Photo: Nikki Beach Saint Barth via Google
The verdict
- Best forAnyone who wants the honest read on where to lunch, lounge and book a sun bed in St Barths, from a glamorous Saint Jean party to a calm Greek lunch on the shells.
- Single best spotNikki Beach on Saint Jean for the scene, Shellona on Shell Beach for an easy lunch and swim.
- One thing to knowThis is a small, glamorous island where the famous clubs cluster on Saint Jean and at Shell Beach by Gustavia, so booking ahead in the December to April high season is essential.
Club listings checked against our editorial standards by Morten Andersen
Published 22 April 2026. Last reviewed 10 May 2026
St Barths wears its glamour lightly, and its beach club scene is the easiest part of the island to plan. The headline names cluster on two spots a short drive apart, the long sand of Saint Jean below the airport approach, and Shell Beach on the edge of Gustavia harbour. You come for a long lunch and a sun bed, with the bill landing through what you eat and drink and a lounger rate rather than a gated entry.
Saint Jean is the busy heart, where Nikki Beach brings the music and Champagne, La Plage at Tom Beach runs from breakfast to a sunset DJ, and Gyp Sea handles the boho grill end with water sports off the sand. Shell Beach, walkable from town, is home to Shellona and its Greek leaning kitchen, and out on the wild south east coast Le Toiny offers a secluded, exclusive day for those who want quiet over scene.
It is worth being upfront about money and timing. St Barths is expensive and the high season from December to April is busy, with the best sun beds and lunch tables booked well ahead. Rates and any minimum vary and are rarely published, so we list them as to be confirmed, and most clubs are an easy drive from Gustavia, with Shellona the one you can reach on foot.
How much a day bed costs in St Barths
Day beds and any minimum spend are priced per venue and climb in peak season, so we list each figure as to be confirmed and suggest you ask when you book.
| Club | Day bed price | Minimum spend |
|---|---|---|
| Nikki Beach | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
| La Plage | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
| Shellona | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
| Gyp Sea | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
| Le Toiny Beach Club | To be confirmed | To be confirmed |
Every club, sorted
Beach clubs from a glamorous Saint Jean party to a secluded south coast retreat.
| Venue | Beach | Vibe | Minimum spend | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nikki Beach | Saint Jean | Glamorous music and Champagne | To be confirmed | On Saint Jean beach since 2002, white sun beds, music and Champagne brunches through the afternoon, reserve a bed in the high season, a short drive from Gustavia |
| La Plage | Saint Jean, Tom Beach Hotel | All day beach club | To be confirmed | On the Saint Jean sand at Tom Beach Hotel, breakfast to a leisurely lunch to a sunset DJ session, reserve for lunch and sunset in season |
| Shellona | Shell Beach, Gustavia | Greek Mediterranean on the shells | To be confirmed | On Shell Beach within Gustavia, a Greek leaning kitchen and DJ sets to sunset, the easiest to reach on foot from town, book ahead for lunch |
| Gyp Sea | Saint Jean, east end | Boho grill and raw bar | To be confirmed | At the far east end of Saint Jean with a pool, loungers, a grill and a raw bar added in 2024, plus water sports off the beach, reserve a lounger in season |
| Le Toiny Beach Club | Anse de Toiny | Secluded exclusive retreat | To be confirmed | A secluded beach club at the remote Anse de Toiny, quiet and exclusive for lunch and dinner, reached by the Toiny road on the wild south east coast |
When the clubs are best in St Barths
The clubs run through the season, and the island is at its best in the dry, sunny high season from December to April, when the weather is reliable, the crowd is at its glossiest and the famous New Year weeks turn Saint Jean into a scene. That is also the busiest and priciest stretch, so the best sun beds and lunch tables go to those who book well ahead. The quieter months from May into autumn bring softer prices and a calmer island, with the Atlantic hurricane season running summer into autumn, when some venues scale back. Whenever you go, the trade wind keeps the heat pleasant, conditions are typical rather than guaranteed, and the sea is for easy swimming on the calmer beaches.
Getting a day bed, the honest way
The practical approach is to choose by the day you want, then book early, because tables and beds at the famous clubs go fast in season. For the scene head to Nikki Beach or La Plage on Saint Jean, for an easy lunch and a swim walk to Shellona on Shell Beach, and for quiet seek out Le Toiny on the south east coast. Most clubs are a short drive from Gustavia, and Shellona is the one you can reach on foot from town.
Tell us your dates, party size and the mood you are after, lively or low key, and we will pass your enquiry on so the club can confirm availability and any minimum spend. Some bookings may earn us a commission at no cost to you, and all conditions are typical rather than guaranteed.
Book a beach club in St Barths
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Before you go
Does St Barths have beach clubs?
Yes, and they are the easiest part of the island to plan. The famous names cluster on Saint Jean beach, with Nikki Beach, La Plage and Gyp Sea, and at Shell Beach by Gustavia, home to Shellona, with the secluded Le Toiny out on the south east coast. You come for a long lunch and a sun bed rather than a gated club entry.
How much does a beach club in St Barths cost?
St Barths is an expensive island, and rates and any minimum vary by club and season and are rarely published, so we list spend as to be confirmed. You typically pay for what you eat and drink plus a sun bed or lounger rate, so confirm the current terms directly when you book, especially in the December to April high season.
Which is the best beach club in St Barths?
It depends on the mood. Nikki Beach on Saint Jean is the glamorous music and Champagne address, La Plage runs all day to a sunset DJ, Shellona on Shell Beach is the easy Greek lunch and swim, and Le Toiny is the quiet, exclusive escape. Tell us your vibe and we will match you to the right one.
Do you need to book a beach club in St Barths?
In the December to April high season, absolutely. The best sun beds and lunch tables at the famous clubs book up well ahead, especially around the New Year weeks, so reserve early. In the quieter months you have more flexibility, but a lunch booking is still wise at the headline names on Saint Jean.
How do you get to the St Barths beach clubs?
Most are a short drive from Gustavia, the main town and harbour, so a hire car or a taxi is the simplest way in. Shellona on Shell Beach is walkable from town, the Saint Jean clubs are a few minutes by road, and Le Toiny is a longer drive out to the wild south east coast.
Are St Barths beach clubs good for families?
Some are. Saint Jean is a calm, shallow beach that suits a family day, and the clubs serve full lunch menus by day before any evening scene builds, so going earlier works well. Shell Beach is also gentle and walkable from town. The glossier party sessions are less suited to young children, so choosing the calmer daytime hours is the smoothest approach.