What To Do In St Tropez
Curious about what to do in St. Tropez in the French Riviera?
You will find several options for a three day weekend South of France weekend, including lots of detailed info about the St. Tropez Beach Clubs.
Overview of St. Tropez In the South of France
Many people think that St. Tropez achieved fame in the 1950’s, with the release of the beautiful star Bridget Bardot in the film, And God Created Woman.
Actually, fashionable Parisians in the 1920s and even earlier visited St. Tropez for fun summer weekends.
Of course, St. Tropez was still a “fisherman’s village” back then.
Yet there were certain bars that tried to create a more upscale ambiance for the sophisticated Parisian crowd.
What To Do In St. Tropez
St. Tropez is really all about fun in the sun.
Usually, groups of friends – or couples – make a day of it going to lunch at one of the beach clubs,
All About the St Tropez Beach Clubs
The beach clubs are what gives St. Tropez its dazzle.
Every year you will find some beach clubs new on the scene.
Then, there are the “eternal” favorites like Club 55.
Though some beach clubs have what may be called a “younger” (immediately post-university) dynamic …
… the majority of the beach clubs are really occupied by simple, yet fashionable people.
They are of all ages who enjoy delicious food, fun music, and a really great ambiance.
What to Do at a St. Tropez Beach Club
The essential thing to do at a St. Tropez beach club is choose what you want to eat and drink …
…. And then just relax and have fun!
But the adventure starts with doing some online research, or emailing the concierge of your hotel, about the best beach clubs of the season.
Your concierge knows what clubs are “in” or “out” – it is part of their job.
One year, I remember having such FOMO (fear of missing out) I booked two beach club lunches for one afternoon.
But then when I could barely finish the first lunch, I just had to realize I would not be able to visit every single club on my visit.
What to Wear at a St. Tropez Beach Club
This is a valid and important question.
The reason is because St. Tropez is very much a “see and be seen” place.
So just as you will be looking around, seeing “who is there” and what they are wearing, they’ll be doing the same thing.
This is just protocol for St. Tropez.
Men have an easier time of dressing for St. Tropez.
The reason is because most men (if not every man), simply wears a pair of swim trunks, a t-shirt, and one of the complicated watches you see on Fifth Avenue or its international equivalent.
Some men take the time to find a really unique t-shirt that shapes their personal style.
Women: Dressing for St. Tropez Beach Clubs
When packing for a St. Tropez beach vacation, it’s tempting to put everything inside your suitcase.
We’ve all seem the films – and especially the advertisements – showing the glamorous women of St. Tropez.
And many of these women are very glamorous indeed.
Yet the art of dressing for St. Tropez is to just find a lightweight, simple dress or cover-up, and accessorize.
Keeping Cool in a Hot Scene
In the high season of July and August, St. Tropez can be more than 100 degrees.
In planning my St. Tropez wardrobe from Manhattan, I’ve always considered bringing some outfits I thought would look fantastic …
…. Then I realized the weight of the outfit was not suitable for the weather.
Whatever dress or cover-up you bring, the weight should be like that of a t-shirt.
In fact, a strong suggestion is to find some sort of t-shirt weight tank dress, and just go wild finding ways to accessorize it.
On a recent trip I did this with a large black hat, Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses, and this very cool Moroccan style belt I bought a million years ago at Neiman-Marcus and never had the chance to wear.
Okay – and truth admitted.
I did wear some really Oh La La high-heeled sandals.
But that was just for the entrance to the Beach Club.
Once seated, it seemed more practical to slip into designer thongs.
Especially since our table was directly on the sand.
The Beach Club Hostess
I’ve always been very impressed with the hostess – often also the owner or the manager – at the beach clubs.
In addition to that Je Ne Sais Quoi chic, they’ve also been beautifully dressed and charming.
When I say “beautifully dressed” the better word may be creatively dressed.
True to the stereotype of French women, they really do seem to have the art of pulling something out of their closet and looking fantastic.
(I know, I have actually asked one how she arranged their somewhat bohemian outfit one day).
Getting The Beach Club Table You Want
The world might be divided between those who really care about their table placement, and those who do not.
Okay.
Maybe everyone cares a great deal about their table.
It’s best to indicate the type of table you prefer when you book your reservation.
Though most reservation takers speak and understand English to varying degrees, it is probably best to tell your concierge your preferences when booking the reservation.
And if you travel to St. Tropez in July or August, you should definitely make these reservations as many weeks in advance as possible.
