France is the home of haute cuisine: a country that can boast a different cheese for every day of the year; a nation that produces more wine than any other on the planet and the founder of the Michelin star guide. Naturally therefore, one would assume that in St Tropez, arguably France’s most luxurious resort, there is a good selection of fine dining restaurants. Those assumptions are justified by the host of excellent St Tropez restaurants, from seaside Club 55 to Christian Dior inspired Dior des Lices. For your convenience, St Tropez House – an expert in luxury villa rental in St Tropez – has therefore compiled a list of the finest local establishments to dine in.
La Vague d’Or – St Tropez
With three Michelin stars, Arnaud Donckele is one of France’s most decorated chefs. He has overseen an era of sublime cooking at St Tropez’s best restaurant La Vague d’Or, the private diner to the famous Hôtel la Résidence de la Pinède. Originally opened in 1954, the restaurant received the first of its three Michelin stars in 1990 (a testament to La Vague d’Or’s long history of exceptional cuisine). However, it is only under the tenure of Arnaud Donckele that the restaurant has established itself among the world’s elite cooking establishments, earning two more Michelin stars in 2011 and 2013. With original and flavoursome dishes such roasted langoustine with limequat peels complemented by stunning seaside views from the St Tropez restaurant’s lawn terrace, it is easy to comprehend the root of La Vague d’Or’s success.
Address: Plage de la Bouillabaisse, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
Phone: +33 4 94 55 91 00
Le Club 55 – Ramatuelle
Club 55, a St Tropez beach club like no other, ranks among the most popular luxury establishments on the famous Pampelonne beach. It’s location upon golden sand and the excellent food it serves sees up to 1,000 guests congregate at the luxurious St Tropez restaurant daily during the summer season. Le Club 55’s sociable atmosphere is underlined by its mantra: “the client is not king because he is a friend”.
Guests must expect to pay a premium to enjoy the luxuries of Le Club 55, however the famous Ramatuelle restaurant is certainly worthy of its pricing. Bamboo lines the bar, leading to a long wooden pier that connects Le Club 55 with the crystal clear Mediterranean sea. The clinking of Cristal bottles can be heard as diners indulge in seafood appetisers such as the tuna carpaccio, breaded calamari and Beluga Caviar.
Address: 43 Boulevard Patch, 83350 Ramatuelle, France
Phone: +33 4 94 55 55 55
Auberge des Maures – St Tropez
Just a stone’s throw away from the very central Place des Lices is a beautiful old Provençal house. Set in stone, with wooden beams and a large open terrace, Auberge de Maures’ charming and quaint appearance belies the world-class food that is being produced inside. Indeed, local delicacies such as the daube beef stew, lamb with rosemary, and assortment of Mediterranean fish have been served to customers here for more than 80 years, making Auberge des Maures the oldest restaurant in St Tropez. These excellent dishes have always been enjoyed in a convivial and peaceful atmosphere the likes of which has previously attracted celebrity diners such as Charlie Chaplin and David Niven to enjoy the Auberge’s luxury hospitality.
Address: 4 Rue Dr Boutin, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
Phone: +33 4 94 97 01 50
Au Caprice des Deux – St Tropez
Tucked away down a narrow alley, Au Caprice des Deux offers its customers the chance to enjoy rustic French cooking from beyond the borders of Provence at one of the best restaurants in St Tropez. Dishes inspired by the regions of Aquitaine, Gascony and further afield bring a contemporary touch to the nation’s old classics. Due to the limited number of places and the high popularity of the menu, ensuring a reservation at this small restaurant in St Tropez can prove challenging. Yet for lovers of wholesome, honest, high quality food, the wait is worthwhile.
