Ziggy’s Beach Club faces some tough competition given the number of beach clubs in Tulum, and we like that they’ve gone straight for the jugular when it comes to defining themselves.
They see themselves as truly Mexican, which is a smart play in a market where the clientele is really seeking out authenticity, and we wondered whether they live up to their claim.
So, our review team was instructed to prepare the suntan lotion and hair bands and head to Ziggy’s Beach Club to find out for us, and this is their findings.
Introduction – Getting To Ziggy’s Beach Club
Where Is Ziggy’s Beach Club? Carr. Tulum-Boca Paila km 7.5, Tulum Beach, Zona Hotelera, 77760 Tulum, Q.R., México
Online: Ziggy’s
Opening Hours: 7 a.m. – 10.30 p.m.
What’s Available At Ziggy’s Beach Club?
There are some large daybeds, hammocks and beach access. You can use the showers and bathrooms; there is parking and an open-air restaurant and beach bar. There is regular live music at various points throughout the day and at night.
Our Detailed Review Of Ziggy’s Beach Club
Our standard review process is applied consistently to every beach club. It ensures fair evaluation of the owners, management, and staff while keeping reviews in a uniform style that aids comparison.
The process is as follows:
- A team is assigned to check the venue.
- Team members visit separately and on different days.
- Each completes a scorecard with 1–5 ratings and observations.
- They meet to discuss and finalise the scores.
- One member drafts the review before publication.
Reservation and Booking Process
We’ve given a sympathy mark here because the beach club does, at least, manage to signpost a way to book on the website. But it’s still very poor in true Tulum fashion.
Yes, it’s a static form with no options for choosing seats, agreeing to minimum spends, etc., and thus, a pretty useless and convoluted process to book a bed ensues.
We just don’t understand why Tulum is deliberately remaining in the stone age when it comes to booking beach clubs; they charge super premium prices and can’t invest a few bucks in their websites to make life easier for their customers?
It’s really disappointing.
Ambience and Atmosphere
All day long, the vibe here is very much chill, and the music is background, and people sway in hammocks or sprawl on daybeds.
Then at night, for a couple of hours, there’s something more lively but which never really strays into “party” territory.
We liked the laidback social warmth of the place and found it one of the easiest places to strike up a conversation in Tulum.
Location And Accessibility
Tulum is relatively straightforward for folks in the Americas to get to (though it may still be a long journey with multiple flight changes) and a bit of a pain from the rest of the world.
We would note that the beach club is in “hotel row” which is on the beach away from the main town, and you will need transportation to and from the beach club.
Aesthetic And Design
Ziggy’s is a very attractive place, even if it is exceedingly similar to the other beach clubs in Tulum.
You know the drill: natural materials, palm trees, neutral colours, all meant to blend in with the beach, the jungle and all the other beach clubs in Tulum too.
Staff Friendliness and Professionalism (Service Standard)
We found the staff at Ziggy’s to be among the best in Tulum. They are exceptionally kind, warm, friendly and professional. Most of all, they are proactive.
If you want your day to be one of real relaxation rather than hunting around for a waiter or waitress, this is the place to be.
Service Speed and Efficiency
The service is nearly as speedy and efficient as it is professional and friendly, except when you first arrive; they leave you alone for a bit too long.
We like some time to settle in, but we’d like someone to come and ask what we’d like to drink before the first 15 minutes are up, too. It’s a minor inconvenience, but a real one, particularly if you’re feeling thirsty.
Food Quality and Variety
Ziggy’s is renowned for excellent food, and it didn’t disappoint. The Pastor Shrimp Tacos and Tuna Tartare, in particular, absolutely soar on the palate.
Yes, it’s still stupidly expensive for Tulum, but unlike at many of the other beach clubs in Tulum, that’s just fine because it’s delicious, a cut above and the portions are generous and filling.
Beverage Selection and Creativity
The drinks are very good, and their margaritas are world-class, but they are also very expensive and yes, even for a beach club in Tulum.
We felt that they were strong enough and didn’t feel ripped off. However, they don’t represent the same excellent value for money as the food does.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
We thought that the staff at Ziggy’s did an exceptional job of keeping the beach free of seaweed (during the sargassum season) and of keeping the rest of the club very clean too.
Without a pool, there’s less of a challenge than at some of the other beach clubs, but the cleaning staff can’t influence the level of challenge they face, just how they rise to the occasion.
Comfort of Seating and Lounging Areas
While they weren’t the best daybeds we’ve ever tried, they were big and comfortable and nicely shaded from the worst of the blazing sun. The palm trees here provide natural shade, which is a lovely touch compared to the rest of the beach.
We should also note that the minimum spend is very reasonable when compared to the other beach clubs, and at $16 for a cocktail, you won’t find it very hard to go through the minimum spend and come out the other side.
Music and Entertainment
The music is very good at this beach club. In the day, they go with soft background music that works with the waves to lull you into a state of relaxation.
At night, the live acts tend to be very energetic and exciting without the over-the-top party nature found at some other beach clubs.
Seasonality
They do a fabulous job of keeping the beach clean in the seaweed season, but they can’t keep the seaweed out of the water. And that means for about 8 months of the year, this is not a great beach club for the keen swimmer. You can swim, but you might not want to.
We should also note that there’s a brief hurricane season, where things might get very blowy, indeed.
However, there’s no real seasonality in the tropics, and like the other beach clubs in Tulum, Ziggy’s is open all year round.
Pricing and Value for Money
We thought that Ziggy’s was great value for money, but when you’re paying New York prices in Mexico for an afternoon out? It’s not excellent value.
Yes, we understand that there’s a premium associated with the beachfront, with good service, with live music, etc., but this is true in Bali too and places like FINNS, the world’s best beach club in our opinion, are nowhere near this expensive.
