Think you know the beach club scene in St Tropez? Think again. Pampelonne Beach has undergone some major new changes over the years, and YachtCharterFleet had the pleasure of heading to St Tropez to get the lay of the land and discover summer’s hottest beach clubs for 2024 first-hand.
In this article:
Tucked on the east coast of St Tropez, Pampelonne Beach is where the A-listers of St Tropez come to drink, dance and relax.
An exclusive party playground and dining mecca, no South of France yacht charter would be complete without a visit to this iconic stretch of beach, and Pampelonne is invariably a magnet for superyachts during the summer season.
Best for: No-holds-barred fun and infectious party atmosphere
Headed up by uber-trendy hospitality brand Yeeels, Verde Beach was one of the newest outposts to storm the St Tropez scene in 2019.
This boho-chic restaurant and strip of beach has since established itself as the best place to go if you’re looking for a laid-back lunch that has the potential to transform into a buzzing party scene at a moment’s notice.
The restaurant is helmed by Chef Julien Lee Thibault, so be sure to nab a highly-coveted table and choose a few dishes from the menu. The burrata is divine, the lobster pasta hits all the right flavor notes and the octopus manages to elevate a simple dish to a new level of taste.
Afterward, motor yacht charter guests can take a stroll outside and set up shop on one of the sunloungers overlooking the sea. Take a dip, top up your tan or order a cocktail; the mojitos are not to be missed.
The hip younger sister of the archetypal beach club, Verde Beach is where the St Tropez insiders come to feast, rest and play all under one roof. Reservations are strongly advised.
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Verde Beach
Beach Club
Best for: Elegant unwinding
Embodying the same sophisticated style as the five-star La Reserve Ramatuelle around the corner, La Reserve a la Plage is bringing a dose of French Riviera glamour to Pampelonne for 2024 and is a popular option for visiting St Tropez yacht charter guests as they prepare for an evening on the town.
Expect chic surrounds, with marble-clad bathrooms and a small shop selling delicate jewelry and straw bags. Arrive early to stretch out on one of the amber-colored sunbeds and enjoy some bronzing and yacht-spotting.
After a morning of unwinding, slope inside and peruse the menu, which is the creation of Nicolas Cantrel.
For something fresh and light, opt for Gamberoni ceviche with stracciatella cheese and pistachio; more hearty options include grilled beef tagliata, marinated tomatoes and citrus dressing, and Wagyu beef ribeye. Top off with tiramisu for two or the beach club’s signature specialty; rum babas. Reservations are not necessary for visiting crewed yacht charters but are advised.
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La Reserve a la Plage
Beach Club
Best for: A Mediterranean gourmet experience nonpareil
An offshoot of the legendary Hotel Byblos which was initially established to woo Brigitte Bardot, Byblos Beach is the place to go for a stylish but laid-back experience on the legendary Pampelonne beach.
This beachfront offering is wall-to-wall with models, A-listers, and France yacht charter guests in search of a lazy lunch onshore. It takes interior cues from a castaway theme but dresses it up with tables draped in white linen and perfectly-plated dishes.
The menu is full of star billings but among the best of the bunch; king crab with lemon and grapefruit caviar, seabass ceviche with kiwi, and spare ribs glazed in Corsican honey.
Byblos also excels with deserts. The strawberry pavlova is easily large enough to share- split it with a Tart Tropezienne, a St Tropez staple that has been given a Byblos upgrade under the executive chef.
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Byblos Beach
Beach Club
Best for: Family-friendly fun
Since La Serena opened its doors in summer 2019 it has swiftly become popular among visiting family yacht charter guests. But don’t let its child-friendly approach fool you; the cocktails are strong and the party vibes amp up as the day wears on.
You’d be remiss not to sample one of the venue’s creatively-named highballs; try ‘I'm Sorry About Last Night’, 'Doesn’t Have A Fancy Name' or ‘What’s Your Name Again?’
With its slick service, the restaurant is also a highlight of La Serena. The king prawn & salmon ceviche stands out, as do the generous portions of seafood-laced spider linguine. Booking is recommended, but you can usually bag a table.
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La Serena
Beach Club
Best for: Riviera romance
The sister of the highly-acclaimed Loulou in Paris, this new beachfront oasis on Tamaris Beach has a stylish setting that has quickly made it a hotspot for the models and VIPs of St Tropez.
In spite of its polished appearance, it has a rustic Riviera vibe that bodes well for Mediterranean yacht charter guests in the mood for something unfussy. The menu entries are flavor-focused, with sea bream carpaccio and al dente linguine à la vongole among the highlights.
Finish with a cocktail on the beach looking out over the azure water. LouLou doesn’t hold back with its cocktail menu; Free in Pampelonne is served in a coconut husk, and features the tropical flavors of rum, pineapple, and fresh coconut water.
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Loulou
Restaurant
Best for: Summer serenity
Run by charismatic St Tropezienne couple Mimi and Stephanie, Club Les Palmiers is a certified Pampelonne favorite, which has moved to its updated location on Tamaris Road.