The Best Beach Club Tables
Each Beach Club has a different layout, so it’s impossible to really explain which one is best.
The first preference for me is a table in the shadiest spot possible (read more about my obsession with sun protection here).
Then, I also like it if I’m more in the center of the restaurant, and not off to a neglected side.
Because almost every Beach Club has an ongoing informal fashion show, I also like to be at a table where the models will be passing by.
Ordering Lunch at a Beach Club
The cuisine at almost every single Beach Club I’ve visited is so much better than it needs to me.
I mean absolutely fresh and delicious with a gorgeous presentation.
In fact, everything on the menu looks (and is!) so delicious the temptation is to order too much!
When you read my individual reviews and descriptions in the restaurants (link) section you will see that I order different things at different restaurants.
You might also ask the waitress what’s best that day …
… or wait a bit to see what people around you are ordering and receiving.
Dining (Dinner) In St. Tropez
I love dining in St. Tropez! It is possibly the most elegant place you can dine anywhere in the world.
Yes, you can dress up for dinner in a way you really should not during lunch.
The look is casual chic.
You will find many different types of dining experiences ..
… from casual (yet elegant) to Michelin-rated foodie heaven.
Though I’ve done the Michelin experience a few times, I prefer to visit restaurants known for their lively scene and incredibly fresh cuisine.
Some of them offer a view of the enormous yachts that are always parked outside …
… while others offer an interior garden view.
One of my favorites actually offers a show, even though I’m not really a “dinner and a show” type of person.
Hotels in St. Tropez
I’ve visited many different hotels in St. Tropez, but I’ve only been a guest at Byblos.
Byblos was one of the first fashionable hotels in St. Tropez, just having celebrated its half-century mark.
That said, one might expect a more mature crowd, yet St. Tropez and Byblos are constantly re-inventing themselves.
Byblos has a lot of advantages over other hotels, mainly in their first rate staff who’ve been their for years and decades.
Non-drivers are also given complimentary transportation to the different beach clubs during the day.
The pool scene can be interesting, and it’s easy to get to know people.
The Byblos hotel is located directly inside the St. Tropez village.
This means that you can walk to dinner, and to most of the attractions inside St. Tropez.
Finally, at Byblos you have the famous Les Caves du Roy “Disco.”
I have to use this outdated word “disco” because in some ways, this classic, elegant space looks like a dance club from an earlier era.
Guests can access the club, yet if you want to sit down you’ll need to arrange for table service well in advance of your trip.
What To Do In St Tropez
After Dinner Walks …
For me, the three main things to do are enjoy a fantastic lunch, swim at the beach or pool, then nap and dress for dinner.
After dinner a walk through town is delightful.
St. Tropez is a small village, so I usually like to walk by the Port, and then cut through the Place des Lice on the way back to Byblos.
There is always a lot going on in the Place des Lice.
Sometimes men are playing the French game Bocci Ball.
Sometimes, families buy and eat an ice cream…
…yet just a few months ago on my last visit, I saw something rather unusual.
A stunningly beautiful woman in a gorgeous red dress, very classic looking, was sitting on a park bench.
All alone.
She appeared to be reading a book (the old fashioned kind, not on an iPhone).
About twelve feet away was a man who kept pacing back and forth, peering into his phone every so often.
Combien mystérieux!
What to Do In St. Tropez : Place des Lice Provencal Market
On Tuesday and Saturday mornings you will find a fresh market in the Place des Lice with the most gorgeous looking vegetables and fruit you have ever seen.
I love looking at all the different cheeses – cheeses you can’t buy in the USA and probably not many places in France, either.
By French tradition, the fromager buys a wheel of cheese from his favorite select purveyors, and when it’s over – it’s over.
What to Do In St. Tropez In the Morning
Breakfast
If your hotel does not include breakfast, you can visit one of the hotels (call first for the reservation) for breakfast and experience that lifestyle for a day.
Or you can shop at the Provencal Market, or buy pastry at the famous St Tropez Tropezienne and have breakfast on the beach.
Other Activities
Though it is possible to visit a few low key museums, rent a boat, or water ski, I personally don’t’ recommend it.
You are in St. Tropez to experience this lifestyle, so just have fun on the St. Tropez Beaches.
Just walking though the village, by day or night, is a lot of fun.
The shops have all the big brands, like Chanel, you see all around the world.
You will also find some unique Jewelry shops
And if you forgot some of your make-up, Sephora in the center of the village will have it for you!
While you are in St. Tropez, you might consider these for your next experience
