Antibes is home to some fantastic beach clubs and some of the best on the French Riviera. They’re the ideal place to really relax on the beach in comfort and eat great local food. Wether you’re visiting for a day or spending t’s a must do for a chill day in the town.
If you’re deciding on visiting beach clubs in Saint Tropez, Cannes or Nice definitely consider Antibes. The population is much more relaxed and the prices are considerably more reasonable (€€) than those located their famous neighbouring towns.
My Favourite Beach Clubs in Antibes France
Antibes has a lot of beach clubs located around the old town and the Cap d’Antibes and the majority are in hotels but are accessible to non-guests. I’ve featured my favourite beach clubs in Antibes from experience. Note that you’ll have to reserve weeks in advance during July & August.
Plage Keller
Plage Keller is my favourite beach club in Antibes. Located about a 20 minute drive to the south of the old town, Plage Keller is on the Plage de la Garoupe and has incredible views over towards Nice and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
One of the largest beach clubs in Antibes, it’s closer to the experience you’d get in Saint Tropez or Cannes. It’s still very relaxed however and the prices are still relatively cheaper than other towns on the Riviera.
The beach has a large restaurant area and a few rows of sun loungers. They’ve also got a pontoon that extends quite far into the sea – perfect for those not wanting to get their feet sandy! The actual beach is lovely and is fully sandy. You can swim out quite far and they have a jellyfish net to protect you in the summer months.
The service is quick and attentive. Want your sunloungers or parasols moved? Nothing’s too much for the staff which really makes the price you pay worth it. The drinks are on the pricier side but that is the nature of beach clubs in the South of France.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner (I’d love to test it for dinner) and it’s fantastic. They do simple but well executed Mediterranean food. Locally caught fish is steamed to perfection and served with a Provençal sauce – delicious.
What to know before you visit
- €42 for beach subbed, €46 for first row and €48 for a sunbed on the pontoon
- You’ll need to reserve 1-2 weeks in advance during July and August
- You can reserve a table at the restaurant online but the beach is strictly phone only
- They have a valet parking service if you’re coming by car
Address: 1035 Chem. de la Garoupe, 06160 Antibes
Tel: 04 93 61 33 74
Website: https://www.plagekeller.com
Royal Beach
Royal Beach is the closest beach club in Antibes to the old town. It’s about a 15 minute walk away from the north of the Old Town and the Port Vauban.
Situated on the north side of the sandy Plage du Ponteil, the private beach club is part of the 4* Royal Antibes Hotel that’s close by.
The beach club has two sections; the beach (on the sand, of course) and the raised, pontoon next to the restaurant. It’s a very relaxed setting with no music or rowdy bar area. The sun loungers aren’t packed in (unlike many beach clubs on the Riviera) so you have a decent view around.
The beach service is decent although it can get a bit slow during peak summer when it’s full up. In my experience they’ve been attentive and quick off-season.
When you’re feeling hungry there’s a restaurant area that serves up simple Mediterranean food. It’s solid beach club food – I go for a cold beef tartare or the mussels.
What to know before you visit
- €30 for beach subbed, €35 for first row and €40 for a sun lounger on the pontoon
- You’ll need to reserve 1-2 weeks in advance during July and August
Address: 16 Bd Maréchal Leclerc, 06600 Antibes
Tel: 04 93 33 72 81
Website: https://www.hotel-royal-antibes.com/hotel-antibes-bord-de-mer/
Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel
The Cap d’Antibes beach club is part of the same luxury 5* hotel. The 70s inspired hotel is situated literally on the next to the water and with its contemporary aesthetic it’s a very pretty beach club. Open to the public you don’t have to be a hotel guest to spend at the day there. That said, in the busier, hotter months they will prioritise hotel guests.
Just like the hotel the sun loungers and parasols have a beautiful pastel pink colour (some call it the Barbie beach club!). It’s not the cheapest in the area but the service is good and there’s a lovely bar section behind the sun loungers.
The restaurant (Baba) is open for lunch from midday to 4pm and serves up Levantine inspired cuisine. It’s very good and whilst it is on the pricier side (€25 entrees) the cooking is spot on. I’d also great to see something more original on the menus.
What to know before you visit
- €40 for beach subbed, €45 for first row
- You’ll need to reserve 1-2 weeks in advance during July and August
- You need to call to reserve
Address: 10 Bd Maréchal Juin, 06160 Antibes
Tel: 04 92 93 13 30
Website: https://capdantibes-beachhotel.com
Plage des Pirates
The Plage des Pirates is not technically in Antibes but in the nearby town of Juan-Les-Pins. This huge beach club is great fun and is only a 10 minute drive from the Old Town or 1 stop on the local TER train.
With over 150 sun-loungers it’s probably the biggest beach club I’ve been to (including Ibiza’s beach clubs!). Despite the size the service is spot on and is one of the best in Juan-Les-Pins.
There are 2 pontoons that extend out into the sea and 4 rows of sun loungers in the main beach section. The sun loungers are wooden which for me is a big plus – no cheap plastic loungers here!
The restaurant area is equally as big as the beach and even though the kitchen pumps out a lot of food, it’s still very well done. The menu is mainly Italian themed with some French classics peppered around. It’s simple but good – I generally go for a nice cold steak tartare with fries.
What to know before you visit
- €40-50 for a subbed – prices change with the season
- You’ll need to reserve 3-4 weeks in advance during July and August
- You need to call to reserve
Address: 23 Bd Edouard Baudoin, 06160 Antibes
Tel: 04 93 61 00 41
Website: https://www.plage-les-pirates.fr/en/
