With a reputation for having crystal clear blue waters, pristine beaches and an abundance of natural beauty, it’s no surprise that Sardinia has become one of the most exclusive coastlines. As the Italian island has gained popularity, its offerings have expanded to include buzzy restaurants and beautiful hotels, including the popular beach club and restaurant Nikki Beach. While the beach club has been around since 2018, this summer the brand has expanded its Sardinia offerings with the launch of The Nikki Beach Cocktail Club in Porto Cervo.
“We’ve had a pop-up bar and lounge at the Waterfront in Porto Cervo for years, and we didn’t want to keep it as just a seasonal pop up, we wanted to give it its own identity, separate from our beach club in Costa Smeralda,” says Celia Cumbau-Serra, chief operating officer of the food and beverage division for Nikki Beach Hospitality Group in an email interview with Forbes. “With The Cocktail Club, we wanted to capture that same balance in a different way. Porto Cervo is glamorous and international, but it’s also deeply rooted in Italian tradition. That mix is what makes it so special. The Cocktail Club reflects that spirit, with sophistication but also a relaxed Nikki Beach vibe and local flavors.”
Accessible solely by boat (either a private yacht or the complimentary boat shuttle service), Nikki Beach Costa Smeralda is known for its serene landscape, beautiful secluded beach and pristine turquoise waters. Serving up a menu of seafood dishes and cocktails, guests can visit the restaurant for a meal or spend the day at the club, lounging on one of the daybeds. The cocktail club follows a different format with its location in the center of the bustling town of Porto Cervo. Its intention was to create a spot to stop in for a pre-dinner drink or to stop in after a meal for a late-night bite.
“With The Cocktail Club, we wanted to capture that same balance in a different way,” says Cumbau-Serra. “Porto Cervo is glamorous and international, but it’s also deeply rooted in Italian tradition. That mix is what makes it so special. The Cocktail Club reflects that spirit, with sophistication but also a relaxed Nikki Beach vibe and local flavors.”
At the heart of The Cocktail Club is the cocktails. The spot will have cocktails created around local flavors (such as prickly pear, mirto or wild rosemary) with elevated touches. “The menu is vibrant, just like Sardinia,” says Cumbau-Serra. “The Sardinian Shade with Mirto, Sardinian honey and lemon and the Mexican Wind with tequila and house-made watermelon & mandarin cordial are two of my favorites. We’ve also introduced the option to select your preferences and the flavor profile you’d like, and our mixologist can craft something one-of-a-kind for you. You can even give the creation its own name!”
As for the food, the menu was created to match the drinks and enhance the experience. “Most of the bites are designed for sharing, like our aperitivo boards, which are really generous,” explains Cumbau-Serra. For instance, you can pair something light like the tuna tartare toasts with a bright cocktail or go for caviar with a vintage martini. “The goal with the menu was to create a destination that you want to come back to, so you can try every cocktail paired with every bite, because they just all sound that good,” says Cumbau-Serra.