10 most beautiful beach houses across the world

One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai

This exceptional five-star resort resides along its own private beach among 65 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, fountains, courtyards and domed pavilions.

There are three hotels within the resort to choose from; The Palace is the largest and most atmospheric, Arabian Court the most romantic and The Residence & Spa the most private. Happily, all are superb, so you can't really go wrong.

The opulent rooms, with their traditional Arabian styling, all face the sea and feature private balconies or terraces. During the day the beach beckons with watersports and supervised kids' activities. At night the atmosphere is magical: watch the sun set from the Roof Top lounge, go dancing at Kasbar, and dine like a pasha on Moroccan specialities at Tagine.

The spa, one of the best in Dubai, features a luxurious Turkish Hammam as well as Givenchy beauty treatments. A stay at One&Only Royal Mirage is a dream of Arabia straight out of 1,001 Nights.

See more at Hg2's city guide to Dubai

See also: 7 villas with outstanding pools

Pretty Beach House, Sydney

You know you've hit upon one of the truly luxury hotels in Sydney when requests to arrive by seaplane, helicopter (20 minutes from Sydney) or a skippered 40-foot yacht are all met with unwavering acquiescence and grace.

The most exclusive beach house in New South Wales sleeps a maximum of three couples in three villas, and there's a stunning main house that opens out to the communal swimming pool, where wooden carvings and artwork by prominent Australian artists like John Olsen and Arthur Boyd adorn the walls, along with an open log fireplace, a grand piano (a pianist can be arranged), a mezzanine bar and a well-stocked wine cellar.

Award-winning Chef Stefano Manfredi serves light Mediterranean fare; guests usually dine communally in the main retreat, though dinner can be served anywhere - the grassed terraces, in your villa or even in the wine cellar, where a sommelier is at your service.

Privacy is paramount and each villa features its own heated plunge pool, a decked terrace with a daybed, vintage leather armchairs, bathrooms equipped with rainshowers and locally-made Li'tya botanical products.

Televisions are optional, though every room has a Bose SoundDock with iPod and wireless internet, along with Havianas, and binoculars for spotting native wildlife.

The beach is only a few minutes away through the bushland. While it's difficult to fault either of the villas, our money is on Treetops. It's adjacent to the main house but offers slightly more privacy, is set over two levels and has a free-standing tub.

See more at Hg2's city guide to Sydney

See also: 7 villas with outstanding pools

Casa del Mar, Los Angeles

The Casa del Mar hotel in Santa Monica has been the centrepiece of sumptuous seaside swank since its 1920s origins as a members-only beach resort and the brick-and-sandstone structure is steps away from the Pacific shore.

The expansive, multi-tiered lobby is awash in romantic high regency detailing, past the front desk, through the library, and into the art deco décor of the Veranda Bar (a glam gathering place for guests and glittery locals alike) leading out onto a patio perfectly suited for watching the sunset over Champagne.

The indulgent aquatic experience extends beyond the beach: every room comes with an Italian marble bath, and the hydrothermic spa tubs - offering views overlooking the pool, and views of you if you're a bit exhibitionist - are always inhabited by a darling rubber ducky.

See more at Hg2's city guide to Los Angeles

See also: 7 villas with outstanding pools

Mövenpick Hotel and Resort, Beirut

Prominently located on the seafront, close to the Pigeon Rocks, with its own private beach and marina, two swimming pools and numerous chalets, the Mövenpick is one of the classic luxury hotels in Beirut.

Owned by Saudi billionaire Prince Walid Bin Talal, it caters primarily to tourists from the Arab world, and offers unparalleled standards of service and numerous facilities, from stylish restaurants to a 2000 sq metre spa with 11 massage rooms.

Opened in 2002, after many derelict years (the hotel was first built in 1975 but never opened), it has 293 rooms, the best of which have wonderful views over the sea. At night, the lights from the local fishing boats bob up and down in the waters in front of the hotel.

The Mövenpick has a good Lebanese restaurant in the form of the Bourj al-Hamam, which, given the sandy beach and a shopping arcade, make it almost possible never to leave the hotel at all.

See more at Hg2's city guide to Beirut

See also: 7 villas with outstanding pools

Sea Five, Cape Town

With just six bedrooms and one magnificent penthouse, this is the ultimate Camps Bay beach house, handsomely turned out and just 300 metres from the bars and restaurants of its sought-after sunset strip.

Clad in bungalow-style clapboard wood, the contemporary Cape Colonial interiors are the work of local designer François du Plessis (responsible for the restaurant and whiskey bar at the Cape Grace; see Eat and Drink). He has chosen a palette of soothing, comforting colours, pure Milanese linen, judicious use of local artworks and subtle references to African design, all of which work perfectly in this mileau.

