The garden at the La Bastide de St Tropez hotel in St Tropez, France. Photo Sarah Maisey
The garden at the La Bastide de St Tropez hotel in St Tropez, France. Photo Sarah Maisey
The garden at the La Bastide de St Tropez hotel in St Tropez, France. Photo Sarah Maisey
The garden at the La Bastide de St Tropez hotel in St Tropez, France. Photo Sarah Maisey

An insider's guide to St Tropez: Where to stay, shop and eat


  • English
  • Arabic

St Tropez is famous for Brigitte Bardot, sailing and for being a playground for the rich, and all with good reason.

Bardot made the coastal town on the French Riviera famous when she danced barefoot in the 1956 film And God Created Woman. Its location on the Mediterranean Sea in south-east France means it has since evolved into a place of refinement and sophistication, without losing any of its authentic charm.

Thousands flock there each summer to take in its excellent cuisine, turquoise blue waters and sunny climate, while billionaires anchor their superyachts offshore. It is a place where elegant stores rub shoulders with the traditional fish market, and where people dress to be seen as much as to play boulle.

Where to stay

La Bastide de St Tropez hotel has a central garden and swimming pool. Photo: Sarah Maisey
La Bastide de St Tropez hotel has a central garden and swimming pool. Photo: Sarah Maisey

A short drive from the port is La Bastide de St Tropez, a delightful five-star hotel formed from a small château and four farmhouses, brought together around a central garden and swimming pool.

Fringed with tall Cypress trees and palms, the garden provides a tranquil space filled with birdsong and is a haven from the bustle of the small town, which can get very crowded during the summer.

The restored farmhouses now have 26 rooms and suites, each individually appointed and with either a private balcony or terrace that all face into the garden. There is an excellent restaurant called Route Des Carles, while breakfast is served on the terrace overlooking the pool.

Where to eat

The most famous venue in St Tropez is probably Cafe Senequier, with its prime position on the harbour and its bright red canopy. Its fame also means it is crowded all the time and it is hard to get a table, but other places one street back from the water can serve up a better authentic experience.

Le Cafe Restaurant, situated on the central square of Place des Lices, is one of the town's gems. An eclectic space with its own piano bar and terrace, it serves contemporary and Provencal cuisine, including leek and egg mimosa, traditional pate en croute, as well as oven-baked mussels with parsley.

The interior is mismatched to perfection, with oversized rattan lampshades, clusters of vintage table lamps and chairs piled with clashing cushions. Once done with lunch, a game of boules in the square is a good option.

Le Cafe Saint Tropez. Photo: Le Cafe Saint Tropez
Le Cafe Saint Tropez. Photo: Le Cafe Saint Tropez

Set halfway up a hill on Avenue du Marechal Foch is La Ponche, a restaurant and hotel made famous by French writer Colette.

Overlooking the sea, the restaurant is run by chef Thomas Danigo, formerly of Galanga par Monsieur George in Paris, and specialises in transforming local, seasonal fish and vegetables into Mediterranean cuisine. The menu includes ceviche of sea bream, green zucchini gazpacho, bush tartlet with Provencal herbs and citrus fruits, and coriander-basil sorbet.

For a more laid-back lunch, Chemin de l’Epi is only a 12-minute drive and La Reserve à la Plage is set right on the beach. It has an interior designed by French designer Philippe Starck. Chef Nicolas Cantrel serves up Riviera-inspired cuisine such as Peruvian style avocado guacamole, tuna carpaccio and grilled octopus with sweet potatoes and spicy mayonnaise.

Also located out of town is Chez Camille Restaurant. It sits overlooking the beach in Ramatuelle, on Traverse de la Garonne. Founded in 1913, the seafood restaurant looks out on to a cove and feels intimate.

Where to shop

The town is overflowing with chic boutiques, including Loro Piana, Dolce & Gabbana, Dior, Jacquemus and Lebanese designer Elie Saab among others, while every Saturday and Tuesday the central square turns into one of the best markets in the region. Bargains can be had on linen shirts, embroidered shopping totes, and even essentials such as children's swimwear, from as little as €10 (Dh39).

Rondini, meanwhile, has been hand-making leather sandals in St Tropez since 1927. It is something of an institution, with one style, the Tropezienne, even named after the seaside port. Situated on Rue Georges-Clemenceau, it offers various styles of flats for men, women and children starting at €100 (Dh394).

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

While you're here
Infiniti QX80 specs

Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6

Power: 450hp

Torque: 700Nm

Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000

Available: Now

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'The Predator'
Dir: Shane Black
Starring: Olivia Munn, Boyd Holbrook, Keegan-Michael Key
Two and a half stars

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
While you're here
Volvo ES90 Specs

Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)

Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp

Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm

On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region

Price: Exact regional pricing TBA

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)

Nancy Ajram

(In2Musica)

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

WHEN TO GO:

September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.

WHERE TO STAY:

Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.

Results:

6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer).

7.05pm: Handicap (rated 72-87) Dh 165,000 1,600m.
Winner: Syncopation, George Buckell, Doug Watson.

7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Big Brown Bear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

8.15pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,200m.
Winner: Stunned, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

8.50pm: Handicap (85-105) Dh 210,000 2,000m.
Winner: New Trails, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.

9.25pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,600m.
Winner: Pillar Of Society, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Our legal consultants

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

pakistan Test squad

Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari

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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES

Tuesday (UAE kick-off times)

Leicester City v Brighton (9pm)

Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United (11.15pm)

Wednesday

Manchester United v Sheffield United (9pm)

Newcastle United v Aston Villa (9pm)

Norwich City v Everton (9pm)

Wolves v Bournemouth (9pm)

Liverpool v Crystal Palace (11.15pm)

Thursday

Burnley v Watford (9pm)

Southampton v Arsenal (9pm)

Chelsea v Manchester City (11.15pm)

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

UJDA CHAMAN

Produced: Panorama Studios International

Directed: Abhishek Pathak

Cast: Sunny Singh, Maanvi Gagroo, Grusha Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla

Rating: 3.5 /5 stars

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Updated: June 12, 2024, 4:05 PM`