Once a month, Luxus Magazine sets sail for a destination in France or elsewhere to discover the most elegant places to visit. Characterful hotels, fine dining, rare boutiques, cultural getaways… Our notebook is like a treasure trove of keys for discerning travelers.
A sunny icon, too often frozen in clichés, Saint-Tropez remains a rare stopover for those who know how to stray from the beaten track. My address book? A few stylishly chosen keys to rediscover the soul of the peninsula, between discreet elegance and rare pleasures.
🔑 Key to sleep: Byblos Saint-Tropez
An iconic address in Saint-Tropez since 1967, the Hotel Byblos combines Mediterranean charm, discreet luxury, and a festive spirit. Nestled in the heart of the village, it welcomes stars and discerning travelers in a refined setting, with suites redesigned in 2024 by the talented Laura Gonzalez. For the 2025 season, three new spaces are being created by Marine Ugo: the Il Giardino restaurant, the B. Lounge by the pool, and a skybar with panoramic views.
🔑 Breakfast tip: Sénéquier
Café Sénéquier has reigned over the port with its legendary red terrace, coffees, ice creams, nougat, and tarte tropézienne since 1930. A favorite spot for celebrities (Bardot, Picasso, Chirac, and more), it is the glamorous observatory of the French Riviera and a must-see for seeing and being seen.
🔑 Style key: Victoire, K. Jacques and Serbin’s!
Victoire is a small boutique in Saint-Tropez that looks like the perfect dressing room. It offers a very feminine Riviera wardrobe, featuring timeless pieces, cutting-edge designers and a well-chosen selection of accessories.
K.Jacques sandals were created in 1933 in the workshop of Jacques and Elise Keklikian, Armenian refugees. Since then, three generations have passionately perpetuated the brand’s exceptional craftsmanship, which is emblematic of Saint-Tropez: each pair of sandals is handmade in their workshop on the Route des Plages, involving around 46 operations, 123 assembled elements, and nearly 60 nails, requiring approximately four days of work.
Our favorite: Serbin’s, which creates unique, made-to-measure dresses in Saint-Tropez. Named master artisan last May, Sviatlana Serbin offers handmade garments using high-end fabrics and an integrated haberdashery: a refined place for an exclusive wardrobe that has earned her the support of the Monaco royal family.
🔑 Key to the soul: Sainte-Anne Chapel
Perched on a hill surrounded by vineyards, this 17th-century chapel offers a panoramic view of the gulf. Little known to tourists, it invites contemplation. The sunset here is pure magic.
🔑 Key to a successful beach lunch: Le Jardin Tropezina
On Pampelonne Beach, attached to the Château de la Messardière, Le Jardin Tropezina offers private deckchairs, Mediterranean cuisine by three-star chef Jean-François Piège, a friendly atmosphere, and live music at dusk.
🔑 Key to a tasty lunch in town: Chez Camille in Ramatuelle
Nestled in the secret cove of Bonne Terrasse, Chez Camille has been a gourmet institution since 1953. Here you can enjoy wood-fired bouillabaisse and fresh fish facing the sea in a family-friendly, chic and discreet setting.
🔑 Sweet treat: La Tarte Tropézienne
Created in Saint-Tropez in 1955 by Alexandre Micka and popularized by Brigitte Bardot, this soft brioche sprinkled with pearl sugar reveals a creamy center (pastry cream + butter) with a unique flavor that has been kept secret for decades.
🔑 Key to the exhibition: Marcel Pagnol makes his cinema
At the Gendarmerie and Cinema Museum, this immersive exhibition pays tribute to the visionary filmmaker born 130 years ago. Photographs, personal objects, models, and excerpts retrace his intimate connection with Saint-Tropez from the 1930s to the 1950s (until March 3, 2026).
🔑 Key to relaxation: La Mer spa
Nestled in the heart of the legendary La Ponche hotel, La Mer spa offers a serene retreat overlooking the Mediterranean. The wellness area offers treatments by La Mer—the cult cream of insiders—in a setting reminiscent of a yacht cabin. Marine massages, rejuvenating treatments, exclusive rituals… everything invites you to suspend time, just a stone’s throw from the narrow streets of old Saint-Tropez.
🔑 Key to relaxation: Cybèle Ramatuelle beach
Nestled in Saint-Tropez, Cybèle evokes an elegant seaside home, soft and refined. Designed by Cordelia de Castellane, the decor combines weathered wood and woven rattan in pastel tones. Here you can enjoy generous cuisine with friends in a discreet and peaceful atmosphere facing the sea.
🔑 Secret key: The walk from La Moutte to Les Salins beach
To escape the crowds without leaving the magic of Saint-Tropez, take the coastal path between La Moutte beach and Les Salins. Pine trees, hidden coves, silence broken only by the sound of cicadas and the turquoise sea within reach. A discreet, wild, and precious escape, reserved for curious wanderers.
💡 Leave early in the morning or late in the day, comfortable shoes recommended.
🔑 Frosted key: Barbarac
An iconic sweet treat in Saint-Tropez, Barbarac has been delighting visitors since 1988 with its generous flavors of artisanal ice cream. Located on the port, the shop attracts locals and visitors alike with its fruity sorbets, creamy ice creams, and retro-chic style. An essential refreshing break under the Saint-Tropez sun.
🔑 Culture tip: The Citadel
Perched above the village, the Citadel of Saint-Tropez offers spectacular views of the gulf and ochre rooftops. A former 17th-century fortress, it now houses a fascinating maritime museum. Peaceful, shaded and offering stunning views, this historic site is far from the hustle and bustle, allowing you to rediscover the soul of Saint-Tropez.
🔑 Key to Happy Hour: Le Gorille
Le Gorille has been a Saint-Tropez institution since the 1950s. Founded by Henri Guérin, known as “le Gorille” (the gorilla) because of his hairiness, this bar-brasserie is open (almost) 24 hours a day and attracts crowds from dawn until late at night: a simple, friendly place steeped in history.
🔑 Key to a VIP dinner: White 1921
On the Place des Lices, the White 1921 restaurant at the hotel of the same name offers a summer menu created by three-star chef Arnaud Donckele and pastry chef Maxime Frédéric. A refined blue-and-white atmosphere, Mediterranean flavors, and chic service.
🔑 Key to an inspiring dinner: Matsuhisa
Based at the Château de la Messardière, chef Nobu Matsuhisa blends Japanese, Peruvian and Mediterranean influences in an exquisite harmony. Sashimi, ceviche, wagyu beef… A sensory dinner with flavors from around the world, combining Zen sophistication and Saint-Tropez glamour.
🔑 Key to clubbing: Les Caves du Roy
A legendary institution nestled in the Hotel Byblos, Les Caves du Roy embodies the nighttime glamour of Saint-Tropez. Under its golden palm trees, celebrities and insiders dance until dawn. Champagne, cult DJs, and a strict selection policy make this venue the ultra-exclusive sanctuary of the jet set, somewhere between living legend and eternal party.
Read: Saint-Tropez Soleil, published by Assouline
Discover Saint-Tropez through the prism of cinema: And God Created Woman, Voyage à deux, La Cage aux folles and the famous Gendarme series.
GOOD TO KNOW
- Avoid August if you like peace and quiet
- Smart parking: opt for the Lices car park and walk
- Out of season (May, September), the village regains its charm
- Market on the Place des Lices on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Next stop: Once upon a time… CAPRI
Read also > 25th edition of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez: the rendezvous for lovers of the world’s most beautiful regattas
Featured photo: Marian Bacciu/Unsplash
