St Tropez Beach Clubs
St Tropez is in the south of France, in the French Riviera, and is all about fun in the sun!
Though many people yacht, swim, or sunbath during the day …
… I like to spend my time thinking about which beach club I will visit for lunch.
St Tropez Beach Club in the French Riviera : Club 55
I first met Patrice de Colmont many years ago.
Until a few years ago he owned Club 55 with his family since its inception.
Because Club 55 was one of the best known and most trendy beach clubs, it was the key place to see and be seen.
The Very First Time …
So here is a personal story about St Tropez beach clubs.
At that time Bybos (the key boutique hotel in St. Tropez that actually celebrated its half century mark made the Club 55 reservations.
So even though I had the confirmation for that first reservation in my hand (this was before email) …
… I still felt a pang of apprehension as Patrice shuffled through his reservation cards for my name at his Club 55 St. Tropez Beach Club.
I’m not sure how or why Patrice came up with this system of using index cards for reservations.
They were squares of thick paper, and on each square was the name of the guest.
And possibly, some cryptic notation to indicate how the reservation was made (i.e., guest or hotel)..
So instead of a reservations book …
…which most restaurants used in the pre-Internet days – Patrice used a series of cards to keep track of reservations..
As of July of 2019, my last visit, he was still using these cards.
They would be lined up on the large desk like playing cards …
As Patrice Shuffled The Cards …
I continued to feel a sense of panic.
…. What if we could not get in for lunch?
As far as St Tropez Beach Clubs go, Club 55 was the best!
[socialpug_tweet tweet=”All around us under the “tent” that keeps the sun off the faces of the glitterati, people were having fun.” display_tweet=””]
And the food looked delicious!
Patrice Finds our Reservation
After all that shuffling the card was found.
I can’t remember if it was Patrice himself, or one of his assistants that took us to our St Tropez Beach Club table at Club 55.
And as a person of the Manhattan / Beverly Hills ilk, I was concerned if it would be the right table.
Actually, thinking back on that first time now, the “right table” is a rather laughable concept in terms of St. Tropez Beach Clubs.
How could any table be right, or wrong, when every table is scattered higgledy-piggledly into the sand?
That first time, I didn’t see anyone famous – but I probably would not recognize them anyway.
In those days, most of the clientele at the St Tropez beach club was French.
Besides that, everyone was rather hot and sweaty in the sweltering heat.
So they did not have much resemblance to their “normal” decked-out selves.
The Story Behind Club 55, the Original St. Tropez Beach Club on Pampelonne Beach
You will hear a lot about how Club 55 in the French Riviera got its start, some more embellished than others.
The popular version is that Club 55 was an “accidental restaurant.”
The story goes that the structure where Club 55 still stands was just a beach shack belonging to Bernard de Colmont and his family ..
[socialpug_tweet tweet=”A beach club that was “requisitioned” when the film crew of And God Created Woman, starring Bridget Bardot, got hungry and demanded food.” display_tweet=””]
Well, “demand” is a strong word, and as stories go Bernard and his wife were happy enough to serve them for a price.
Growing up at Club 55 St Tropez Beach Club
Club 55 became famous for the growing jet-setters visiting St. Tropez after the release of the film.
It was before the birth of the St Tropez Beach Club craze.
Patrice worked in the restaurant with his family and seemed to take the glitzy scene in stride.
He has a laid back personal style and does not seem to let anything phase him.
St Tropez Beach Clubs : What to Wear to Club 55, the Original St Tropez Beach Club
Club 55 is a very laid back St Tropez Beach Club.
It’s hard to dress up, when you are literally walking through sand to your table.
That said, a lot of ladies manage to carry off a great look with beautiful, form-fitting coverups over their bikinis that peak through the crochet fabric.
Men generally just wear sandals, shorts, and a shirt at St Tropez Beach Clubs.
Because of both the warm weather and low-key vibe, most women adopt a casual, no-make up look
St Tropez Beach Clubs : What to Eat at Club 55
The St Tropez Beach Club scene is so hot, it’s hard to believe that the proprietors even care about the food.
But every single St Tropez Beach Club I’ve visited in my life had FANTASTIC food.
Then again, how can you go wrong with super fresh grilled fish and vegetables picked that morning from a Provence garden?
Yet it’s not just the freshness of the cuisine.
The presentation of the food is also very creative.
Of course, the French are known for their attention to detail when it comes to the pleasures of the table …
… so even though they do not have to go that extra mile, they seem to do so out of national pride.
St Tropez Beach Clubs : Club 55, A Simple Menu Well Done
OMG!
Every time I visit I want to order every single thing on the menu!
And more than a few times, I actually did.
Perhaps the most important thing for you to know is that everyone automatically orders le paniers de crudités, a fresh vegetable platter.
In the French Riviera, this platter typically includes very colorful vegetables like carrots, radish, endive, and even hard boiled eggs.
It can really be a meal in itself.
My other favorite things are the artichokes, served with all the goodies like melted butter and mayonnaise.
Then there is the charred corn …. Possibly the best in the world.
…and of course the steamed mussels.
Sublime!
As for the main dishes, you will find lots of fish, yet also chicken and meat and vegetarian types of dishes.
St Tropez Beach Clubs : The Grilled Fish
Typically, I order grilled fish.
