island to Ibiza’s south—at least until you take a glimpse at the waters in front of this restaurant. In high season, they’re more like a superyacht car park; expect to see the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Naomi Campbell picking their way down the gangplank to the beach club. “You can’t access it by car, and it’s on one of the most beautiful beaches in Formentera,” says de Gorïanoff. “It feels like you’re in the Caribbean.” The shack-like joint on the island’s northern coast opened in 1972 when Juan, a fisherman, fell in love with Formentera-born Andrea; the newlyweds opened a casual restaurant that quickly became a must-visit, and is now run by their three sons and a team of barefoot waiters who crisscross the sands. Linger over a lunch of caldereta de langosta or fideuà (a noodle-heavy version of paella).
Sunset Beach – Shelter Island, New York – Unsurprisingly, this Frenchified hotel and beach club by André Balazs is one of de Gorïanoff’s favorites. ”It really does bring a sense of St. Tropez to the East Coast—so effortless cool,” he raves. “This isn’t just about the stunning setting, but the crowd he always manages to attract.” Out on the far tip of Long Island’s East End, Balazs rehabbed an unloved old motel, making it more a love letter to the Cote d’Azur of the 1960s with his typical time-warping touch.
Half-close your eyes on its patio restaurant on a bustling summer weekend, and it’s easy to imagine Brigitte Bardot sauntering down the beach, glass of wine in hand—just make sure that wine is the house rosé, André Balazs Reserve, made specially by the hotelier. For maximum impact, de Gorïanoff recommends arriving via StndAir; the charter makes the trip from Manhattan a 45-minute, traffic-free breeze and lands in the shallow waters by the beach.
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