When Roger Vadim shot And God Created Woman with his young protégée Brigitte Bardot in 1956, little did anyone imagine that the film’s overnight success would put this tiny fishing port of pink stacked houses on the map forever. The myth of St. Tropez — a hedonistic playground for the wealthy and the glamorous — began to draw a sophisticated international crowd.
In 1967, Lebanese billionaire Jean-Prosper Gay-Para opened a wildly extravagant palace, Hotel Byblos, on the highest hill of St. Tropez. According to local lore, Gay-Para was enamored of Bardot, and apparently was heartbroken when the actress married Gunter Sachs the same year. He then sold it on a whim to French entrepreneur Sylvain Floirat.
These days, Antoine Chevanne, Floirat’s great grandson, is at the helm of this landmark hotel, which still draws the see-and-be-seen crowd, especially to its nightclub — the hottest in St. Tropez.
Take advantage of the ideal location of this palm- and fountain-filled hamlet of pink and ochre fisherman’s cottages, done up in a lavish Byzantine-meets-Provencal decor. Wander around the village elbow-to-elbow with the summer crowds or laze by the peaceful pool.
Expect ultra-professional service without the formality of other St. Tropez hotels, and a concierge who will arrange anything that your heart desires.
In 1967, Lebanese billionaire Jean-Prosper Gay-Para opened a wildly extravagant palace, Hotel Byblos, on the highest hill of St. Tropez. According to local lore, Gay-Para was enamored of Bardot, and apparently was heartbroken when the actress married Gunter Sachs the same year. He then sold it on a whim to French entrepreneur Sylvain Floirat.
These days, Antoine Chevanne, Floirat’s great grandson, is at the helm of this landmark hotel, which still draws the see-and-be-seen crowd, especially to its nightclub — the hottest in St. Tropez.
Take advantage of the ideal location of this palm- and fountain-filled hamlet of pink and ochre fisherman’s cottages, done up in a lavish Byzantine-meets-Provencal decor. Wander around the village elbow-to-elbow with the summer crowds or laze by the peaceful pool.
Expect ultra-professional service without the formality of other St. Tropez hotels, and a concierge who will arrange anything that your heart desires.
Our Inspector's Highlights
- The hotel’s legendary exclusive nightclub, Les Caves du Roy, opened in the late ’60s. It still attracts visiting VIPs, playboys, fashionistas and rock and cinema stars who sip champagne and gyrate on the packed dance floor until dawn.
- Get a true taste of St. Tropez when you dine at Hotel Byblos thanks to the resort's onsite garden. The 3,229-square-foot plot churns out fresh produce that you can savor in Italian plates at Cucina Byblos or or gastronomic dishes at Arcadia.
- A state-of-the art fitness facility, boasting new equipment from brands such as Technogym and Motion Lab, helps you get that beach-ready body before heading out to spend an afternoon on the sand.
- The St. Tropez hotel unveiled a renovated Sisley spa in 2023 that spotlights holistic treatments.
- Soak up the sun in style at Hotel Byblos' Byblos Beach Ramatuelle. Situated on pristine Pampelonne Beach, the chic spot offers a Mediterranean eatery (open for lunch April through October; lunch and dinner in July and August), a casual bar and roughly 100 loungers spread across the white sands.
Things to Know
- Breakfast is included with your nightly rate, but only during low season.
- Byblos opens seasonally, from mid-April to mid-October.
- The boutique hotel sits close to Place de Lices, St. Tropez’s main town square, as well as the picturesque harbor. The nearest beach is a 10-minute stroll away, though Byblos also offers a free shuttle to transport you to the sand.
- If you’re arriving by car from Nice, it’s technically an hour and a half drive to the exit at Le Muy, but the summer-traffic-clogged RN98 leading down to the peninsula of St. Tropez can be hellish. Best bet: Drive early in the morning or late at night or take the longer winding mountain road through La Garde-Freinet and follow the signs to St. Tropez.
The Rooms
- The 87 rooms, including 47 suites, all vary in shapes, colors and sizes, decked out with sunny hues and a medley of flowers, stripes and prints.
- For the full splashy experience, splurge on the duplexes with outdoor showers on their private terraces and cavernous bathrooms.
- Sumptuously refurbished by Italian brand Missoni Home, the sunlit centrally located almost 2,000-square-foot Suite Missoni Home boasts a sprawling technicolor sitting room directly above the inner courtyard and the pool, in the heart of the action.
The Restaurants
- Enjoy laidback fine dining with Mediterranean influences at Arcadia. The all-day-dining restaurant employs fresh, seasonal products, grown by local producers and harvested from the hotel’s own vegetable garden.
- At the foot of the St. Tropez hotel, Cucina Byblos is decorated chef Alain Ducasse’s eatery, a chic but relaxed bistro featuring ultra-fresh Italian haute comfort food.
- Cucina Byblos whips up delicious platters of everything from purple artichoke risotto to gourmet pizzas, meant to be shared on the leafy terrace. If you’re not planning to club-hop right away, indulge in some of the heartier dishes, like slow-roasted lamb shoulder or seared tomahawk ribeye.
- Be sure to stay for dessert at Cucina Byblos. Dig into house-made gelato or the cheeky chocolate pizza.
- There’s no need to venture too far from your sunbed at the peaceful poolside, since the all-day casual B restaurant serves a terrific choice of cocktails, tapas and flavorful local dishes from copious salads to fresh grilled fish.
Amenities
Gym
Meeting rooms
Nightclub
Outdoor pool
Restaurants
Spa
Getting There
20 Avenue Paul Signac, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France
TEL33-4-94-56-68-00
NEARBY AIRPORT(S)
NCE (1 h 25 min-1 h 30 min)
