On the occasion of the Gran Galà dei Beach Club (Milan, Thursday May 7th, by invitation only) awards will be presented divided by category. Among these is the Cà Maiol Award, dedicated to beach establishments with the best dining, sponsored by Cà Maiol, a Lake Garda company and pioneer of Lugana Doc. The nominations, as for all other category awards, are three, and one of these establishments will win the title. Here, in geographical order from north to south, are the establishments in the running and a brief description taken from the 2025 edition of the guide.

Dalmazia by Principe, Forte dei Marmi (Tuscany)
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Total white, elegant, exclusive, designed for a high-profile and high-income clientele. This is Dalmazia, a beach establishment acquired by Principe di Forte dei Marmi, a five-star luxury hotel of which it represents the integration of the offering as a beach club. The establishment is open to external guests, offering services aligned with the level of the structure it belongs to and with equally elevated dining, because the Principe’s restaurant, Lux Lucis, boasts a Michelin star under the direction of chef Valentino Cassanelli, who also signs the menu of Dalmazia Beach Restaurant. Last summer we tried with satisfaction the tuna and amberjack tartare, the octopus in barbecue sauce with olives and cherry tomatoes, the typical Forte pizza with zucchini flowers and anchovies, the linguine alla fortemarmina.

La Dogana by Enoteca La Torre, Capalbio (Tuscany)
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The summer of 2025 at La Dogana beach club in Capalbio saw the novelty of the international cuisine concept Il Doganino, entrusted to Japanese-Brazilian chef Ricardo Takamitsu, in addition to the main restaurant La Terrazza, with chef Luca Morroto firmly in charge (among his most celebrated dishes of the last season, the linguine with black garlic, prawns and bottarga stand out, also mentioned by Sunday Times critics). A mixology corner has been added to the two restaurants, open from noon to late evening, with a drink list ranging from great classics to their reinterpretations, and it’s the ideal place to enjoy an aperitif while waiting for the sun to set over the Tyrrhenian Sea and then conclude the evening at La Terrazza or Il Doganino. Among the “gems” is the beach picnic, which offers the beach establishment’s clients the chance to taste the restaurant’s recipes comfortably under their umbrella.

Lido Tahiti, Ristorante Il Fico, Palmi (Calabria)
ilficoristorante.itA front-row seat to witness Calabria’s rebirth? You’ll find it at Lido Tahiti and its restaurant Il Fico. The story of this establishment has been written by the Parisi family and it’s particularly Domenico, the current manager, who has dedicated his life to the sea, the beach club, the restaurant and the people seeking a place with accessible prices, crystal-clear waters and constantly improving quality. The restaurant’s dining room, open year-round, is a feast for the eyes with its sea view in all seasons, and for its seafood specialties, with the catch of the day on display and dishes by chef Massimiliano Genova. Among Il Fico’s must-haves, a place of honor goes to struncatura di mare, a type of homemade pasta that was traditionally seasoned with an anchovy, while today it’s accompanied by a sauce made with a specially designed mix of fish. There are also pizzas and – long live Calabria! – rotisserie products. A prestigious wine list, with a separate list of “triple A” wines, and excellent cocktails to enjoy at sunset.

Opening photo: Perbellini al Mare, winner of Cà Maiol Award in the 2025 guide