Boasting veritable eco-credentials, with structural design by sustainable architect Philippe Madec, the beach life scene is buzzing with West Mediterranean charter yacht guests, offering an inviting spread of sunbeds, a shisha lounge, a cocktail bar, and a bijou shop selling an impressive variety of fashion accessories.
Nodding to the owner's Italian heritage, the venue's restaurant sees Italian dishes take center stage. Recipes passed down through the generations feature throughout. Try Mamma's Meatballs as an entree, followed by caviar spaghetti to share.
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Les Palmiers
Beach Club
Best for: Chic chilling
Situated on the north end of Pampelonne, Jardin Tropezina is a sleek option for luxury yacht charter guests, resembling an elegant Mediterranean garden, where diners can soak up the beauty of the beach and enjoy meals below a canopy of ivy and fairy lights.
Farm-fresh produce is the order of the day, with wicker baskets filled with local ingredients lined up on the boardwalk entryway. As you might expect, the menu places a heavy focus on vegetarian dining, but there is a stellar selection of meat options available as well.
Jardin Tropezina is open between late March and October, making it a great place to visit year-round for good food and a party atmosphere that gets going around 7.30pm. Advance bookings are recommended.
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Jardin Tropezina
Restaurant
Best for: Non-stop party vibes
The new-and-improved Moorea Plage is Pampelonne’s party hub. A jetty makes motor and sailing yacht charter transfers quick and easy, and a selection of sunbeds lined up along the beach invites you to enjoy a morning of blissful relaxation.
When lunchtime rolls around, head inside and grab a table. The restaurant starts to heave with hungry diners around midday, so book ahead or get in early.
The interior of the venue has an urban feeling balanced by natural touches, and the menu reflects typically Mediterranean flavors with countless options for a light lunch.
The dining experience is enlivened by live DJ sets and entertainers. Once the party takes off, expect feel-good tunes and dancing on the tables.
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Moorea
Beach Club
Best for: Celebrity-spotting
Easily the most legendary venue along the French Riviera, Le Club 55 holds a cult status in Pampelonne. Established in 1955, it rose to notoriety when it became the go-to restaurant for the cast and crew of the 1956 film And God Created Women, including Brigitte Bardot herself.
It may have been many years since the Hollywood starlet set foot in Club 55, but walking into the restaurant area still feels like a who's-who of A-listers. A place made for see and be seen yacht charters, the atmosphere is impossibly upbeat, with laughter and conversation filling up the space.
Grab a table – booking is strongly advised – and tuck into fresh steak tartare or zingy seabass with hollandaise. Afterward, stroll outside and spend some time browsing the club's shops, where unique trinkets make lovely gifts or charming souvenirs.
Club 55 has its own private jetty and tender service; a winning addition to any crewed yacht charter vacation. Whether you make an entrance of a lifetime or just find a spot in the sand, Club 55 is the perfect place for spending the day at the beach.
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Club 55
Beach Club
Best for: Idling by the pool
Set back from the beach in the midst of pine trees, Nikki Beach's expansive outpost on Pampelonne is a firm favorite for charter guests wanting to dine, unwind, and party in a truly mesmerizing yacht charter destination.
A variety of sunbeds and loungers are spread across the venue, offering numerous options for stretching out and soaking up the summery soundtrack. The drinks here are expertly crafted and are best enjoyed while floating around on an inflatable in the pool.
The pool is a unique component of the beach club scene in St Tropez, and during the day this is where the party really starts to warm up. Expect live DJ sets, wild dance performances, and epic champagne showers; you'll leave Nikki Beach with memories to last a lifetime.
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Nikki Beach, St Tropez
Beach Club
Best for: Harmonious boho-chic
Launching onto the scene in 2017, the effortlessly stylish bohemian outpost of Pampelonne Beach's Shellona Beach Club feeds off the success of the popular St Barts yacht charter attraction.
With sun loungers, parasols, and cabanas sprawling across the sand, the combination of veritable Meditteranean cuisine by Chef Yiannis Kioroglou and hedonistic Ibiza yacht charter party vibes offers all visiting charter guests a unique environment that keeps on giving.
Relax in the late afternoon with intricately crafted cocktails and live music spun from the bar-side DJ booth.
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Shellona
Beach Club
Best for: No holds barred fun
A lively hub that regularly attracts influencers and A-listers, Bagatelle of St Tropez is a non-stop party that enchants all yacht charter guests with authentic Mediterranean cuisine and an intoxicating atmosphere that will draw them back year after year for unforgettable French Riviera yacht charters.
With other successful beach clubs in the US and St Barts, Bagatelle serves up a generous selection of flavors from the French Riviera, with popular dishes including Carpaccio of sea bass, tonnato style, crispy Pantelleria capers and Jivara chocolate pizzetta with caramelized Piemont hazelnuts.
Offering an extravagant night on the beach every night, Bagatelle is a must for visiting private yacht charters and a great way to end a busy day of exploring the vicinity of St Tropez.
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Bagatelle
Beach Club
If you'd like to discover more, you can read our guide to St Tropez yacht charters or view all the best attractions and experiences in St Tropez.
To include any of these party hotspots in your St Tropez yacht charter itinerary, please speak with your preferred yacht charter broker.
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