Just a mere utter of the name Nikki Beach is enough to conjure up an image where beautiful glitterati crowds are congregating around cabanas, sipping their way through colossal magnums of ice-cold Perrier Jouet and Cristal as the DJ gets the pool party to a high voltage mode, with pulse-pounding mashups.
A tragic yet beautifully heart-warming story, it was power couple Jack and Lucia Penrod introducing the world to the glamorous, first of its kind luxury beach club notion as a tribute to Jack’s daughter Nicole, who at just 18-years old, lost her life in a car accident.
Resolute in keeping her spirit sparkling, Jack worked his magic at Penrod’s Beach Club in Miami, creating a paradisal garden and pool sanctuary embellished with fluttering, radiant butterflies, birds, and blossoming flowers. What started off as a peaceful eatery hideaway, had transfigured into the hottest destination for the town’s soirée stunners. With the addition of some hip-swaying melodies, epicurean menus and a golden sand quarter, Nikki Beach was brought to life in 1998.
Fast forward to the 21st-century jet-set style, 2021 saw Nikki Beach celebrate its glittering 21st anniversary, and has cemented its legendary status as the globe’s hottest luxe lifestyle empire infusing music, dining, entertainment, fashion, and film and art into one.
Over 11 beach clubs, and five hotels and resorts, have made their presence sizzle with the ultra pedigreed sun worshippers, in the most tinselled countries. From the yacht adorned, jewel tinted shores of Italy’s Costa Smeralda, to the vibrant Arabian Gulf of Dubai’s Pearl Jumeirah absorbing the city’s shimmering skyline, or for my rather lucky self, the Grand Prix and superyacht playground of Monaco’s moneyed Monte Carlo.
Not one to be pacified with just gracing its presence in this pint-sized, yet grandeur swathed royal principality, Nikki Beach Monte Carlo flaunts their show stopper poise with elan and a dab of swagger, by hosting their little black book guests from day until dusk on the glistening rooftop of the equally prestigious, Fairmont Monte Carlo hotel residing in the beating heart of Monaco.
Escorted by the Fairmont’s charming personnel, the seventh-floor rooftop unveiled Nikki’s signature setting of voile draped cabanas, polished wooden furnishings dotted around vibrant green foliage, and pristine white parasols towering over the equally spotless sun loungers and cushioned daybeds. Encased in the centre, was the club’s rather sizeable rooftop pool, richly inviting, with the baby blue ripples warm from the sunlit rays serving as a posers celestial sphere to the beach club’s tanned beaus and belles.
The pièce de résistance of this sun-soaked jamboree refuge lies within the hypnotic panoramic backdrop. Sweeping views of the Mediterranean have never failed to entice the richly Monegasques and elite visitors with their glistening shores, as does the magnificence of the Principality of Monaco and of course, THAT hairpin bend of the Grand Prix Circuit, destined to provoke the green-eyed envy spirit in those die-hard Formula One disciples.
Post a flick of the epic wine and beverage contents whilst sitting pretty in the VIP cabana, a flute of Perrier Jouet Blason Rose magically appeared in my grasp, with an ice-cold Coco Havana hot on its heels as the DJ revved it up a dab with his slow-burning mixes. The deep, richness of coconut puree and toasted sugar sweetness of rum was turned into a game-changer, with the freshly squeezed pineapple juice subtly tangy, and carrying delicate floral notes no canned extracts could ever recreate.
No soggy calamari rings or mayonnaise smothered salads would dare endeavour to enter into the beach club’s culinary domain, the menu shows no hesitation in serving up a Bon vivant affair for their beguiling visitors. Delicious dishes such as the salmon ‘Label Rouge’ poke bowl, ginger miso salmon and Miami’s Caesar salad represent the global destinations where Nikki Beach resides, all brandishing delectable flavours and wholesome ingredients, with an innovative and somewhat sultry streak rivalling our multinational Rosette and Michelin bearers.
Neatly laid out on my cabana was an indulgent feast of pennette caponata topped with a whole burrata, Angus beef sliders, and a truffle pizza accompanied by truffle fries, and what the menu rightfully claimed was a sexy salad.
The idyllic beverage accompaniment had to be none other than the Domaine de la Rouillère rose, with blackberry and pear aromas, and flavours of ripe apricot and tangerine bringing freshness, finesse and fruitiness to this pale flesh tinted vino.
Lashings of soft stracciatella and velvety cream oozed from the burrata, immersing into the perfectly cooked pasta brimming with the flavours of lightly salted capers, sweet tomatoes and tender eggplant. The pizza, piping hot with a crispy thin base, was a truffle lover’s dream come true, as sweet nutty summer truffles came sprinkled from all angles onto a black truffle cream, crammed with melted parmesan and deep woodsy mushrooms.
Nikki Beach is leaps and bounds in delivering first string beef sliders, with premium melted cheddar topped on prime tender, marbled Angus sandwiched inside freshly whole grain buns. As for the ‘sexy salad’, a thinly sliced, cool cucumber carpaccio arrived topped with layers of solid meaty chunks of vibrant lobster, shredded crab and buttery avocado, infused with a creamy spice kicked mayonnaise with hints of tangy mango cubes, toning down the heavy richness of the dish.
While no expenses were spared on the truffle fries abundant with a handful of priceless, earthy slices sprinkled onto golden crisp fluffy potatoes, my sexy salad still reigned as the crowning glory of this afternoon luncheon making mouths water, and Instagram counts soar.
Right from the 11am opening cue, the fetching crowds and equally charismatic hosts of Nikki Beach Monte Carlo display not a hint of relent, to keep the party as fiery as the province’s peak sunshine rays. Bejewelled swimsuits are steadily traded for chic couture attires, as copious chilled champagne flutes are savoured and replenished, and the DJs amp up their riveting spin tunes to create an intoxicating ambience till the second the clock strikes 8pm.
In a nutshell
Not yet sufficiently mollified with their unrivalled signature experiences in the world’s most extravagant locations, a new luxe addition is to soon be welcomed into the family with the Nikki Beach Residences, inside Montenegro’s Tivat in 2023. 65 dapper units bedecked in the signature soft colour palette, will grace this world heritage treasure of a country, having each dwelling kitted with private marbled pools and lush botanical gardens.
The world’s Illuminati destinations are littered with multiple beach club reprints, however, none can quite capture the spirit and tugs at the heartstrings like Nikki Beach. Brought to life from sacred cherished memories, this party utopia invites us into their world of vivacious glamour and sophisticated oomph, whilst joining the family in forevermore celebrating the beautiful memoirs of a beautiful young soul.
Factbox
Nikki Beach Monte Carlo is currently open for the season until October 2nd.
Address: 12 Avenue des Spelugues, 98000 Monaco, Monte Carlo
Telephone: +377 93 300 700
Website: monte-carlo.nikkibeach.com/monte-carlo
All imagery supplied by Nikki Beach Monte Carlo
