People come to Saint-Tropez for its captivating light, its atmosphere sometimes boosted, sometimes soft and soothed. People also come here for its climate, which is so often sunny. Its long summer nights, its crystal clear beaches and its frenzied evenings. We finally come here for its cuisine, its legendary addresses that stand the test of time and the news that gives a facelift to this old traditional fishing village. Facing the sea, feet in the sand or on the heights, in secret courtyards or in the eyes of everyone on the port, here is our selection of the ten most beautiful terraces in Saint-Tropez.
Breakfast
LE SÉNÉQUIER, AN INSTITUTION
Inaugurated in 1930, the Sénéquier terrace has seen the biggest stars from around the world. Juergen Wackenhut / Shutterstock
The story begins in 1887, the year when Marie and Martin Sénéquier opened their first boutique in Place aux Herbes, where he made their famous soft nougat. In 1930, under the leadership of their children, the family pastry shop expanded with a café with a large terrace overlooking the harbor. The one we know today with her famous red canvas chairs that have seen so many stars parade: Brigitte Bardot during the shooting of the film Et Dieu… created the woman , Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Moss, Johnny Hallyday, Jacques Chirac but also Matisse and Picasso. The Sénéquier café, now owned by Thierry Bourdoncle, owner of many restaurants in Paris, welcomes no less than 600,000 guests each year. To be sure to find a table, and enjoy the tranquility of the port before the onlookers break in by the hundreds, get up early and go for breakfast. À la carte, delicious pastries prepared in the adjoining bakery, to be tasted with iced chocolate, a house specialty. Then go to the shop to offer you a nougat of course, but also a sachet of almond macaroons. Guaranteed success!
Le Sénéquier, 29 quai Jean Jaurès, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. Phone. : 04 94 97 20 20.
LE SUBE, THE HISTORICAL HOTEL OF THE PORT
From the balcony of the Hotel Sube, you have a breathtaking view of the port of Saint-Tropez. V alery Hache / AFP
Former coaching inn, now the private mansion of the Marquis Alban Martin de Roquebrune, the Sube throne, imperturbable, on the port of Saint-Tropez. On the first floor, a narrow balcony with a few tables, offers a unique view of the bustling life of the port, with its row of extravagant yachts, the lighthouse and in the distance the coast of Grimaud and Sainte-Maxime. This historic seafarers' bar, decorated in an English club, has long been a landmark for artists and intellectuals. Alexandre Dumas, Guy de Maupassant, who also mentions the hotel in his novel Sur l'eau in 1876, Paul Signac, Apollinaire or Orson Welles who installed his easel there to paint a scene of the Bravade, notably invested the premises, each in their own time, proof that the Sube crosses time without aging. The perfect place for a morning coffee / croissant / orange juice, perched above the crowd.
Hotel Sube, 15 quai du Bailli de Suffren, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Open all year. Phone. : 04 94 97 30 04.
Lunch by the water
LES GRANIERS, A MODERNIZED FISHERMEN'S SHACK ON THE BEACH
Chic and discreet, the Graniers beach restaurant is just a 10-minute walk from Saint-Tropez town center. Marc de Delley
Ten minutes walk from the city center, a quiet refuge, a calm and peaceful address in a cove in the shade of the Citadel: the Graniers beach. Here, you can have lunch with your feet in the sand before lounging on this charming little beach in Canoubiers Bay. On the menu: the 1001 flavors of the Mediterranean (fresh fish including delicious grilled sardines, colorful salads and golden barbecue meats) served by a dynamic and cheerful team that plays the casual menu. In terms of decor, the owners - local children - wanted to preserve the spirit of the fisherman's hut from the 1950s, far from the bling of many restaurants in Saint-Tropez. It's beautiful, chic and discreet.
Les Graniers, 1 beach of Graniers, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Open from April to September from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7:30 p.m. (in July-August). Phone. : 04 94 97 13 43.
