Most of Saint-Tropez is now a far cry from the sleepy fishing village of the Fifties, but sun-drenched sojourns at Hôtel Lou Pinet are like stepping into a time machine to the golden years of the French Riviera—think basking on the deck of a yacht with Brigitte Bardot, or bronzing on the Plage de Pampelonne behind the lens of Slim Aarons. The family running this Maisons Pariente property—an assortment of achingly chic hotels smattered across France’s most sought-after locations from Paris and Provence to Méribel (and soon to be on the slopes of Courchevel)—used to spend their summers here in the Seventies, which fills the cornflower-blue-shuttered stay with the personal touches of a much-loved holiday home.
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Yesteryear’s vintage aesthetic seeps into every red-striped parasol and lavender-scented corner, with carefully curated interiors by French architect Charles Zana. The decidedly Sixties palette takes inspiration from the artworks of Chagall to Cocteau, balancing primary colours with pops of terracotta, buttercream, and olive green. Abstract, surrealist, and cubist styles come together on the walls adorned with thoughtfully sourced paintings, engravings, and plates by Jean Lurçat, sitting alongside Provençal treasures such as pottery from Vallauris and hand-blown glassware from Biot.
Rooms and suites are spread across three apricot-hued villas linked by a flagstone pathway through sculpture-dotted Mediterranean gardens which are fragrant with citrus, jasmine, and pine. The lighting alone is a lesson in Riviera chic—rattan pendants resembling traditional basket bags you might fill at the local market cast a golden glow over cane chairs and curved chaise longues, and the bedside lamps feature a dip-dyed glaze, almost as if a resident artist has spilled paint while cocooning their sun-kissed skin in the Garnier Thiébaut satin sheets.
The ground-floor bedrooms open through elegant French doors directly onto the pool, which happens to be one of the largest—and most aesthetically pleasing—in all of Saint-Tropez. Perfectly rolled red-and-pink towels are laid out on the loungers each morning, and there are hammocks to laze in within dipping distance of the water’s edge.
If the Tropezian heat becomes too much, retreat to the secret grotto of a spa where 100% organic treatments by cult brand Tata Harper are delivered in two cave-like wellness rooms. Massages are designed to banish toxins from the body (especially ideal if the Saint-Tropez nightlife is beginning to catch up with you), and the honey-infused body treatment is sure to leave the skin feeling soothed, hydrated, and radiant.
After a few rounds of backgammon in the bar, fuelled by chilled glasses of pastis, settle in for an evening of braised wagyu, black truffles, and Kobe butter-cooked fries at Beefbar Saint-Tropez. Tables at the Monaco-born restaurant by Riccardo Giraudi go like gold dust for good reason, and the menu makes exceptional cuts of meat the star of the show. Outdoors, La Terrasse is a veritable sun trap which dishes out lighter bites of grilled octopus, burrata salads, and poke bowls beneath a leafy pergola (or lobster rolls straight to your sun lounger, if that suits).
Taking its name from two umbrella pines which have kept watch over the grounds for generations, Hôtel Lou Pinet epitomises everything that’s oh-so-stylish about the South of France from the inside out—right down to the sunshine-yellow mini mokes which whizz you down to the bustling Place des Lices within minutes.
Top Takeaways
Location: Saint-Tropez, France
Address: 70 Chemin du Pinet 83990 Saint-Tropez
Rating: Five-star
The vibe: It’s the same bohemian daydream that Françoise Sagan, Boris Vian, Picasso, and
Juliette Gréco fell head over heels for, set to a soundtrack of clinking rosé glasses and gently buzzing cicadas. You half expect Jane Birkin to appear in a lace minidress at any moment.
Food + drink: Mighty and meaty, Beefbar packs a serious, Japanese-inspired punch. The only difficult decision you need to make is between American Black Angus Prime, Australian Wagyu WX, or certified Japanese Kobe cuts. The wine list works its way through some of the most celebrated vineyards in the South of France, and cocktails are garnished with herbs from the hotel gardens.
Amenities: Outdoor pool, spa, fitness studio, room service, free WiFi, breakfast buffet (with à la carte options), restaurant, bar, underground valet parking.
Our favourite part of the hotel: Best summed up by Slim Aarons, ‘attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places’, it’s got to be the pool. We also love the old-fashioned room keys which lean into the staying-with-friends feel.
What’s nearby? Hôtel Lou Pinet has all the peace and quiet of an out-of-town villa while being moments from Saint-Tropez’s action. The iconic Pampelonne beach (you know, Club 55, Byblos, Tahiti) is just five minutes’ drive away.
Any personal neighbourhood recs? Spend a slow morning yacht-spotting from the waterfront Café Senequier, picnic on Tarte Tropézienne between paddling in the shallows of La Ponche, and stock up on limited edition swimwear from born-on-the-beach KIWI Saint-Tropez or Vilebrequin (founded in Saint-Tropez in the Seventies by a loved-up couple).
Rooms: 34.
Pricing: Rates start at €430 per night.
Closest airport: Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is 90 minutes from the hotel by car, or private flights touch down in La Môle, which is 25 minutes’ drive to the southwest.
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