The Cape Club: Where Kiawah Island Club Members Spend Their Summer

The salt air arrives first. Then the sound of the surf drifting across the West Beach dunes. Summer on Kiawah Island is long and golden, the ocean shifts between shades of jade and deep blue, and the days move at the pace of the Island itself—unhurried, generous, and entirely your own. Mornings begin with a walk along the shore before the heat settles in. Afternoons belong to the water. Evenings stretch past sunset, the warm air still lingering around you. 

It is the season, more than any other, that The Cape Club fully reveals itself. Perched at the Island’s West Beach with the Atlantic spread out before it, this is where Kiawah Island Club Members gather when the days are warmest, and the Island is at its most alive. The infinity pool catches the afternoon light. The scent of something bright and citrus-forward drifts from the kitchen. A ribbon boardwalk leads down to the sand, where the surf waits. 

Where West Beach Found Its Gathering Place 

For years, The Beach Club on Kiawah’s east end was the undisputed center of Member social life, a place so beloved it eventually inspired a counterpart. The Cape Club answered that call, claiming the water’s edge on the Island’s west end and giving Members their own gathering place on that side of the Island. 

Clubhouse Manager Leslie Bunnell describes The Cape Club as a striking, earthy middle ground between two beloved Club institutions: it borrows the serenity and intimacy of Marsh House and pairs them with the lively, family-friendly energy of The Beach Club. The result is a setting that is social but refined—easy and warm, never fussy. 

Designed To Be Lived In 

The Cape Club’s sense of ease is thoroughly by design. World-renowned Hart Howerton Architects, whose expertise spans six continents and 51 countries, approached the design with the same philosophy that defines their best work: unobtrusive, artful, and deeply responsive to its natural surroundings. Every element of the structure feels as though it grew from the dunes rather than was placed upon them. 

The interiors carry that spirit forward. Internationally recognized designer Cortney Bishop drew her inspiration from what she calls a “Kiawah safari”—a palette informed by the green hues of the ocean and the orange and pink of the Island’s beloved sunsets, layered with a rustic yet refined aesthetic that is unmistakably Kiawah. Kennon Williams Landscape Studio realized the vision, seamlessly integrating the grounds into Kiawah’s coastal landscape. 

The space is entirely open-air. The porch and bar flow directly into the pool deck, creating an effortless transition that makes you feel, as Bunnell describes it, as though you are floating above the dunes. The vibrant sunsets and cool maritime breezes were considered in every design decision. At The Cape Club, nature is not just a backdrop. It is the point. 

At The Table 

No account of The Cape Club is complete without the cuisine. The dining program is led by Kiawah Island Club Chef Drew Souvanna and Culinary Advisor Chef Mike Lata—a pairing that brings both authenticity and ambition to the menu. 

Lata, winner of the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southeast and co-owner of Charleston’s celebrated FIG and The Ordinary, brings his longstanding commitment to simplicity and local sourcing to The Cape Club’s culinary vision. As Lata describes it, the menu reflects the same attention to detail found throughout the property, “luxurious in its simplicity.” 

Cilantro, avocado, smoked chilies, ancho chiles, cumin, and coriander define a menu rooted in Central and South American tradition, refined through years of culinary precision and a deep respect for the fresh, local seafood the Lowcountry offers in abundance. As a result, The Cape Club has become a dining destination—not simply a place to eat between swims, but a reason to linger. 

Everything Else the Day Calls For 

Beyond the table, The Cape Club offers the full breadth of a day well spent at the water’s edge. The oceanfront infinity pool, lined with chaise longues and cabanas, anchors the experience. A ribbon boardwalk connects the pool deck directly to the beach, allowing Members to move between the two with effortless ease. Full beach and poolside service means every detail is handled. For those looking to stay active, a state-of-the-art fitness center offers a tranquil setting with ocean-informed light. And when visiting friends and family outnumber bedrooms, a duet of well-appointed two-bedroom guest cottages offers a seamless solution, tucked into the property and steps from everything. 

The Cape Club amenities at a glance: 

• Oceanfront infinity pool with chaise lounges and cabanas 
• Expansive sundeck with Atlantic views 
• Ribbon boardwalk to the beach 
• Full beach and poolside service 
• Latin-inspired al fresco dining led by Chefs Souvanna and Lata 
• State-of-the-art fitness center
• Two-bedroom guest cottages 

From the first morning swim to the last light over the Atlantic, The Cape Club is built for the full length of a Kiawah summer day. 

How to Experience The Cape Club 

The Cape Club is exclusively available to Kiawah Island Club Members, and Membership is available through the purchase of select Kiawah Island properties. The Club offers three levels of Membership, each including access to The Cape Club: 

• Golf Membership: Unlimited golf at River Course and Cassique, plus full access to Club amenities 
• Sports Membership: Access to golf and sporting facilities with reduced greens fees, plus full amenity access
• Social Membership: Access to The Cape Club, Sasanqua Spa, dining, fitness, and the full calendar of Club events and programming 

Each level of Membership opens the door to The Cape Club and the full breadth of what Kiawah Island Club life has to offer. 

Your Place on the Island Starts Here 

Some amenities are worth building a life around. The Cape Club is one of them. For those considering ownership on Kiawah Island, the conversation often begins here, at the water’s edge, on the west end, where the days are long, and the living is effortless. 

For prospective buyers, Ocean Pines—Kiawah’s newest luxury residential community on West Beach—places Members just steps from The Cape Club’s front door. Explore available properties and discover what it means to live on Kiawah Island.