Until you have experienced getting caught up in the sizzling swirl of St Tropez, it's hard to explain the magnetic pull it has. First brought into the spotlight by Brigitte Bardot in 1956 when she filmed And God Created Woman, her stirring beauty became forever entwined with the sugar almond-hued village, being the scene of many declarations of love to the filmstar. From Mercedes heirs dropping hundreds of red roses from their jet onto her villa to mansions constructed in her honour by Lebanese billionaires, it's serious spruce up saw it quickly turn into the world's red carpet each summer.
A glamorous tornado of mammoth Moets squirted with wild abandon, whale-sized yachts jostling for multi-million dollar berths, and an endless carousel of superstars, high season St Tropez isn't exactly low-key. But, the drama of it all, coupled with its peach-tinted streets and powder-pink sunsets which long attracted artists like Matisse and Bonard, is infectious.
So to go on a France yacht charter and not go to St Tropez is like going to Monaco and not spending a dollar: it's a must. We bring you an insider's guide to the best places to see and do in this sun-drenched spot.
Image credits: @michaellsykes
A day at the beach in St Tropez revolves around the beach club. Fuelling the town’s fame since 1956, the three-mile-long Pampelonne Beach is where the crème de la crème is based and this includes a string of attractive new openings mixed among some well-established locales.
The very best come with their own private jetty. This means superyacht-goers can anchor off the coast of the French Riviera and arrive by tender, turning heads as they step ashore. And with a varied selection of venues, there is a beach club to suit every mood.
Le Club 55 is probably the classiest and most discreet, not to mention the most renowned. A simple fishing hut in the early 1950s, it was adopted as a canteen by the film crew shooting And God Created Woman. Morphing into the legendary address it is today, the club has never lost its ability to woo the rich and famous.
Fuelling the town’s fame since 1955, the three-mile-long Baie de Pampelonne is where the crème de la crème of beach clubs is based
Club 55
A luxury tender service is at your disposal, as well as a jetty for ensuring a fuss-free arrival and VIP entrance. The beach club opens daily at 9am- early in comparison to its neighbours- so you can arrive in good time to bag a front-row sunbed overlooking the sea.
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Club 55
Beach Club
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Nikki Beach, Monte-Carlo
Beach Club
Image credits: @lavaguedor
An exciting culinary movement is currently taking place in St Tropez, providing yet another reason to return to this Mediterranean hotspot on a private yacht charter. There are some long-running classics worth re-discovering too.
Leading the way is super-chef Arnaud Donckele at La Vague d’Or, a gastronomic temple with three Michelin stars at the La Residence de la Pinede. Expect Mediterranean ingredients and flavours with an unusual twist as well as exceptional service.
Another significant contender on the scene is Rivea. The brainchild of chef Alain Ducasse, the restaurant has been making a name for itself at the illustrious Hotel Byblos since 2002. Diners can feast on fare majoring in Mediterranean simplicity under a candlelit canopy of lanterns.
Leading the way is super-chef Arnaud Donckele at La Vague d’Or, a gastronomic temple with three Michelin stars
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La Vague d'Or by Arnaud Donckele
Restaurant
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Cucina Byblos
Restaurant
VIP Room starts the night as Le GIONA, a restaurant serving up an Italian-Mediterranean fusion. It then morphs into what Karl Lagerfeld dubbed as ‘the best club in the world’. As international DJs take to the decks, clubbers take to the dance floor amidst a riot of mirrors, glass and colour-changing lights.
After 55 years of hotshot service, Papagayo has recently metamorphosed into Gaio, a restaurant and club concept with a Japanese-Peruvian menu created by Madrid chef Luis Arevalo. The venue is still a magnet for the stars and a famous face is sure to be spotted among the patrons who arrive for dinner and stay on for nightclub shenanigans until the early hours of the morning.
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GAÏO
Nightclub
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Les Caves du Roy
Nightclub
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VIP Room
Nightclub
St Tropez's picturesque old port has barely changed since Brigitte Bardot arrived in town
Don’t miss the tiny fishing market resplendent in mosaics and marble hidden behind Porte de la Poissinnerie and take time out to explore the Ponche quarters, where fishermen and artists once inhabited pastel-coloured houses along narrow cobbled streets. In the heart of town, the parish church, home to a bust of St Tropez himself, is worth a visit too.
At the top of the village, a wood-covered hill leads to the 16th-century Citadel, built to both defend the coast and keep watch over the Tropeziens who, in the view of the French, were a sullen and troublesome lot. From outside, the views across the village and out to sea are splendid while, inside, there is now a museum dedicated to St Tropez’s maritime history.
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Place des Lices, Tuesday and Saturday are when this market comes alive, it's the perfect time to bring a little bit of Provence back with you.
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K.Jacques: buy the quintessential St Tropez sandal on 22 Rue Allard
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La Chemise Tropezienne: a St Tropez institution selling beautifully made shirts that double as great beach cover-ups at 35 Rue Gambetta.
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Musée de l’Annonciade: celebration of artistic luluminaries like Matisse, Signanc and Dufy.
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Enjoy an aperitif with twinkling views at Bar du Port
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Make a pitstop at Table Tropézienne to taste St Tropez's legendary dessert that piles on the cream
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Îles d'Hyères: one of the best anchorage spots in the South of France.
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Les Voiles: world-famous sailing regatta that takes place in Saint Tropez in September.
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Lily of the Valley: another Philippe Starck designed hotel and spa with epic vistas
For more details on planning a St Tropez yacht charter, speak to your preferred charter broker.
Alternatively, view all luxury yachts available for charter in the South of France.
