Splash into Summer: 5 Homes with Swim-Up Bars

Is there anything better than cocktail hour by the pool? Well, yes: Cocktail hour in the pool. Popular at the world’s most exclusive resorts, the swim-up bar has found its way into some of today’s most luxurious homes. In this Luxury Defined collection, we spotlight five homes designed to enjoy in-pool cocktails. Consider a cliffside aerie in San José del Cabo with a swim-up bar overlooking the Sea of Cortez; a horse ranch in Orange County, California, with an in-pool bar and grotto; or, a beachfront villa with one of the most spectacular private pools—and swim-up bars—in the Turks and Caicos Islands: So swim, sip, and savor the good life; and always remember: Never drink and dive!

Stevenson Ranch Estate in Valencia, California

This grand, custom-built residence offers a luxurious resort-inspired lifestyle in the Westridge Estates section of Stevenson Ranch, a planned community in Los Angeles County. Designed by Russel Tyner of Los Angeles-based architects Houston / Tyner, the home offers 10,500 square feet of living spaces with five bedrooms and seven full bathrooms, including guest and staff quarters and a lavish primary suite. A two-story entrance hall opens to an elegant reception room with a coffered ceiling and mullioned windows. Just outside is the home’s spectacular grotto-style pool, featuring a swim-up bar adjoining an elegant alfresco dining area with grilling station and fireplace. Other highlights include a fully equipped gym, an authentic pub-style bar with billiards table and jukebox; a magnificent two-story library/office; and a vast gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances and a breakfast nook. Private balconies and terraces offer views of the Oak Reserve and the city skyline. Surrounding the home are nearly an acre of landscaped grounds.

Related: Add the Top Rosé Wines to Your Collection this Summer

Villa Olivia in San José del Cabo, Mexico

Villa Olivia is a tropical retreat in the luxury resort community of Puerto Los Cabos, a short drive from the colonial city of San José del Cabo. The 7,500-square-foot, multi-level villa is situated on the seventh hole of Puerto Los Cabos’ Greg Norman Signature golf course, with vistas extending across the fairways to the Sea of Cortez. The outdoor living spaces were designed for four-season entertaining. A sea-view terrace with dining area and outdoor kitchen are finished in cantera marble from Oaxaca. A dazzling infinity pool with a swim-up bar and Jacuzzi provides the finishing touch. The interiors are graced with Egyptian marble floors, beamed ceilings, bespoke chandeliers, and handcrafted stone fireplaces. The dramatic entrance hall opens to a great room with an ornate stone fireplace. Farther along is a bar and a chef’s kitchen. Seven bedrooms and eight-and-a-half bathrooms ensure ample room for extended family or guests. The owner’s suite has a wood-panelled dressing room and a private balcony with a panoramic view of the sea.

Country Club Estate in Canton, Georgia

This château-style residence sits on more than half an acre of private wooded grounds next to the 13th tee of the golf course at BridgeMill Athletic Club in Canton, Georgia. The star of the home’s resort-worthy grounds is a heated saltwater pool with a swim-through waterfall and a cocktail bar with submerged seating. The pool terrace also boasts a covered seating area with a wood-burning fireplace, an outdoor kitchen, and a pool house. The interior appointments include a two-story great room, formal dining room, gourmet kitchen, breakfast room, and an adjoining keeping room, where family and friends keep company with the chef. The private quarters comprise a luxurious owner’s suite on the main level, with a fireplace and spa bathroom with steam shower; an upper level suite with a terrace; and an in-law suite. A second kitchen, family room, wine cellar, home theater, and four-car garage round out the amenities.

Related: Discover 9 Water Sport Wonderlands for Epic Summer Fun

Equestrian Hideaway in Yorba Linda, California

Newly renovated, this contemporary hacienda nestles on a big, tree-lined corner lot with fenced paddocks, corrals, run-in sheds, and a charming red barn. The grounds also include a lavish lagoon-style pool with swim-up bar and spa, remote-controlled waterfall and lighting, and a lighted pergola. The light-filled living spaces, ideal for entertaining or family relaxation, include a cozy living room with a fireplace. The heart of the home is the superbly efficient galley kitchen, with Sub-Zero appliances and plenty of counter seating; its adjoining breakfast room has French doors opening to the terrace dining space. The great room’s high ceiling covers a huge family and dining room featuring a herringbone-brick fireplace and a wall of windows with French doors opening to the grounds. There are three bedrooms, three full and one half bathrooms. The main suite, with its adjoining office/study, huge walk-in closet, and opulent bathroom with jetted tub and shower, has French doors leading out to the pool deck, finished in Pebble Tec aggregate. The refurbished barn has Anderson double-pane windows, horse stalls, and a turnout.

Cascade Villa in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

Cascade Villa was designed to frame the endless water vistas from its hillside setting on Blue Mountain in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. The 9,800-square-foot, six-bedroom home by architect R.A. Shaw uses crisp angles and striking white exteriors to complement the turquoise seas. The pool is spectacular: A narrow strip of water joins Its two distinct geometric forms to access the swim-up bar. The upper pool cascades down the walls of a staircase into wading pools below. Four matching white pitched-roof gazebos provide the shade, and there is an outdoor kitchen for alfresco dining. Another staircase accesses a third deck with a large sitting area around a firepit. Steps away are the sugar white sands of Babalua Beach and the turquoise waters of Princess Alexandra National Park marine preserve.