If you’re thinking of Saint-Tropez for your next summer vacation, the search for the best private beach should be your priority. From family beaches to party beaches, Saint-Tropez is the most fashionable seaside destination on the Côte d’Azur.
You may not know it, but the cradle of private beach clubs is in the south of France, and particularly in Saint-Tropez, which is why you’ll find a variety of incredible beach clubs that have been around since the 1950s. Strictly speaking, there are no private beaches in Saint Tropez, but for an unforgettable experience, you’ll find a wide variety of private clubs on the Plage de Pampelonne, each with its own style.
Some, like Tahiti Beach and Club 55, have been part of the celebrity superyacht tour of the Mediterranean since the 1980s. Here, you’re guaranteed to rub shoulders with many celebrities during the summer months on the private beaches of Saint-Tropez.
Ramatuelle: Nikki Beach private beaches of Saint-Tropez
The emblematic Nikki Beach opened its beach club in Saint-Tropez in 2002. It is located in the Bay of Pampelonne, in Ramatuelle, about 5 kilometers southwest of Saint-Tropez.
It’s one of the world’s most famous names in beach clubs. It’s the place to go for anyone looking for excellent DJs playing relaxing sets all day long, sipping champagne on a deckchair, sunbathing in the shade of an umbrella, admiring the sea.
The elegant decor and ambience of Nikki Beach St Tropez appeal to all those who visit this legendary beach club and are looking for a festive atmosphere. The onsite restaurant serves traditional French cuisine, with specialties such as free-range roast chicken and freshly caught seafood, cooked in Mediterranean style.
When the sun starts to set, the atmosphere changes and turns into a real party. Nikki Beach offers several themed events throughout the summer.
A visit to Nikki Beach is ideal for anyone looking for a stylish and festive beach club.
Mythical: Club 55, a private beach with your feet in the sand on Plage de Pampelonne
Probably the most chic and discreet, with a select clientele made up of politicians from all over the world, Russian and Middle Eastern businessmen. Elle MacPherson and Paris Hilton would also have been seen there in the shade of the tamarisk trees.
In the early 1950s, this place was just a simple shack. Then Club 55 was adopted as a canteen by the directors of “Et Dieu créa la femme”, the film starring Brigitte Bardot that put Saint-Tropez on the world map in 1955, hence the club’s name. The place has never lost its appeal to the beautiful, the powerful and the rich of this world.
To have a chance of getting a table in summer on the mythical Plage de Pampelonne, you need to book in advance – and don’t be surprised if you’re a bit tight. And be prepared to pay extraordinary sums for a rather modest restaurant. You’re unlikely to get away with less than 100 euros per person.
Ramatuelle private beaches: discover the Cabane Bambou
At the more relaxed southern end of the beach, La Cabane looks like a little house lost on a desert island, like a beach house that’s always been there. The atmosphere is retro, which is fitting for a place that first saw the light of day in 1967 as a beer hut for French soldiers on maneuvers. Now, cocktails, spritzers and champagne are enjoyed to the rhythm of la dolce vita and farniente!
The welcome is friendly and the restaurant expensive, but not excessively so by Saint-Tropez standards: sea-caught bass at 32 euros, veal cutlets Milanese style at 28 euros. Massages can be ordered if your vacation proves stressful, but the delicious mojitos can be just as effective.
Moorea
Here’s a cheerful, lively place that doesn’t take itself as seriously as others. It’s also located on the Plage de Pampelonne, route de l’épi. Very colorful (almost kitsch), it offers everyone the chance to have a good time in a “chill” atmosphere – at prices lower than those charged at Pampelonne.
Enjoy a bohemian setting in the shade of parasols. Rod Stewart, Hugh Grant and Joan Collins are among those who have enjoyed it. They particularly appreciated the legendary Claudy’s bar. It’s the ideal place to enjoy an aperitif facing the sea, for a moment of relaxation in the company of the sunset.
Bagatelle
The magnificent Bagatelle is a long-standing institution in the same area as Nikki Beach and Moorea, in the commune of Ramatuelle in the Var. Like its contemporary, you can expect to find a mix of international jet setters and regulars who return each year to visit its superb beach restaurant and water sports activities.
This private beach offers sun loungers for reservation. If the gorgeous pastel colors of this place don’t invite you in, then nothing will. With tones reminiscent of summer and inspirations from around the world, Bagatelle St Tropez is an experience not to be missed during the summer season.
Be sure to reserve your sun lounger and follow the guidelines and dress code for your visit. Chic and elegant attire is a must when visiting Bagatelle St Tropez.
Tiki Beach
Located on the magnificent Pampelonne beach in Saint-Tropez, the Tiki Beach club is a bohemian chic establishment. Its family atmosphere and elegant design make it the ideal place to come with family or friends during the summer months. The restaurant’s menu offers refined Provencal specialities with Mediterranean flavours, while its white sandy beaches invite you to relax in the sublime sunshine.
The sparkling waters and immaculate sands of Pampelonne beach continue to dazzle guests every season. Each club strives to offer impeccable quality and service to its customers, ensuring that every sunny day is fully enjoyed!
Byblos Beach
Located on the golden beach of Pampelonne in Saint-Tropez, this illustrious beach club in a chic setting invites guests to sample fresh local creations in its restaurant and bask in the golden sunshine in a luxurious setting dedicated to lazing around with a breathtaking view of the sea.
The Byblos Beach is one of the most popular beach clubs in Saint-Tropez, for its comfort, great restaurant and views of the Mediterranean Sea. Not for nothing is the Byblos Beach one of the best beach clubs in Saint-Tropez.
Like most of the other beach clubs mentioned above, guests who choose to arrive by boat are welcome and can also arrange a private transfer if required.
