Riviera Lounge Club e Bistrot

Summer began in Forte, back in the ’50s. Parties at the beach clubs until late at night, slow mornings, meeting at the café and then heading towards the vast beach, long a beloved feature of the Versilia coast. An ideal of elegance that never waned: generations of bon vivants have strolled along the pier, cycled through its streets, and wished September would never come. Yet that uniquely refined atmosphere lives on, for those who know where to go: in this case, Riviera Lounge Club e Bistrot overlooking the sea and the roaring years that put Forte dei Marmi on the map.

Owner Emiliano Fontani was clear about giving the venue an à la page feel that is vintage without overdoing it: it pays tribute to the golden years of Versilia with portraits on the walls, balanced by contemporary design. Brigitte Bardot and Mina feature alongside Gianni Agnelli: icons who fell in love with Forte dei Marmi and its prime residential quarters, Roma Imperiale and Vittoria Apuana. The crowd at Riviera is much the same: sophisticated, perhaps a little nostalgic, and undeniably discerning. Guests settle across two floors: the welcoming indoor dining room and the breezy open-air terrace.

Things get started with aperitivo, one of the season’s most beloved rituals. When schedules no longer matter and the sea is only metres away, a pre-dinner cocktail is practically mandatory. The atmosphere is relaxed; sipping a drink or a glass of wine as the lights soften, the evening takes shape. Versilia nightlife has a pull like nowhere else, and it is here at Riviera that many memorable nights begin.

Fontani has formed a rewarding partnership with Alessio Limatola, a restaurateur whose background spans Miami and Tuscany. Under his direction, the kitchen serves a menu echoing the sea right outside the terrace. The finest catch and refined mise en place frame dinner at Riviera: here, ‘ostriche & champagne’ is far more than a phrase, pairing impeccably fresh raw seafood with sought-after bottles rarely found elsewhere.

When the sun dips, Forte dei Marmi comes alive. At Riviera, the night takes on an effortless jet-set charm. The soundtrack is spot on, with internationally renowned DJs: barefoot walks home with heels in hand will come eventually, but that moment is still hours away. Nights where dawn arrives without surprise, signalling only the end of the party. Some dance, others lounge on the sofas: what unites the crowd here is simply the urge to keep the night—and the summer—going indefinitely.

It is not just the meticulous cooking and the thoughtful wine list that win people over. It is the attentive service, the understated entertainment and a genuine sense of Tuscan hospitality. Riviera accompanies nightfall at Forte with real poise, from aperitivo until late: close your eyes, and reliving the resort’s golden age feels remarkably easy.