Beach clubs are more than sun-soaked lounging—they blend leisure, luxury, music, and escapism, a formula born on Florida’s shoreline and famously pioneered by Fort Lauderdale’s Penrod’s Beach Club.
Launched in the early 1970s by entrepreneur Jack Penrod—a former McDonald’s line cook who became a hospitality heavyweight—Penrod’s transformed a prime stretch of Atlantic sand into a high-voltage playground, proving that a beach day could be choreographed like a lifestyle event: crowds, cocktails, sound, and an atmosphere designed to keep spring-break energy humming from daylight into night.
Opening its doors amid the disco era, Penrod’s quickly became legendary for blending casual beach access with elevated amenities. Picture this: miles of white sand lined with shaded cabanas, tiki bars slinging piña coladas, and live bands pumping rock and funk under palm-thatched roofs. It wasn’t just a bar on the beach; it was a full-spectrum playground with volleyball courts, beachside dining featuring fresh seafood platters, and nightly parties that drew thousands. By the late 1970s, Penrod’s had expanded to multiple Florida locations, including Daytona Beach, cementing its status as the go-to spring break destination.
What made Penrod’s revolutionary? It democratized luxury. Prior beachside spots were stuffy private clubs like New Jersey’s Monmouth Beach Club (est. 1910), focused on genteel bathing and socialites. Penrod’s flipped the script: open to the public, affordable entry (often free before peak hours), yet buzzing with spectacle—think wet T-shirt contests, foam parties, and celebrity DJs before “DJ” was a household term. Jack’s marketing genius shone through aggressive promotions: bus tours from colleges nationwide, radio tie-ins, and even man-made ski jumps on the sand during Miami expansions. By 1986, Penrod’s on Miami’s Ocean Drive—secured via a mayoral plea and $4 million investment—revitalized a crime-ridden South Beach, turning boarded-up flops into a neon-lit hotspot that predated Versace’s mansion fame.
The club’s vibe was pure Florida energy: salty air mingling with grilled mahi-mahi, waves crashing as crowds danced barefoot. Food was hearty and beachy—conch fritters, burgers, and tropical salads—while “pools” were more natural tide pools than infinity edges, emphasizing raw fun over opulence. Music evolved from live covers to early electronic sets, with special events like toga parties and volleyball tournaments packing 10,000 revelers. Penrod’s thrived through the 1980s, influencing global copycats, but economic shifts and Jack’s personal tragedies led to its gradual fade by the 1990s. Yet, its DNA—day-to-night transitions, music-driven crowds, and beachfront hedonism—lives on.
Penrod’s didn’t vanish; it evolved through Jack Penrod’s next chapter: Nikki Beach, born from profound loss and launched in 1998 on Miami Beach. After the tragic death of his daughter Nicole in 1997, Jack transformed the original Penrod’s site into Café Nikki—a soft-hued garden oasis with white sunbeds and flowing fabrics, designed as a “tribute to life.” Expanding beachside in 1998 with co-founder Lucia Penrod (Jack’s wife), Nikki Beach crystallized the luxury beach club blueprint: music, dining, entertainment, fashion, film, and art woven into barefoot elegance.
Nikki Beach elevated Penrod’s rowdy charm to polished glamour. Miami’s flagship boasted panoramic Atlantic views, an infinity pool overlooking the surf, and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine like lobster risottos and caviar blinis—far beyond conch fritters. Pools became central: swim-up bars and VIP pods for bottle service. Fun retained the party pulse with white parties and fashion shows, but music curated global DJs spinning Balearic house. Special events, like New Year’s fireworks and film festival pop-ups, attracted A-listers from Leonardo DiCaprio up.
The brand exploded globally: St. Tropez (2000s), Ibiza, Marbella, and by 2010, Asia outposts including Koh Samui. Nikki Beach Hospitality Group now spans beach clubs, hotels, and lifestyle arms in 10+ countries. And because Nikki is a global language—spoken fluently everywhere the beautiful people migrate when the calendar turns—it doesn’t feel like a venue so much as a passport stamp. After a cozy Christmas in Aspen, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos swapped snowy peaks for the tropical warmth and bright blue skies of St. Barthélemy, where they were spotted at the legendary Nikki Beach St. Barth during a high-energy day party leading into New Year 2026.
Thailand’s beach club scene in 2026 reaches new heights of sophistication, with five elite venues standing out for their masterful blend of breathtaking views, innovative cuisine, luxurious pools, high-energy fun, curated music, and marquee events. These top picks—Catch Beach Club, Café Del Mar, RAVA Beach Club, Nikki Beach Koh Samui, and YONA Beach Club—aren’t just spots to sip cocktails; they’re immersive escapes that define tropical hedonism, drawing A-listers and influencers who demand perfection.
