The Ultimate Beach Bars
A close-up of sun, sand and the ultimate party.
June 7, 2007 Special to ABCNEWS.com — -- There's more to a great surfside bar than high-octane punch and Coppertone-covered clientèle.
"Ambience is first when it comes to throwing a top-notch beach party," said Michael Penrod, president of Nikki Beach clubs and resorts, with locations in Miami, Sardinia and Marbella, Spain, among others. "Great products and great service are also important. When you have those three, you can't be beat."
Check out photos of the top spots.
At Nikki Beach Bar in Miami, guests sip Moleca Caipirinhas (Moleca Gold Cachaça, lime and sugar) on natural wood and linen banquettes that pepper the shoreline. In the evening, a dance floor is laid out and international DJs serve up house beats.
Throw pretty people into the mix and it's a party nonpareil. To ensure exclusivity, many venues rely on the velvet rope. The door policy at Nikki Beach, for example, is strict; bouncers adhere to a guest list and weed out hangers-on. Not on the list? It's best to arrive with no more than two other people, wearing proper attire (trendy but not trashy).
Though the emphasis is undoubtedly on partying with the posh, not all beach bars are just about boozing.
Beachside Betting
Sensational Swimming Pools
Gourmet Getaways
Mickey's Bistro and Bar at the Elbow Beach Hotel in Bermuda not only offers Caribbean cocktails like the Bermuda Rose (vodka, apricot brandy and grenadine) and the Gombey Smash (Bacardi Gold, Malibu, Crème de Banane and pineapple juice), but their chicken salad, made with mango, avocado and curry sauce, is said to be popular among locals. The open-air deck is right on the sand, so you can easily kick off your heels for an after-dinner stroll along the shore.
Hedonistic, sure. But what else do you expect from sun spots such as these?