Michael Martin
It's summertime on Europe's most-exclusive rivieras, which means the champagne is chilling, DJs are grooving and everybody is on their way to this year's hottest beach clubs.
There have been a few changes in the rules since you were last at the beach, like Nikki Beach giving up its longtime location in Sardinia, and Mallorca's Puro Beach spreading its flag to mainland Malaga. Here are our picks for where you should rent your lounger, flop your bag, and chill for summer's best European beach scene. Puro Beach -- Palma de Mallorca, Spain Club Tips: Guests arriving by sea can dock directly at Puro Beach and take advantage of its yacht services while using the restaurant or lounge. Perched atop a seaside peninsula with 180-degree views of the Bay of Palma, this beachside spinoff of the acclaimed Puro Hotel offers an all-day sanctuary for the spiritually evolved and fun-inclined. Guests begin arriving at dawn, as gentle meditation tunes pulsate through the sound system for those on hand for sunrise yoga, Tai-chi and spa treatments followed by a casual breakfast.
As the midday sun hits, DJs spin progressive house while guests soak up the rays on terrace sun beds while noshing on salads, fresh smoothies and fruit plates. The all-black pool deck is made of Balinese pebble stones, warning for sensitive toes, blending an Asian aesthetic into this decidedly Spanish social scene.
La Voile Rouge -- St Tropez, France
Club Tips: Try to speak at least a few words of French, and snag the loungers as close to the water as possible.
The birthplace of topless sunbathing, La Voile Rouge is a seaside sanctuary of French aristocracy. One of the most famous institutions of the 31 beach clubs along Pampelonne's Beach, La Voile Rouge is a dining, drinking and be-seen stretch of sand no more than 200-feet long yet famous worldwide.
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