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THE FRENCH RIVIERA’S
BEST-KEPT SECRET:
LA PONCHE RECLAIMS ITS
LEGENDARY ALLURE
La Ponche is Saint-Tropez’s most refined and storied retreat, offering jetsetters discreet luxury, Michelin-worthy dining, and rarefied Riviera charm in a historic setting beloved by mid-century icons.
REBECCA ETORIA
Tucked away in the quiet heart of Saint-Tropez’s old quarter, just steps from the harbor yet hidden from the flashbulbs and fanfare, La Ponche is not so much a hotel as a time capsule. This former fisherman’s inn-turned-historic hideaway once played host to Bardot, Sagan, Picasso, and the other beautiful outlaws of post-war bohemia. Today, it remains defiantly intimate—carefully restored, lovingly revived, and ready to reclaim its place as the Riviera’s most elegant retreat.
It is here, in this hushed corner of the Côte d’Azur, that discretion and decadence find their perfect balance. The interiors, reimagined by architect Fabrizio Casiraghi, carry a cinematic softness—sun-faded ochres, antique woods, Provençal linens, and just the right touch of faded glamour. There are only 21 rooms and suites, each with its own character, many with views over the sea or the village rooftops. But it’s the spirit of the place—its hush, its heritage—that truly captivates.
Mornings begin quietly, with a café crème taken on a shaded terrace as the town slowly stirs. Days unfold at your rhythm: a swim in the petite private beach cove, a stroll through the cobbled streets, or an outing aboard the hotel’s vintage Riva boat. When you return, there is La Ponche Restaurant, a Riviera institution helmed by Thomas Danigo, where classic Mediterranean flavors are reimagined with precision and reverence. Expect salt-crusted sea bass, delicate zucchini flower beignets, and citrus-splashed tartes served with wines curated by the region’s most compelling winemakers.
And if you time your visit for Le Dîner des Vignerons, the hotel’s signature gastronomic soirée, you’ll find yourself at an exclusive candlelit table beneath the stars. Here, local vintners pour their most prized bottles, paired course by course with seasonal dishes that capture the essence of Provence. It’s the kind of evening that slips easily into memory—elegant, joyful, and disarmingly French.
For the private jet crowd seeking a Saint-Tropez experience without the spectacle, La Ponche is the answer. This is not the Riviera of yacht parties and velvet ropes. It’s the Riviera of poets, of perfume on sea air, of elegance without effort.