Surf Sunset: Cocktails at Sunset at the Sunset Beach Club in Palmi

Sunset Beach Club · Palmi, Costa Viola, Calabria

18 August 2026

On Tuesday 18 August 2026, from 6:00 pm, the Sunset Beach Club in Palmi hosts 'Surf Sunset', an evening born from its collaboration with Elysium Distillery. Two special guests behind the bar - bartenders Umberto Oliva and Domenico Lamanna - each create two drinks designed to bring out the character of Venus, the distillery's london dry gin. Waves, cocktails and beach vibes facing the sunset over the Costa Viola: a long aperitivo that follows the sun all the way down to the sea, on one of the most scenic stretches of the Calabrian coast.

The evening at a glance

On Tuesday 18 August 2026, from 6:00 pm, the Sunset Beach Club in Palmi hosts 'Surf Sunset', an evening born from the meeting between the seafront venue and Elysium Distillery. The poster's line - 'Ti va un tramonto?', fancy a sunset? - sums up the spirit of the appointment: waves, cocktails and beach vibes, with the sun going down over the Costa Viola as a backdrop. Behind the bar two special guests take turns, bartenders Umberto Oliva and Domenico Lamanna, for a mixology session dedicated to Venus gin.

Four drinks, two signatures

The format of the evening is simple and precise: each of the two special guests presents two drinks, designed to bring out the character of Venus gin. Four cocktails in all, four different readings of the same spirit: this is the kind of comparison that makes a guest shift interesting, because the same ingredient changes face depending on who interprets it. The names of the recipes have not been revealed in advance: you discover them at the bar, by ordering them.

Who the special guests are

Umberto Oliva is a Calabrian bartender who learned the trade behind the bars of Reggio Calabria before making his name outside the region, going on to design the list of Milanese venues and to win the MixFactor title. The trade press describes him as a gastro-bartender, someone who thinks like a chef and mixes like a chemist: his signature is telling the story of Calabria in liquid form, with ingredients such as bergamot, citron and chilli. Domenico Lamanna also comes from the world of competitions: he is credited as the winner of the first edition of the Capo Cocktail Competition. Two different approaches, the same raw material.

Venus gin by Elysium Distillery

The star of the evening is Venus, the london dry gin by Elysium Distillery, a young producer whose bottle carries the figure of the goddess. The term 'london dry' does not indicate a place but a method: the botanicals are added during distillation and the spirit reaches the bottle without flavourings or colourings added afterwards. It is the most classic and versatile style of gin, holding up both in the simplest serve, with tonic and ice, and in more elaborate constructions: which is exactly why it lends itself to a bartender challenge like Surf Sunset.

The Sunset Beach Club and the Costa Viola sunset

The appointment is at the Sunset Beach Club, on the seafront of the Costa Viola in Palmi. The name is no coincidence: this stretch of coast owes its own name to the violet reflections the sea takes on as the sun goes down, a sight that in summer draws people from across the province. Starting at 6:00 pm means taking the right amount of time: the aperitivo stretches out, the light changes hour by hour and the sunset arrives when the evening is already under way, glass in hand and feet close to the sand.

A day in Palmi, from the sea to the bar

Surf Sunset is the perfect way to end a day by the sea on the Costa Viola. Within a few minutes there are the Tonnara beach with the Scoglio dell'Ulivo, the Monte Sant'Elia belvedere with its view over the Aeolian Islands, and the old town of Palmi with the 'Leonida Repaci' House of Culture. To build the rest of your programme you can browse things to do in Palmi and where to eat in Palmi; visitors from further afield can look for where to stay nearby.

Practical information

The appointment is on Tuesday 18 August 2026 from 6:00 pm at the Sunset Beach Club in Palmi. The poster does not state any participation fee: drinks are paid for on site and, for table or sunbed reservations, it is best to contact the venue directly. The beach club is on the seafront, easy to reach by car from the centre of Palmi and from the A2 motorway exit. A common-sense reminder: alcohol is served to over-18s only and, as always when drinking, it is worth planning the journey home.

Frequently asked questions

When and where does Surf Sunset take place?

On Tuesday 18 August 2026, from 6:00 pm, at the Sunset Beach Club on the Costa Viola seafront in Palmi (RC).

How much does it cost to take part?

The poster does not state any participation fee: drinks are paid for on site. For prices, tables and reservations it is best to contact the venue directly.

Who are the special guests?

Bartenders Umberto Oliva, from Calabria, MixFactor champion and known for a mixology that tells the story of his region with bergamot, citron and chilli, and Domenico Lamanna, credited as winner of the first edition of the Capo Cocktail Competition.

What do the two bartenders serve?

Each signs two drinks, four in total, designed to bring out the character of Venus gin. The names of the recipes have not been revealed in advance.

What is Venus gin?

It is the london dry gin by Elysium Distillery, the star of the evening. 'London dry' refers to a production method: botanicals are added during distillation and no flavourings or colourings are added afterwards.

Do I need to book?

The poster does not mention a booking requirement. As this is an evening at a beach club, to secure a table it is still best to contact the [Sunset Beach Club](/attivita/sunset-beach-club).

How do I get to the Sunset Beach Club?

It is on the Costa Viola seafront in Palmi, reachable by car from the town centre and from the Palmi exit of the A2 motorway. For accommodation you can see [places to stay in Palmi](/affitti?comune=Palmi).

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