THE SALINS BEACH, TURQUOISE WATER AND FINE SAND
The restaurant at Salins beach faces turquoise water. Salins Beach / Photo press
We may have known it for years, come and come back every summer, the Salins beach never ceases to enchant us. First of all, its turquoise sea, its wild character and its tranquility, which a few kilometers away detonate the decibels of Pampelonne. Frequented by regulars who like to find themselves in this corner of paradise still preserved, the eponymous restaurant serves simple but refined Mediterranean cuisine. Under the blue parasols, scattered in front of a white household, you can taste the catch of the day in a relaxed and warm atmosphere, a few meters from the shore. After falling asleep on the restaurant's deckchairs, and taking a bracing dip, take a walk on the sublime coastal path that runs along coves with translucent water. A wonder.
Les Salins, route des Salins, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Open daily from April to October for lunch from noon. Phone. : 04 94 97 15 66.
Sunset
TIGRR, A PANORAMIC VIEW ON THE GULF
Overlooking the village, Le TIGrr bar-restaurant offers panoramic views of the port and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Laurent Pons
From Place des Lices, you can see it in the distance, perched on the hill of the Citadel. This former family residence built in the 19th century, with its white and green facade, now houses the Ermitage hotel. Entering the dark hall, it is hard to imagine that you are going to one of the most beautiful terraces in Saint-Tropez. Overlooking the village, Le TIGrr bar-restaurant, whose concept is also available in Megève and Gordes, offers a panoramic view of the port and the gulf, and represents in our eyes one of the most beautiful spots to sip a cocktail facing the sunset. À la carte, a series of Asian bites (dim sums, sushi, spring rolls ...) ideal to accompany Spritz, Mojito or a glass of champagne while listening to the DJ revisiting nostalgic songs and summer hits. An insider address, confidential and festive, which allows you to rediscover the atmosphere of the Saint-Trop 'of the sixties for an evening .
The TIGrr, 14 avenue Paul Signac, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Open from May to October, daily from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Phone. : 04 94 81 08 10.
LA BOUILLABAISSE, TAPAS ON THE BEACH
Relaxed lounge atmosphere at the beach bar-restaurant La Bouillabaisse. La Bouillabaisse / Photo press
It is a Tropezian institution. Located at the entrance to the city, the La Bouillabaisse restaurant has served this fish soup typical of the region for over forty years. With a private beach, the establishment, taken over in 2015 by Ludovic Moutet, has an outdoor bar with deck chairs and low tables on the sand. An ideal family address for an aperitif facing the sun which sets behind the hill of Grimaud. À la carte: rosé pools and refreshing cocktails and a fine selection of tapas and plates to share. Warm and relaxed service particularly appreciated!
La Bouillabaisse Plage, departmental 98A - Quartier de la Bouillabaisse, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Open all year for lunch, and from April to October in the evening from 7 p.m. Phone. : 04 94 97 54 00.
Read also: Our most beautiful guesthouses 2020 in the Southeast
LILY OF THE VALLEY, A CASE FACING THE SEA
Facing the Ile du Levant, in the green nature of Cap Lardier, this 5-star hotel was designed by Philippe Starck. Lily of the Valley / Photo press
Inaugurated in June 2019, Alain Weill's new 5-star hotel quickly found its place in the top 10 of the most beautiful establishments in the region. Facing the Ile du Levant, in the green nature of Cap Lardier, Lily of the Valley was designed by designer Philippe Starck who drew his inspiration from the gardens of Babylon, the architecture of the Provençal abbeys and the design of the villas Californians. Suspended above the waves, the restaurant terrace, run by former Byblos chef Vincent Maillard, enjoys a breathtaking view of Cavalaire Bay. At the end of the day, facing the swimming pool which seems to be looking up to the horizon, you can treat yourself to an enchanted break in this sumptuous place that you will have a hard time leaving.
