Beach club review: Kai Club (Gran Canaria)
Travelling to Gran Canaria? Matthew Hirtes has lived on the island since 2004 and covered it extensively for a range of publications. His latest discovery is Patalavaca’s Kai Club.
Kai Club….take five at one of Gran Canaria’s most relaxed joints
Ambience
The vibe is chilled at one of Gran Canaria’s latest openings: Kai Club. Dress less but nevertheless to impress at the new favourite destination of the island’s beautiful people. Whilst family-friendly, this is no water park so the swimming pool is for taking a leisurely dip rather than splashing around in.
Drink
Located in Gran Canaria’s hot spot, the south west of the island, with a daily mean of 25 degrees Centigrade; cocktails are Kai Club’s signature drinks. I started with a margarita but not your average one as mine went big on 100% agave tequila, liquidized pineapple, and coriander and agave syrup (offering a refreshing new take on an old staple). Next up (or should that be down(ed)?) was a Dark & Stormy: a moody mash up of devilish Dominican Brugal Añejo rum, Capirote spiced rum from La Palma, nutty falernum (go ahead and Google), lime juice, and ginger beer followed by a lovely, bubbly and pretty-in-pink Islander Fizz comprising very-berry Sipsmith gin, LJ, pomegranate, grapefruit, rosehip syrup, and soda.
Food
There’s a restaurant which overlooks the beach but we chose to eat at our sun loungers with the waiters bringing a portable table/chopping board/tray to graze from. Highlights were the sweet-potato fries, melt-in-your-mouth pizza, perfect-for-the-summer-come-early tuna tartar, and an exquisitely herby vegan rice. When we return, we’re keen to sample Hawaii’s finest export: the poke bowl as well as the imported-from-Italy black-truffle carpaccio.
Locale
Gran Canaria’s a windy island but Patalavaca’s sheltered coastline means you can expect to be exposed to a light breeze at most. Whilst the palm trees are native to the island, the easier-to-maintain-than-grass astroturf has been brought in. There’s a jacuzzi in a box plus a small-yet-performed spa centre offering a range of treatments.
Price
Kai Club operates on a minimum-spend basis which works out around 35€ a head (shell out for that and you get a free sunlounger). Cocktails are mainly priced at 8€. Tuna tartar retails at 14€, which is the same price as the poke bowl and black-truffle carpaccio (food very much designed to share).
Contact Kai Club
Main website: http://www.kaiclub.es/
Address: Avenida de los Canarios, 25, 35129, Patalavaca
- Tlf: 664 64 33 86
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Disclaimer: My wife and I were invited to visit Kai Club in exchange for a review. However, we’re looking forward to returning as paying customers, as we were impressed with the delightful drinks, fancy food, and sterling service.
Matthew Hirtes, our resident broadsheet journalist, moved to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria back in 2004. He’s travelled extensively through Spain, covering it for such publications as Telegraph Travel, Metro, and The Independent. The author of Going Local in Gran Canaria: How To Turn a Holiday Destination into a Home, Matthew truly is a resident expert.
Matthew writes for two sections of Spain Buddy: Moving to Spain and Spanish Football as well as providing Reviews
