What Is a Cabana? Meaning, Types & Cabana vs Pavilion
A cabana is a small shelter with a roof and open or curtained sides, set beside a pool, on a beach or in a garden to give you a shaded place to lounge, change or get out of the sun. Most cabanas are sized for two to six people and furnished like an outdoor room, usually with a daybed or lounge seating.
Cabana meaning
The word comes from the Spanish cabaña, meaning a cabin or hut. In English it came to mean the beach and pool shelters of resorts and beach clubs, and today it covers anything from a simple fabric shade on the sand to a permanent poolside pavilion with curtains, lighting and its own furniture.
What makes something a cabana rather than an umbrella or a gazebo is the combination of three things: a roof overhead, sides that can be closed for privacy or shade, and a size meant for a small group rather than a party.
Types of cabanas
Pool cabana
The most common type at home. A pool cabana sits next to the water and is used for shade between swims, a place to sit with drinks, or a spot to change. Some are permanent built structures with a solid roof, power and even a small bathroom; others are freestanding aluminum or wood frames with fabric roofs and drapes.
Beach cabana
On the beach, a cabana can be anything from a portable pop-up shade to the rows of rented cabanas at a beach club. They are lighter and simpler than pool cabanas, built to be set up and taken down.
Freestanding hotel and resort cabanas
The cabanas you rent by the day at a hotel pool. They are usually commercial-grade freestanding structures with a fabric or louvered roof, side curtains, a daybed or sofa, a table and sometimes a fan or TV. The same products are increasingly used at home, because they give you a resort-style cabana without building anything permanent.
Cabana daybeds and canopy daybeds
The smallest version: a daybed with its own canopy or frame overhead. It works as a one- or two-person cabana and fits where a full structure would not, such as a narrow pool deck or a terrace.
What goes in a cabana
- Somewhere to lie down. A daybed or a pair of loungers is the centre of most cabanas.
- A table. A side table or low coffee table for drinks and books.
- Curtains or drapes. Outdoor fabric panels you can close against low sun, wind or neighbours.
- Cushions in outdoor fabric. Quick-drying foam and solution-dyed fabric, so they survive a wet swimsuit.
- Light, and sometimes a fan or heater. Useful if you want to use it after dark or in cooler months.
Cabana vs pavilion
The two are often confused. A pavilion is a larger open-air structure with a roof, built for gatherings: outdoor dining, a kitchen, or a seating area for a dozen people. A cabana is smaller, more private and built around lounging.
| Cabana | Pavilion | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Small, for 2–6 people | Larger, for groups |
| Sides | Often curtained or partly enclosed | Usually open on all sides |
| Main use | Lounging, shade, changing | Dining, entertaining, outdoor kitchens |
| Typical location | Poolside or beach | Garden, lawn, patio |
| Furniture | Daybed, loungers, side table | Dining set, sofas, bar |
| Structure | Freestanding frame or small built structure | Usually permanent, built on a foundation |
For a side-by-side look at pergolas as well, see our guide to cabanas, pavilions and pergolas.
Is a cabana the same as a gazebo?
No. A gazebo is a freestanding roofed structure, traditionally round or octagonal, that usually sits in a garden and is open on all sides. A cabana is typically rectangular, sits by water and has curtains or walls so it can be closed off.
Do you need a permit for a cabana?
It depends on your city and the structure. Freestanding cabanas that are not fixed to a foundation are often treated like outdoor furniture, while permanent structures with footings, electrical or plumbing usually need a permit. Check with your local building department before you order.
Furnishing a cabana
If you want a freestanding cabana rather than a built one, Tuuci makes the commercial-grade cabanas used at many resort pools, including the Solanox, Atlantis, Grand Pacific and St. Tropez. Séora’s Grand Belvedere Cabana is another option for larger pool decks. You can see them all in our cabana collection.
For a smaller space, a canopy daybed does the same job. The Elevated Daybed by Gandia Blasco has a slatted canopy that filters light rather than blocking it, and our outdoor daybeds include other covered and open designs.
Several of these are on display at our showroom at 8770 Beverly Blvd in West Hollywood, open Monday to Friday 10 AM–6 PM and Saturday 10:30 AM–6 PM. If you are planning a cabana for a pool or terrace, book a visit and bring your measurements, or browse our full range of outdoor furniture in Los Angeles.