Beach Access and Quality
The beach is lovely, the sand is soft underfoot, the palm trees are a fabulous source of shade and the water a wonderful shade of inviting blue.
However, we can’t deny the fact that seaweed exists and even when it’s not piled up and stinking at Ziggy’s, it often is elsewhere nearby, which is a shame.
Sustainability Practices
There are no audits and no certifications, but they’re pretty good at caring for the beach, and they are very much pro-local sourcing for food, drinks, etc., which is a good starting point.
We’d expect to see more progress in the coming years as this is a big deal for many visitors to Tulum.
Exclusive Perks for Guests
You get a towel, a daybed and use of the changing rooms, which, given the absence of a door fee and a very reasonable minimum spend, is more than fair enough.
However, we’d still like to see beach clubs offering tiered entry systems with additional perks for additional fees. Holidays are made for blowing money; why not help people do that?
Safety and Security
This beach club is very safe, and it has an excellent reputation for safety, thanks to the shared security team with nearby hotels and CCTV coverage.
We also suspect that because Ziggy’s isn’t about full-on partying, it keeps the worst of Tulum’s underworld at bay. However, this is Tulum and nowhere is perfectly safe. Keep an eye on your valuables and if trouble does break out, just move away and let security handle it.
Event Hosting Capabilities
You can definitely host a private event at Ziggy’s; however, there’s no doubt that this isn’t the biggest beach club, and it’s missing the kind of central feature many people like for events.
It’s a lovely place for a beach wedding or a quiet birthday party, but we’re not sure that it works for other occasions as well as it does for those.
Consistency of Experience
We felt that the experience was very consistent on repeat visits, and we had this confirmed through both online reviews and by talking to other customers at Ziggy’s.
The only thing missing is a drive to constantly improve and recreate the experience. We feel that they’ve settled into being good at something rather than striving for true greatness.
Additional Amenities and Facilities
We felt that Ziggy’s was a bit short on amenities compared to most of the beach clubs in Tulum, and while we had a very nice afternoon and evening here, we’re not sure that we could do a full day at the beach club.
And because this is Tulum, there’s not much else within easy walking distance (which might not be safe anyway), so you’ll need to drive to find it.
Summary
Ziggy’s is one of the very best beach clubs in Tulum. We like that it’s carved out a unique niche and is very focused on great service and amazing food.
This is an excellent example of a beach club thriving even without a pool, by understanding what its customers really want and providing them with exactly that.
FAQs
Can You Go Swimming At Ziggy’s Beach Club?
Yes, and the club provides towels as long as you have agreed to a minimum spend for the daybeds. However, you should know that this beach club does not have a swimming pool, and you will be expected to swim in the ocean.
This stretch of beach is safe for swimming, and the sand is pleasant underfoot, and there’s nothing to be frightened of along the shoreline. However, during the seaweed season, you may not want to swim because of the large buildup of seaweed in the water, which isn’t very pleasant to swim in.
We should note that the beach club does a fabulous job of keeping the sand seaweed-free, and there are no smells at this club, but it’s still not ideal swimming conditions.
What Is There To Do At Ziggy’s Beach Club?
You can play pool (the cue sport; there is no actual pool), you can swim in the ocean, you can play in the sand, you can eat and drink and relax on pleasant daybeds on the oceanfront.
In the evenings, there is music, and while this isn’t exactly a party club, it can get pretty lively at times.
Is Ziggy’s Beach Club A Child-Friendly Venue?
Yes, Ziggy’s Beach Club is famously child-friendly, and families are welcome throughout the day. However, we need to stress that this is a high-end beach club rather than a kids’ playground, and you are expected to keep your kids within reasonable limits as they run around and have fun.
This often means it suits teenagers better than younger children, and if you want a more family-friendly beach club, don’t worry, because Tulum has plenty of them to choose from.
Who Is The Owner Of Ziggy’s Beach Club?
The owner of Ziggy’s is believed to be a local businessman, but their identity has not been placed in the public domain either in business registries or any promotional literature.
What Is The Water Like At Ziggy’s Beach Club?
The water in the sea here is lovely, and it’s the kind of stunning turquoise that everyone comes to the tropics to experience.
However, the caveat is that during the seaweed season, swimming in this water can be pretty unpleasant even though the beach is kept clean.
Does Ziggy’s Beach Club Provide Towels?
Yes, you must agree to a day pass/minimum spend before you can be provided with a towel, but assuming you want to use a daybed, then you’re going to have agreed to that.
Why Did People Stop Going To Tulum?
People haven’t stopped going to Tulum, but tourism numbers have decreased in the last couple of years.
There are quite a few factors that have impacted this: the poor implementation of the new airport, the tax to just walk on the beach (even locals can’t walk on the beach for free), dramatically rising prices (some of the beach clubs are on a par with Miami or Ibiza rather than Mexico), and a declining service culture.
There seems to have been a misunderstanding in which the local tourism industry felt that it was owed customers rather than having to serve those customers well to see future business.
However, the decline can be good news for travellers as it means you get more choice, fewer crowds and more competitive room prices, now.
Is There Any Shade At Ziggy’s Beach Club?
Yes, this beach club has constructed several shaded areas on the beach where its daybeds can be found.
Final Thoughts On The Review Of Ziggy’s Beach Club
Ziggy’s Beach Club is one of the best beach clubs in Tulum, and there’s no doubt that they do what they do very well.
The only major complaint most people have is the cost. There’s no getting around the fact that Tulum’s beach club scene charges very premium prices; you could have several great days out in Bali for the price of a single day in Tulum.
From our perspective, we had a good time at Ziggy’s and would definitely come back if we were in this neighbourhood again.