Catch Beach Club: Bang Tao’s Golden Standard
Perched on Phuket’s Bang Tao Beach, Catch delivers postcard-perfect 180° Andaman Sea views where turquoise waves crash against powdery sands, framed by swaying palms and distant limestone karsts—ideal for Instagram sunsets that go viral nightly. Its infinity-edge pool seems to merge seamlessly with the horizon, offering swim-up bars and daybeds that feel suspended over paradise.
Food elevates beach fare to art: think towering seafood platters with Phuket lobster, Wagyu beef sliders infused with Thai basil, and vegan poke bowls using local superfoods—all sourced daily for freshness. Pools dominate with a massive main lagoon plus kids’ splash zones, ensuring family fun transitions to adult cabanas by dusk.
Fun amps up with foam parties and beach volleyball, but music steals the show—resident DJs spin deep house and tropical beats from 4pm, peaking at fire shows that light the sky.
Café Del Mar: Kamala’s Ibiza Import
Beachfront at Kamala’s northern end, Phuket, Café Del Mar commands panoramic Andaman vistas stretching to the horizon, where fiery sunsets ignite over the waves—a chic perch channeling Thailand’s most irresistible Ibiza energy. Its large infinity-style pool fronts the sand, with swim-up DJ booths fostering a playful vibe amid neon-lit loungers and VIP seclusion.
Culinary highlights channel Mediterranean flair: grilled octopus carpaccio, truffle-infused paella, and sunset spritzes with edible flowers, paired with vegan Mediterranean twists that nod to wellness trends.
Fun flows from daybed relays to glow-in-the-dark parties, fueled by world-class residencies—think Black Coffee-style deep house and Balearic beats thumping till midnight. Signature events include weekly foam cannons, Ladies’ Nights with free bubbly, and high-season Ibiza Nights featuring flown-in DJs, cementing its party throne.
RAVA Beach Club: Bang Tao’s Sprawling Spectacle
Claiming Phuket’s longest 150m beachfront on Bang Tao, RAVA offers unobstructed sea views across zoned infinity pools that tier down to the sand, with lush jungle backdrops amplifying the escapist feel. Three interconnected pools—family-friendly shallows to adults-only depths—provide endless aquatic playgrounds with underwater speakers for immersive vibes.
Chef Joshua Gray’s Master Grill wows with fire-roasted local prawns, dry-aged steaks, and herb-crusted octopus, blending Thai spices with global techniques; gluten-free and plant-based menus cater to all. Fun thrives in “Young & Fun” zones with inflatables and cocktail relays, escalating to Prestige Lounge’s champagne sabering.
Music zones deliver tailored bliss: chill lounge by day, international deep house by night from DJs like those from Tomorrowland lineups. Events shine with Art & Wine afternoons, Full Moon Fire Festivals, and Valentine’s cabana takeovers, drawing crowds for their production scale (reservations essential).
Nikki Beach: Koh Samui’s Glamorous Haven
On Koh Samui’s Lipa Noi Beach, Nikki Beach boasts sweeping sunset bay views across the Gulf of Thailand, framed by coconut groves and calm waters—perfect for relaxed celebrity escapes. Its expansive infinity pool overlooks the Gulf of Thailand, with VIP pods floating like private islands.
Food is pure indulgence: champagne brunches with Beluga caviar blinis, lobster thermidor, and Samui mango ceviche, plus health-focused acai bowls. Pools pulse with central DJ stages and swim-up tiki bars, blending relaxation with revelry.
Fun peaks at white parties with feather boas and body paint, while music fuses lounge jazz into EDM drops from global talents. Iconic events—New Year’s beach fireworks, weekly White Parties, and fashion shows with Thai designers—elevate it to jet-set status.
YONA Beach Club: Patong’s Floating Marvel
Uniquely moored offshore in Patong Bay, YONA’s 360° sea views encircle guests in open-water magic, with Patong’s skyline twinkling at dusk over endless horizons—accessed by speedboat for pure thrill. Its expansive floating deck lets you lounge above marine life, doubling as a sunset dance haven.
Brunch stars poke bowls with fresh ahi tuna, peri-peri prawns, and guava mocktails, emphasizing sustainable catches. The setup hosts aqua games and movie nights under sails, injecting whimsy into the waves.
Fun includes boat-party jumps and synchronized swims, synced to pop-house anthems from resident DJs. Special Sunday Sessions with live sax and drone light shows, plus speedboat sunset cruises, make it a novelty standout.
Penrod’s sparked a revolution: from Fort Lauderdale’s wild sands to Thailand’s polished paradises, beach clubs have globalized joy. Today, sustainability—reef-safe menus, eco-pools—honors evolving tastes, while VR events hint at tomorrow. Penrod’s spirit endures, proving one man’s vision can redefine leisure worldwide.