You can order different types of fish and even share a fish for two.
St Tropez Beach Clubs : Club 55 Beach Club Wine List
Club 55 has a nice selection of mostly French wines.
Most people drink rosé and most large tables order the large bottles called Salmanazar, which is 9 Liters.
St Tropez Beach Clubs : Club 55: Practical Matters
We are usually driven to Club in our hotel car.
Yet you can drive and leave your car with the valet.
You can even come to Club 55 by boat.
43 Boulevard Patch, 83350 Ramatuelle, France
Other St. Tropez Beach Clubs
Each season a few new beach clubs open.
[socialpug_tweet tweet=”Or increasingly, they are forced to move because of new laws designed to protect the coastline.” display_tweet=””]
I’ve tried all the St.Tropez Beach Clubs.
While there is not a single club I did not like, with only four lunches per visit, I’ve had to become more discriminating.
At first, I tried to get around this limitation by booking two lunches a day.
That did not last long …
… I could barely finish the first lunch, let alone the second.
So below are my favorites after the Club 55 St. Tropez Beach Clubs.
St Tropez Beach Clubs
Les Palmiers
Les Palmiers: is the epitome of the classic St. Tropez Beach Club.
The servers wear white, and the staff speaks English well.
The food is incredibly delicious.
Fresh, but very with very colorful and attractive presentations.
The Les Palmiers Scene
This is possibly the most posh, upscale of the beach clubs.
People tend to behave themselves (at least, all the times that I’ve been there).
It can be a slightly more mature crowd.
Remember that the majority of the St. Tropez beach clubs have a live DJ or play a lot of rap and dance music.
So during a recent visit, I was really enjoying the live DJ near my table when the owner or hostess went up to him and whispered to him to play Marvin Gaye.
Marvin Gay!
Yes.
It was the sexual healing song.
Apparently the hostess / owner noticed large groups of Americans who might appreciate this classic song from their youth.
Well, I wasn’t a fan of the song – or the other Old School music that followed – but it was a lovely day and everything else was perfect.
St Tropez Beach Clubs : What to Wear at Les Palmiers
Very possibly, Les Palmiers is the “dressiest” place of all the St Tropez Beach Clubs.
I always dress up to go there, and from what I’ve seen, other ladies do too.
“Dressing” up at St Tropez Beach Clubs is more a matter of accessories and coordination than anything else.
St Tropez Beach Clubs : The Les Palmiers Boutique
The boutique here is one of the best in St. Tropez.
You will find super fashionable clothes for the clubs in the evening and also the beach clubs.
As is the case in most of the beach clubs, tall beautiful women model the clothes – complete with all the (important!) accessories – to everyone in the Beach Club.
They look stunning and this is a great look for any women to emulate.
St Tropez Beach Clubs : What to Order at Les Palmiers
The menu is quite extensive. You can choose from a wide variety of items, including the so called “luxury items” like caviar, lobster, crab and the like.
…. And if you are gong to order that anywhere, this is the place!
Pictures speak louder than words when food is concerned, so here are some of the things I have ordered.
St Tropez Beach Clubs : Practicalities
Location: new location on Plage de Pampelonne, at Tamaris Road.
Chemin des Tamaris,
Plage de Pampelonne
83350 Ramatuelle, France
St Tropez Beach Club Verde Beach
Verde Beach is a new St Tropez Beach Club, circa 2019.
I did not know what to expect when I had the hotel book a table.
It was open just a few weeks at that point, and there were no reviews.
The club is described as “bohemian.”
And I suppose that is true.
But “very elegant” bohemian.
When we first arrived, the restaurant was completely empty.
Soon, it filled up, and was a lively scene.
St Tropez Beach Clubs : Club Verde Beach Cuisine
The food was surprisingly delicious and very fresh
Simple fare, creatively prepared.
St Tropez Beach Clubs : Club Verde Scene
I have only been here once.
And it was just a few weeks after opening.
Lots of families, as you often see in Beach Clubs, and some groups of friends.
Verde
1149 Route de l’Épi, 83350 Ramatuelle, France
+33 6 37 74 89 75
St Tropez Beach Clubs : Byblos Beach
This is another new club this year, brought to you by Byblos, the luxury boutique hotel.
I found the food really good, especially the grilled fish.
The restaurant itself is attractive, with a nice South of France vibe.
St Tropez Beach Clubs :The Scene
The scene was pretty laid back, mostly large groups of families enjoying the very beginning of the season.
Address: 42 Boulevard Patch, 83350 Ramatuelle, France
St Tropez Beach Clubs : Final Thoughts
I will be updating this post with more St. Tropez Beach Clubs, so stay tuned and be certain to sign up for my newsletter so you do not miss any of the excitement.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you go!
1. Most clubs “strictly” enforce a two hour maximum time limit at the table, so order with that in mind.
2. In most St. Tropez Beach Clubs, your food is brought to you as soon as you sit down at the table.
3. It can get very hot, so bring sunscreen and wear a hat.
4. In most St. Tropez Beach Clubs, it is necessary to make a reservation for the sun bed in advance for an additional charge.
Final Tips About St. Tropez
Consider this face cover to block out the strong sun – more effective than sunscreen.
Wear a hat – this one is made from a fabric with sun blocking agents inside of it.
Think about a sun shawl to protect you as you sit in the sun
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