Ondina Club, Naples

In Posillipo, adjacent to the historic Bagno Elena, we find Ondina Club, which stands out from its “neighbor” for two characteristics. The first is that it doesn’t have its own beach: the establishment consists of a terrace overlooking the sea, which can be reached via a small stairway. On this terrace, sun loungers are placed without umbrellas, as shade is provided by a covering canopy. The second distinctive feature is the clientele selection, dictated not by the managers’ wishes but by the structure’s composition itself: families with children automatically go where there’s a beach, namely to Bagno Elena, and Ondina is fine with this because the beach club becomes more intimate and satisfies the needs of a different target audience. This establishment was born in the 1950s as a restaurant, a meeting point and place to play cards by the sea, a tradition that continues today: after lunch, it’s common to observe Neapolitan ladies inside the establishment enjoying coffee and engaging in long card games with friends. The cuisine naturally specializes in fresh fish dishes, including spaghetti with scampi and the inevitable spaghetti with clams; desserts come from Musella pastry shop, and truffles from Gennaro Bottone. The wine list is essential but focused on the “right” selections. The establishment closes early, as is traditional in Naples, because in the evening it’s generally used as a location for private events.