Where do I even begin with St. Tropez?! A charming, glamorous, character rich, ever-glowing, picturesque, paradise; these are just a few of the words that come to mind when recounting my trip there this past summer. It had long been on my bucket list, ever since my first trip to the Côte d’Azur in 2019. When I found out that I would be illustrating live at the Cannes Lions Festival with Mastercard this past summer, I knew I needed to make my way further down the French Riviera! As luck would have it, my friend Melissa from London would also be in the area for work, and so our girls trip to St. Tropez began. Below are some of the gems we uncovered while there.
What to Pack:
- As you can well imagine, St. Tropez attracts some of the chicest, most discerning travelers, but the style still skews towards a relaxed and understated French glamour. Looks that can take you from breakfast and shopping in the Old Town/Port to the infamous beach clubs for lunch and sunbathing. Picture feminine sundresses, layered over designer bikinis, with Dior embroidered slides, and raffia Rive Gauche beach bags. The nightlife runs quite late so you will definitely have time to head home for a quick sieste and shower to change before heading out for sunset cocktails, dinner, and dancing. The nightlife style is quite varied; a mix of uber cool eclectic ensembles. I saw girls in full gowns and stilettos and others in vest tops with leather shorts and gold accessories. As long as it has a certain ‘je ne sais pas’ attitude, you’ll be just fine.
Where to Stay: (From Low to High Price)
- Hotel Le Mouillage Saint Tropez – this is where we stayed. It was a 10-min walk from the center of Saint-Tropez or a 2-min walk from Bouillabaisse beach; in other words, incredibly convenient in terms of location and very reasonably priced for the destination. The hotel is definitely boutique with roughly 12 rooms, that are modern and eclectic. The staff were super helpful in advising us on where to go.
- Hotel de Paris-Saint-Tropez – while we did not stay here, we did have cocktails on the rooftop. It is THE hotel in the heart of Saint-Tropez, just slightly west of the old town. It is refined, luxurious, sleek, and modern. I would love to stay here next time I return.
- Cheval Blanc Saint Tropez – discreet, serene, and an exceptional luxury hideaway. This beachfront hotel is situated across from Le Mouillage, where we stayed, and boasts it’s own private dock and beach. Their infinity pool overlooks the sea.
What to See:
- The port, old town shopping, beach clubs, restaurants, and nightlife
Where to Eat:
- Senequier – truly the most quintessential, must-not-miss venue in all of St. Tropez! Is it touristy? Yes, mildly. But it draws guests consistently for a reason. The food and view of the port is amazing. We made friends with the neighboring tables while the mist machines gently cooled us from the hot sun. I would go back again and again!
- Pearl Beach – beachfront venue serving Mediterranean, Far Eastern, and Peruvian flavors
- Dior des Lices – perfect for an afternoon coffee or cocktail, when the sun gets particularly hot
- Le Salama – glamorous, Moroccan restaurant, with a really lively atmosphere
- La Petite Plaje – Mediterranean restaurant nestled along the port, with sand lined floors, bougainvillea cascading from the ceiling, and sparklers glistening through the aisles. Expect some liveliness when guests order bottles and performers pour in off the harbour. A super fun experience to kickstart the evening
Where to Shop:
- Old Town – pedestrian only streets lined with designer boutiques
- Vieux Port – the historic and picturesque cafe and shop lined harbor
Beach Clubs:
- Le Club 55 – we did not have reservations so we went SUPER early in the day (around 1 PM) and managed to snap a table for 2 for lunch. I wasn’t terribly impressed with the restaurant experience but the beach boutique and lounge experience felt quintessentially St. Tropez. Worth doing once but I don’t feel the need to go again.
- La Serena, Ramatuelle – I absolutely loved this beach club. It was relaxed, not the least bit pretentious, the music was perfection and we had no issues getting chairs. We spent the whole of our beach day here after lunch at Club 55 and I genuinely didn’t want to leave.
- Loulou Ramatuelle – this is where Gucci hosted their Summer Stories takeover. I didn’t get to experience it myself but I have on good authority that it is quite chic and sceney. If you are looking for the fashion crowd, this is where you’ll likely find them!
Where to Play:
- Byblos – this is a 5 star hotel where you could have dinner at their poolside restaurant, Arcardia, but it is also perfect for an after dinner drink before heading to…
- Le Tigrr – not an easy door to get into and with reason! Incredibly chic crowd, great DJ, gorgeous outdoor terrace, and yummy cocktails
- Les Toits Lounge – located on the rooftop of Hotel de Paris, this is the perfect place to watch the sunset while listening to live music, over exquisite cocktails