There's loads of space and light, in-room luxuries are optimal (including premium aged whiskies, Voss mineral water, and handsome beachbags), and bathrooms are sleek. Downstairs rooms give you direct access to the garden, but the views from the junior suites and penthouse are no doubt what you're in Camps Bay for, so bag 'em.

Although you're a short drive from The Roundhouse (see Eat), one of the city's top restaurants, you can always opt to stay in for a night or two: with some advance warning staff will happily prepare a meal for you in-house.

See more at Hg2's city guide to Cape Town

See also: 7 villas with outstanding pools

The Setai, Miami

On South Beach it is easy to get distracted with talk about who is doing what when in Miami. For a moment let's forget about who bought the 10,000-square-foot Setai penthouse with a rooftop infinity pool. Let's forget which African American rock star has a recording studio on the seventh floor and let's forget which American cyclist who battled back from illness and won the Tour de France hangs out here.

Rather, let's focus on the black granite bathrooms with rainfall showers and oversized bathtubs in the apartments, the Dux beds, the views of the neighbouring hotels and the Miami shoreline from high up on the Setai's tinted glass rimmed balconies, the Setai's luxurious spa, the Setai's three pools, and the 90-foot outdoor bar.

This shiny new 40-storey apartment building is even more stylish than the Mandarin Oriental, is more 'exclusive' than the neighbouring Shore Club, and has more efficient staff than every hotel in Miami.

Apart from the $900-a-night price tag here, it's hard to pick a weakness in the Setai's armour. So let's just concentrate on the words of one of the ultra-efficient staff who came from Japan to work here: 'The Setai brings new meaning to the word luxury.' He was right. He and the Setai may take a bow.

See more at Hg2's city guide to Miami

See also: 7 villas with outstanding pools

Jonah’s Whale Beach, Sydney

It's part of the Relais & Châteaux collection, an exclusive club of 480 of the world's most prestigious properties, and only one of two hotels in Sydney, but the breezy atmosphere and welcoming smiles of Australian staffers give it such a relaxed vibe that it feels more like a luxury beach home.

Each of the ten-ocean retreat suites attached to the main house have balconies that open up onto incredible blue vistas of the ocean, but the best views are from the main terrazzo - the ultimate setting for a sunset martini.

Guests requiring more privacy can hire out Jonah's Private, a separate property adjacent to the main retreat, which has three guest-rooms overlooking the pool. All rooms are stocked with essentials like an LCD television, iPod docking stereo and the obligatory slew of glossy travel magazines, while the limestone bathrooms are equipped with Bvlgari products, spas and rain showerheads.

Rather than opulent luxury, the interiors are simple beach chic, with rattan sunloungers and framed seashells on the walls and crisp white linen - the perfect backdrop to sunkissed skin.

As for dining, guests are spoiled with Jonah's restaurant, with chef George Fransisco at the helm (see Eat). However, there's no problem with ordering in - the compendium lists local Thai and pizza joints, which you can have delivered to your room.

See more at Hg2's city guide to Sydney

See also: 7 villas with outstanding pools

Shutters on the Beach, Los Angeles

So New England in its design you almost expect to spot a salty seafarer toting a netfull of freshly caught crabs through its long, luxuriant lobby, but it's really Californian through and through.

Though it debuted in 1993, Shutters feels timeless, a bucolic beach-house resort mere steps from Pacific and ideally situated for anything from shopping on Third Street Promenade, traipsing to the nearby Santa Monica Pier or strolling the shoreline down to funky Venice Beach.

Casual yet chic and oh-so-serene, it's also an idyllic site for romantic seaside weddings, especially if the bride and groom want to feel sand between their toes moments after the "I Dos."

Read more at Hg2's city guide to Los Angeles

The Long Beach, Cape Town

It's an irony that in a city this blessed by ocean-frontage, there aren't too many places where you can roll out of bed and onto the beach, or fall asleep with the sound of the waves a few meters from your feet.

That's why we love The Long Beach, set directly on the beach in the tiny hamlet of Kommetjie, known for its crayfish and happy hippie vibe.

With only six rooms, you'd expect to feel like an exclusive guest, and you do, with a small but warm staff complement. Kommetjie is a little cut off from the action but even the most ardent hedonist needs a little R&R and if the eight kilometres of sandy beach doesn't turn you on, you can always unfurl your towel next to the solar-heated swimming pool or chill out on your private deck with a pair of binoculars in case the whales show up.

Or, if you're feeling more adventurous, suit up for a spot of surfing, or summon the horses for a gambol next to the gentle-breaking waves. There's a chauffeur ever-ready to show you the sights or help you explore the burgeoning restaurant scene in this neck of the woods.

See more at Hg2's city guide to Cape Town

See also: 7 villas with outstanding pools