On opposite ends of Toronto’s waterfront, two rival “day-clubs” are seeking that rare and elusive customer who wants to bring the club experience — thumping music, skimpy clothing, bottle service, a good frisking by security — out into the bright sunlight.

On the city’s east-end Port Lands, club king Charles Khabouth’s Cabana Pool Bar offers a stunning view of the city skyline from the docks at Polson Pier. In the west, the massive Muzik club — which in recent months has hosted none other than Mayor Rob Ford and pop star Justin Bieber — has just opened its own daytime pool bar outside the club at Exhibition Place.

The clubs open at noon, so two Star reporters visited both places to determine just what happens there on a weekday afternoon.

Thursday, Muzik

1:44 p.m. There are a total of four women by the pool and one bored lifeguard, despite the glorious weather. We decide to try again another day.

Friday, Cabana

1:50 p.m. Outside the entrance, a sign greets us: “Welcome to Daylife.” The theme is “Ditch Fridays — Take the Day Off.” There is no cover.

1:55 p.m. We each order a glass of the house white for $7.50. Our server, a young woman in a white string bikini top, white short shorts and heeled running shoes takes our order — and our credit cards. She says a lot of people walk out without paying because the place is so huge. “I don’t chance it anymore,” she says.

The decor is all white : white couches, white cabanas, white curtains, white towels, umbrellas and pillows. There is a nice lake breeze, which is welcome since it’s pushing 30 degrees. Our server says it’s “quite a production” keeping the whites white.

To our left are five men in their mid-30s, all wearing cargo shorts, muscle shirts and drinking Corona. To our right, a couple dines on a pizza lunch . The menu also offers such fare as “Sexy Fries” ($12) and tacos and sushi. There are about 10 people swimming and 25 others in the pool area, which costs $15 extra just to enter, plus $5 for towel rental. Do not BYO towel. It will be confiscated.

The music is a selection of soft jams and retro hits like Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing,” and a remix of Bob Marley’s “Sun is Shining.”

2:09 p.m. A woman holding a baby dances by, but otherwise there is not much grooving. In fact, there is little intermingling, especially between the sexes, although many are dressed up for just that: sky-high heels, lace dresses, club makeup threatening to melt in the heat. Possibly it’s too early in the day. Most people are just having lunch. Overall, there are about 80 dayclubbers at Cabana, but for a club with a capacity of 2,500, it feels a little empty.

2:27 p.m. A man with a pirate hat and Hawaiian shorts walks in, heading straight for the pool. Despite a “sophisticated and casual chic beach wear dress code” that is “strictly enforced,” most men are wearing flip flops or bare feet. It’s the only bar we’ve ever seen where the “no shirts, no shoes, no service” rule is laughable.

2:31 p.m. Chin strap facial hair is alive and well, as are shark tooth necklaces.

2:43 p.m. A hookah pipe is brought out.

Impression: Cabana is mostly a massive, outdoor patio where it’s the servers who are baring the most skin. Poolside cabanas require a minimum spend of $2,500 and those near the lake cost about $1,200. This day, all except one were empty. Polson Pier is remote: most drive here and pay for parking, which might explain the older crowd and relative lack of daytime boozing. We hear it gets busier after the sun sets but we’ve got another day-club to hit.

Friday, Muzik

3:41 p.m. The three separate lineups for VIP guests, limo drop-offs and bottle service are not in use, but seven staff, four managers and two security guards are prepared for our arrival. A female security guard ensures nothing gets smuggled in under bra straps. It’s a little disconcerting to see the Garden of the Greek Gods sculptures perched in sand among the sunbathers.

The uniform for female servers includes teal blue bikini tops, teal blue sarongs and white sneakers, although the men wear shorts. Our server tells us it gets cold at night by the lake, but the female staff are not allowed to wear sweaters. They are, however, allowed to wear something called “sheer leggings.”

Across the patio, a woman with a deep tan and a hot pink bikini has her photo taken by a professional club photographer with a DSLR. The song “Poppin’ Bottles” by T.I. (featuring Drake) comes on the sound system.

Cover is $20 for women and $30 for men. We pretend this is normal for us.

3:54 p.m. We are informed we can only sit down if we get bottle service or rent a towel for $5. We decide to stand and try to find some shade. There is none.

The waterfront cabanas are covered in white muslin, but it’s draped over clear, corrugated plastic sheeting, presumably to keep the rain out. This concentrates the sunlight, making us feel like bugs under a magnifying glass.

The bars themselves, the washrooms and change rooms are made of corrugated metal trailers, like you might see at a music festival or construction site. In the washrooms, towel boys and girls look for tips.

The crowd is decisively younger than Cabana, with a lot of tattoos, bikinis and complicated hair. Most of the 20-something men have the same cut: shaved close on the side, slicked across the top. No one in the pool dares to dunk their head under the water.

3:56 p.m. Two young women start enthusiastically showering together at the outdoor shower next to the bottle-service booths.

3:59 p.m. A thong walks by.

4:02 p.m. There are four girls in the pool and many others dancing poolside to club hits. After Googling one song, we learn it’s “2 On/Thotful” by OB O’Brien (also featuring Drake). One woman is dancing, wearing black ankle booties with her bikini. Her feet must be so hot. Are heels by the pool safe? There is very little appropriate footwear at Muzik, although plenty of signs advising “Pool Rules.”

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4:20 p.m. The music is turned up and the shower is in full swing. With about 100 people here, it seems no different from a normal club except for the dress code, the glaring heat and the fact that staff seem to outnumber the clientele. The club is licensed for 5,654 outdoor guests .

4:31 p.m. We decide to call it a day. Outside the club, a young man leaves his BMW with the valet. His ball cap is worn backwards and crooked as he races to security. On Fridays, our server told us, “things get crazy.”

Impression: The Muzik crowd was young and fancy. It was a little disconcerting to be greeted by a wall of blue-clad staffers and undergo a physical search at the door. It would also be nice to be able to sit down without paying. Next time, I’m sure, we’ll just spring for the bottle service.

Pool Wars

CABANA POOL BAR

11 Polson St., 416-479-7645, cabanapoolbar.com

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from noon

Opened: 2013

Capacity: 2,500

Pros: large saltwater pool, giant screen for watching the World Cup, great skyline view

Cons: Hard to get there

MUZIK POOL BAR

15 Saskatchewan Rd., Exhibition Place, muzikclubs.com

Hours: Daily, from noon

Opened: 2014

Capacity: Licensed for 5,654 outdoor guests

Pros: Expansive and luxurious four-acre space built around a historic building at the Ex