9.5 / 10 for the Lou Pinet hotel
"A luxurious hideaway in the most emblematic village of the Côte d'Azur " . This is how the Pariente family, already at the head of Coucou in Méribel and Crillon-le-Brave in Provence, qualifies its new address. Designed in the vintage chic spirit of the 1950s and 1960s, the 5-star establishment is dedicated to "discretionary esthetes, lovers of the original Saint-Tropez spirit" , explain the owners who have added to this Provencal villa the bohemian charm of Saint-Tropez. In this family-run hotel, set around a pretty pine-lined swimming pool, guests benefit from delicate service and discreet attentions in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
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9/10 The situation
Located on the Route des Salins, between Place des Lices and the beaches of Pampelonne, the Lou Pinet hotel enjoys a privileged location, neither too far nor too close to the bustling center of Saint-Tropez. A twenty minute walk is still necessary to reach the village (by a small road badly laid out for pedestrians), even if a shuttle is available to customers. A car is however essential to discover the wonders of the region.
10/10 The decor
Entrusted to the interior designer Charles Zana, the decoration of the hotel mixes Provencal inspirations and design from the 1960s. From glass to ceramics, including linen, rope, terracotta, natural stone or iron Forged, the typical materials of the region help to create a sober and refined atmosphere, intimate but assertive. The decoration of the rooms and common areas forms a homogeneous whole without being uniform, embellished with beautiful pieces bargained by members of the Pariente family, great lovers of contemporary art. In the middle of the Mediterranean garden designed by the landscape designer Jean Mus, two majestic sculptures by Tony Cragg sit enthroned, while works by Ugo Rondinone and Arielle Benoit are exhibited at the reception and in the restaurant room. It is simply beautiful.
In pictures, guided tour of lou pinet
10/10 The rooms
Spread around a superb swimming pool - the largest of Saint-Tropez's hotels - the 26 rooms and 8 suites (including a Prestige suite of 80 square meters) are spacious, bright, and all have an outdoor area. Ours, in the Prestige category, has an area of around forty square meters. Located on the ground floor of a two-story building, it benefits from a double exposure and a view of the swimming pool. It has a king size bed, a sitting area and a large bathroom (with Le Labo brand products, located in New York and Grasse), where stone and wood blend harmoniously . As a bonus: a mini-bar, of course, whose non-alcoholic drinks are included in the price of the room, and a large television equipped with a Chromecast player which allows you to transfer multimedia content from your phone to the screen .
10/10 Service, equipment
Service is the charming asset of Lou Pinet. The staff are very caring with simplicity, discretion and kindness. Employees have the art of anticipating customer needs without ever imposing themselves, of guessing their desires before they are even expressed. The attentions are delicate, like this wicker basket placed on the bed with a beach towel, a candle in the colors of the hotel and a pretty pocket to store your swimsuit. Without forgetting the bottle of fresh rosé, brought a few minutes after your arrival.
In terms of facilities and services, the establishment offers all the essentials of a 5-star hotel with a superb spa signed Tata Harper, a fitness room, a full concierge service (restaurant and activity reservations, tours guided tours, boat rental, excursion to Porquerolles, sports lessons on request ...), a valet and a shuttle from 8:30 am to midnight to Place des Lices and Tahiti beach.
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9.5 / 10 At the table and at the bar
A great surprise! On a pleasant shaded terrace which overlooks the swimming pool, Riccardo Giraudi presents his Beefbar, which showcases a fine selection of exceptional meats, grilled, barbecue or cooked in a wok. On the menu, we discover a wide range of “street food” plates to share with, among other things, a delicious bao bun with smoked Kobe beef with jasmine tea, 40-day smoked beef steak ham, a ceviche of wolf and a sea bream tartare.
For the rest of the day, a snacking menu is available for snacking at the table, by the pool or in room service. Breakfast consists of a generous buffet of breads, pastries, tempting pastries and freshly squeezed fresh juices. Customers parade in bathrobes, perhaps the best time of the day.
8/10 The quality / price ratio
In spring and autumn (the hotel opens from April to October), the prices are very fair for the services provided and the comfort of the establishment with one night in a double room from 390 €, breakfast included. In high season, prices soar and can exceed 1,000 euros per night for a prestige room. An excessive bit, but we are in Saint-Tropez!
Lou Pinet Hotel, 70 Chemin du Pinet, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Phone: 04 94 97 04 37.