Lily of the Valley, Saint Michel hill, Abel Faivre boulevard, Gigaro district, 83420 La Croix-Valmer. Open all year from 7 p.m. Phone. : 04 22 73 22 00.
Read also: Lily of the Valley, Philippe Starck gets drunk on Riviera
Exceptional dinner
Pan Deï, an oriental palace in the heart of Saint-Tropez
The Pan Deï Palais, labeled Relais & Châteaux, successfully combines the intimacy of a luxurious family home with the exotic charms of an Indian palace. Pan Deï / Press
No one suspects that a stone's throw from the Place des Lices is a palace of a thousand and one nights. Behind a discreet facade of rue Gambetta, one of the main shopping streets in the city, the large wooden door of the Pan Deï Palais, always closed, maintains the mystery. Originally from Saint-Tropez, General Allard, who served the Sikh king of Panjâb Ranjît Singh, had this Provencal building in the heart of his native village built in 1835 for his wife, Princess Bannu Pan Deï. Converted into a hotel under the leadership of Stéphane Courbit, the establishment, labeled Relais & Châteaux, successfully combines the intimacy of a luxurious family home with the exotic charms of an Indian palace. In the courtyard on the ground floor, around a superb mosaic swimming pool (which succeeds in transforming into a terrace or dance floor thanks to its removable floor), stand the tables of the DolceVa restaurant. In the kitchen, chef Marco Garfanini revisits the great Transalpine classics. High-flying plates which, of course, reflect the hotel's oriental setting, but will delight lovers of Italian cuisine.
The Pan Dei Palais, 52 rue Gambetta, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Open all year from 7 p.m. Phone. : 04 94 17 71 71.
Read also: The Pan Dei Palais, in Saint-Tropez: the "Figaro" expert opinion
LA VAGUE D'OR, THE STARRY TABLE OF SAINT-TROPEZ
Facing the sea, the three-star chef Arnaud Donckele reveals all his art. Richard Haughton
The youngest French chef to be awarded three stars in the Michelin guide, Arnaud Donckele, 43, settled down at the Cheval Blanc hotel (ex-Résidence de la Pinède) in 2005. For fifteen years, this native of Rouen has been enjoying the most fine gourmets of Saint-Tropez with its subtle and daring cuisine. "I want to provoke a firework of flavors," says the chef, who does not hide his taste for unusual and surprising weddings. Under century-old pines at the edge of the water, with a dazzling view of the gulf, Arnaud Donckele sublimates the products of Provence and the Mediterranean, between land and sea, with his escapades in 5 or 7 acts. An exclusive and unforgettable experience.
La Vague d'Or, Bouillabaisse beach, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Open from mid-May to early October, every evening except Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Phone. : 04 94 55 91 00.
Read also: Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez: the "Figaro" expert opinion
PATIO, A BUBBLE OF ROMANTICISM
At the heart of this old family house, a discreet and bucolic courtyard. Valentina somma riva
Located at the foot of the Citadel, in a pretty quiet and flowery alley, the Yaca hotel is a haven of peace in the heart of Saint-Tropez. This family home built in 1722 and transformed into a hotel after the war by Philippe Tallien, former dancer of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo and antique dealer, welcomed artists who came to stay in the region at the end of the 1940s. Orson Welles, Tyrone Power, Greta Garbo and Louis de Funès were among the prestigious clients of the establishment. Taken over in the 1980s by the Huret family, the Yaca is now one of the most beautiful 5-star hotels in Saint-Tropez. Here, no large terrace on the street but a charming courtyard planted with palm trees and cacti. By the pool, the chef at Le Patio restaurant offers a gourmet trip to Italy. On the menu, carpaccio of langoustines, vitello tonnato, poutargue from Sardinia, homemade ravioli ... Served in a sumptuous and intimate setting which offers a sweet bucolic and romantic break.
The Yaca Saint-Tropez, 1 boulevard d'Aumale, 83 990 Saint-Tropez. Open daily from May to October from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Phone. : 04 94 55 81 00.
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