Unsurprisingly, this rustic Robinson Crusoe-style hangout is the only beach club in the Bazaruto Archipelago. The owners of Azura Retreats Stella and Christophe Bettany whipped up this scrumptious treat for their guests at Benguerra Island’s eco-lodge, which is less than one mile away. Mozambique‘s Portuguese roots show up in a seafood-strong menu and decorative blue-and-white hand-painted tiles at the thatched open-air bar with its swing seats and wide-smile barmen, Pedro and José, who make the best frozen Margaritas. The rough-hewn wood furniture on the island was all made from recycled wood.
Order a magnum of Château Pas de Loup rosé from the Bettanys’ French château to go with grilled prawns peri-peri, fried calamari, stuffed crab shells, or fish skewers that you can barbecue over hot coals at your table. Go easy on the house-made chili sauces and have a ‘doshem’ 2M beer handy to quell the heat. The sea-view salas are the perfect place to relax after lunch. You can play board games or read a thriller. Take a dip in the pool or get a spa massage in the treehouse. Laidback Peri-Peri always feels like a private party, although visiting boats from neighboring islands, and guests from &Beyond a few dunes over, swell the numbers, especially on Sundays when the chilled playlist is usually followed by beach cinema under the stars. This opening is bringing the heat with African reggae. —Jane Broughton