Address: 40 Rue du Portail Neuf, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
Phone: +33 4 94 97 76 78
Hôtel Pan Dei Palais – St Tropez
Enamoured by the charm of Bannu Pan Deï – a beautiful Punjab princess – a French General built a glamorous residence on the French Riviera in 1835 in her honour. Today, part of the Relais de Chateaux’s illustrious chain of luxury hotels, the Hôtel Pan deï Palais ranks among the finest gourmet restaurants in St Tropez. Step beyond the hotel’s vast carved wooden doors to discover the talents of chef Marco Garfagnini, renowned for his ability to imagine Italian cuisine in harmony with local influences, serving up crudo, unique pasta dishes, and some of the freshest fish you’ll ever taste.
Address: 52 Rue Gambetta, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
Phone: +33 4 94 17 71 71
Pearl Beach – Bouillabaisse
A short drive out of the town centre has its rewards. For those willing to make the journey, Pearl Beach offers postcard views across the water from a unique perspective. In a hidden location towards Sainte Maxime, Pearl Beach creates beautiful dishes with pan-Asian and Mediterranean influences. This St Tropez restaurant has served as a popular diner for spending romantic evenings among couples. The food is an excellent marriage of rare flavours and beautiful presentation such as the sumptuous octopus salad.
Address: Quartier de la Bouillabaisse, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
Phone: +33 4 98 12 70 70
Hôtel de la Ponche – St Tropez
French Riviera cuisine is typically focused around seafood. Many of the best St Tropez restaurants, including those featured in this list, conform to this regional characteristic. Hôtel de la Ponche however is one of the very finest in serving Mediterranean seafood. Here, “fish soup, red mullet, lobster, cod are all honoured in true Provençal fashion”. Such dishes have long been admired by celebrity guests including Brigitte Bardot, during the making of Roger Vadim’s And God Created Woman and Pablo Picasso who was known to sit for hours on the hotel’s terrace and enjoy an anisette.
Address: 5 Rue des Remparts, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
Phone: +33 4 94 97 02 53
Cucina Byblos – St Tropez
In April, Hotel Byblos Saint-Tropez announced the appointment of Nicola Canuti as its new Executive Chef. Having spent nine years working under former renowned Byblos chef Alain Ducasse, Canuti is more than up to the challenge of creating incredible cuisine in this luxury hotspot. Cucina Byblos offers up a magical combination of ingredients and flavours that will transport diners straight to Cunati’s native Italy, all in a relaxed, romantic setting. The food is sourced as locally as possible, highlighting market and farm produce as well as the catch of the day, with a strong focus on sustainability.
Address: 27 Avenue Foch, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
Phone: +33 4 94 56 68 20
Les Toits – St Tropez
In the middle of the town centre is an oasis of peace. Luxury Hôtel de Paris’ picturesque rooftop eatery Le Toits is where diners can enjoy panoramic views across the pastel coloured rooftops of St Tropez. Executive Chef Damien Cruchet produces contemporary, flavour-filled creations, including freshly-caught fish, tasty free-range meats and locally-sourced seasonal vegetables, designed to be savoured as guests take in the wonderful vistas. There is also a stunning wine cellar that offers a selection of more than 350 different labels from grand crus to vintages.
Address: 1 Traverse de la Gendarmerie, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
Phone: +33 4 83 09 60 00
Dior des Lices – St Tropez
Led by 3 star Michelin chef Yannick Alléno, Christian Dior’s flagship resort is one of St Tropez’s best restaurants for an excellent lunch upon the manicured lawns of a stunning Provençal estate. An elite clientele gather under the shade of the three-story compound adjacent to the Place des Lices. Equally one may sit indoors among 18th Century Christian Dior interior design by Peter Marino, including terracotta floors, marble furnishings and large French windows looking onto the garden. The food, as expected, is as delightful as the St Tropez restaurant’s charming hospitality.
Address: 13 Rue François Sibilli, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
Phone: +33 4 98 12 67 65
For more information on how you can rent a villa near bars and restaurants in St Tropez, contact Emilia Jedamska on [email protected] and experience the myriad culinary delights of this luxurious holiday resort on the French Riviera.
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