Chic Beach Hotels

From barefoot, back-to-nature experiences to family bucket-and-spade weekends, there are endless ways to get your beach hit. But there’s something to be said for the old-school charm of a luxurious Riviera stay.

Made fashionable by the likes of Coco Chanel during the Twenties, holidaying on the coast has long been associated with glamour – think St Tropez, Biarritz and San Remo. After an afternoon lounging on the sand in beach attire, retreating to the cool lobby of a chic hotel for cocktail hour nicely rounds off the day in our opinion.

Now the grand coastal hotel is having a revival, with a number of new luxe hot spots opening on stretches of stunning coastline across the globe. After putting Miami on the map with his Delano hotel 20 years ago, Ian Schrager’s latest offering on South Beach, The Edition, oozes the designer’s signature opulence. For über-chic, understated luxury, the Mandarin Oriental Bodrum is helping to turn the picturesque Turkish peninsular into a modern-day French Riviera. Finally, The Marly at Cape Town’s Camps Bay has a quirky yet elegant take on glam, where you can survey all the action from its eateries on the fabulous beach promenade.

Sun, sea, sand and serious style – wish you were here?

MANDARIN ORIENTAL

BODRUM, TURKEY

The lowdownAn ultra-luxe resort with a barefoot, relaxed vibe.

Best for A stylish escape for grown-ups, an adventure-filled treat for kids.

The arrival of the MO in an idyllic Bodrum cove has caused rather a stir in this chic holiday spot and Livingetc can quite see why. Maybe it’s the huge suites (designed by Antonio Citterio and decked out with the best of Flexform and Porada), which manage to feel fresh in the day yet transform into cosy retreats at the slide of wooden panels at night.

Or perhaps it’s the buzz of the ultra-hip JuJu Bar, built on a deck overlooking the Med. Maybe it’s the romance of the rustic-luxe Olive Garden restaurant, where tables sit in the sand under trees festooned with fairy lights. Whatever the pull, the service is first class (fresh, nut-free croissant for the little one? Not a problem!). From secluded spa cabanas built into the cliffs to a kids’-only dining room furnished with mini Panton chairs, your wish is their command…

Book it Doubles from £489, room only.

MIAMI BEACH EDITION

SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI, FLORIDA, USA

The lowdown An Art Deco gem revamped for the cool crowd.

Best for Chilling on the beach with a spot of socialising on the side.

Not just a beach resort, but a key hub for creative industries worldwide, Miami’s unique vibe is as much down to the movers and shakers that frequent it as its Florida location. Fashionable and vibrant, South Beach is the place to be – and at its epicentre is Miami Beach Edition.

Created in partnership with hotelier Ian Schrager, the social spaces exude Fifties glamour – check out the marble-floored Lobby Bar, with its gold columns and potted palms, and the Market at Edition restaurant, which channels the laid-back grandeur of Barcelona’s food market.

The rooms, suites and bungalows are oases of tranquillity – think calm neutral schemes with light-oak panelled walls, rainforest showers and Le Labo beauty products. Just what you need after rubbing shoulders with all those early adopters and influential types downstairs.

Book it Doubles from approx £284.

THE MARLY

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

 

The lowdown Hollywood glamour in the heart of Camps Bay.

Best for Jaw-dropping scenery and activities aplenty.

Fifteen minutes from Cape Town’s centre, the chic suburb of Camps Bay lies between the Atlantic coastline and the foot of the Twelve Apostles mountain range. The Marly makes the most of this spectacular location with its 11 suites, either surveying the ocean or the magnificent mountains behind.

Spacious and airy, the suites are decorated in a palette of glamorous whites punctuated with black-and-white photography, whereas the public spaces are more playful, with trompe l’oeil wallpaper and Seletti objets dotted around.

Despite its boutique size, The Marly has an impressive three dining options (as well as a bakery café) that line the beach front, drawing in locals and passers-by: Umi for Japanese; Paranga for locally sourced seafood and steak; and Zenzero for Italian cuisine. If you’re hungry for adventure, take the Table Mountain cableway for seriously Instagramable panoramic views, or chill out at the gorgeous botanical gardens at Kirstenbosch.

Book it Doubles from approx £155.