Bakeries, Beaches, and a Bit of Rosé: 36 Hours in Saint-Tropez
Ever since Brigitte Bardot and the 1956 film And God Created Woman catapulted Saint-Tropez into international fame, the former fishing village has been a magnet for celebrities and global jet setters, establishing its reputation as an ultra-exclusive summer escape.
Yes, visiting this Côte d’Azur village is expensive. But it can be far more laid-back than what tabloids would have you think. The absolutely stunning peninsula boasts more than two dozen wineries that make red and white blends in addition to the region’s iconic rosé, walkable streets with quaint shops and cafes, and a charming Provençal vibe. Though the town certainly quiets down and many places close up after the summer, travelers who want to avoid the hordes should consider planning a trip in the spring or fall.
Marianne Fabre-Lanvin, founder of Souleil Wines, suggests visiting between late September and early October, during Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez (September 27 to October 5).
“It’s a spectacular regatta gathering an impressive fleet of classic sailboats,” she says. “By day, watch thrilling races from the port or nearby viewpoints. By night, the village buzzes as boat crews unwind (no pun intended), sipping rosé at harbor cafés like Sénéquier. It’s the perfect way to savor Saint-Tropez’s timeless charm, without summer crowds.”
Whether you make it during the iconic sailing race or any other time of year, we’ve put together a 36-hour itinerary with the top places to eat, drink, and see, according to local industry pros.
// Create the element
var script_68d6ed4b35ada = document.createElement(“script”);
script_68d6ed4b35ada.innerHTML = `
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};
googletag.cmd.push(function() {
var adType = “leaderboard”;
var mapping;
var lbmapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1024, 0], [[970, 250], [970, 90], [1, 1], [728, 90]])
.addSize([728, 0], [[728, 90], [1, 1]])
.addSize([320, 0], [[1, 1], [300, 50], [300, 100], [320, 50], [320, 100]])
.addSize([0, 0], [[1, 1], [320, 50]])
.build();; // Size mapping for leaderboard ads
var medrecmapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1024, 0], [[300, 600],[300, 250]])
.addSize([728, 0], [300, 250])
.addSize([320, 0], [[1, 1],[300, 250]])
.addSize([0, 0], [[1, 1], [300, 250]])
.build(); // Size mapping for med rectengle ads
if(‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’
|| ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’
|| ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_3’) {
mapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1920, 0], [[728, 90]]) // >= 1920px
.addSize([1440, 0], [[728, 90]]) // 1440px-1919px
.addSize([730, 0], [[300, 250]]) // 730px-1439px
.addSize([0, 0], [[320, 100], [320, 50], [300, 100], [300, 50], [300, 250]]) // Up to 729px
.build();
} else {
mapping = adType == ‘leaderboard’ ? lbmapping : medrecmapping;
}
googletag.defineSlot(‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’, [],
‘div-gpt-ad-68d6ed4b35ada’).addService(googletag.pubads()).defineSizeMapping(mapping);
googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest();
googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs();
googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-68d6ed4b35ada’);
});
`;
// Append the script to the body
document.body.appendChild(script_68d6ed4b35ada);
Friday
3 pm Rosé All Afternoon
There are dozens of vineyards on the Cap de Saint-Tropez, each with their own merits and takes on regional wines. Château Minuty is perhaps the most famous, which is probably why luxury powerhouse LVMH bought it from the marketing savvy Matton Family in 2023. It also happens to be one of the oldest vineyards on the peninsula, founded back in 1936. “The property is very beautiful and has a very sweet little chapel where the Matton family used to hold weddings and baptisms,” says Robert van Straaten, general manager of five-star hotel Althoff Villa Belrose in nearby Gassin.
The nearly 500-acre property, perched on the hillsides of Gassin and Ramatuelle villages, overlooks the bright blue waters of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez and its surrounding Massif des Maures mountain range. Guests can explore the estate via free audio guides on their smartphones or taste through a choice of three cuvées for just 5 euro per person, no reservation necessary. It’s open weekdays from 9 am to 7 pm and weekends and public holidays from 10 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 6 pm.
7:30 pm Dinner with a View
Soak in views of the harbor and town from the terrace of Le Belrose restaurant. The Michelin-recommended Mediterranean spot is set in the hills of Gassin on the property of Althoff Villa Belrose, offering incredible sunsets if you can time it right. Either way, the scenery is spectacular, and chef Jimmy Coutel’s upscale regional à la carte and tasting menus are worth the splurge. Anticipate options like razor clams and Baeri caviar, line-caught sea bass and porcini mushrooms, and lamb stuffed with black olive compote, melting eggplant, chanterelles, garlic potato mousseline, and wild thyme jus. Make sure to explore the extensive wine list for hard-to-find local reds or whites, made from regionally-approved varietals such as Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Rolle (Vermentino), Ugni Blanc, and Clairette.
// Create the element
var script_68d6ed4b36105 = document.createElement(“script”);
script_68d6ed4b36105.innerHTML = `
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};
googletag.cmd.push(function() {
var adType = “leaderboard”;
var mapping;
var lbmapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1024, 0], [[970, 250], [970, 90], [1, 1], [728, 90]])
.addSize([728, 0], [[728, 90], [1, 1]])
.addSize([320, 0], [[1, 1], [300, 50], [300, 100], [320, 50], [320, 100]])
.addSize([0, 0], [[1, 1], [320, 50]])
.build();; // Size mapping for leaderboard ads
var medrecmapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1024, 0], [[300, 600],[300, 250]])
.addSize([728, 0], [300, 250])
.addSize([320, 0], [[1, 1],[300, 250]])
.addSize([0, 0], [[1, 1], [300, 250]])
.build(); // Size mapping for med rectengle ads
if(‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_1’
|| ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’
|| ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’ == ‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_3’) {
mapping = googletag.sizeMapping()
.addSize([1920, 0], [[728, 90]]) // >= 1920px
.addSize([1440, 0], [[728, 90]]) // 1440px-1919px
.addSize([730, 0], [[300, 250]]) // 730px-1439px
.addSize([0, 0], [[320, 100], [320, 50], [300, 100], [300, 50], [300, 250]]) // Up to 729px
.build();
} else {
mapping = adType == ‘leaderboard’ ? lbmapping : medrecmapping;
}
googletag.defineSlot(‘/39808611/article_page/article_leaderboard_2’, [],
‘div-gpt-ad-68d6ed4b36105’).addService(googletag.pubads()).defineSizeMapping(mapping);
googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest();
googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs();
googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-68d6ed4b36105’);
});
`;
// Append the script to the body
document.body.appendChild(script_68d6ed4b36105);
Saturday
8 am Bite Into Best Croissants in Town
The most famous bakery in town, Boulangerie Aux Deux Fréres is where the locals go to pick up croissants, pain au chocolat, or baguettes. Order what you want, grab a coffee, and take a walk to enjoy an al fresco breakfast in town. “Go to Quartier La Ponche [a historic neighborhood near the water] or at the end of the harbour with a view on the ocean,” van Straaten suggests.
10 am Time to Taste
Head back to a morning tasting at Château Barbeyrolles. “Barbeyrolles, located next to Château Minuty, is something completely different,” says van Straaten. “The owner, Regine Sumeire, oversees this property on her own with her cousins.”
The 12-acre, family-owned vineyard organically and, on some plots, biodynamically farms the region’s signature red and white grapes on its shaley soils in the Maures hills. The fruit is hand-harvested and vinified via gravity with indigenous yeasts. Multiple tasting options are available including a discovery tasting of three wines (red, white, and rosé) that requires no reservation and 90-minute tours and tastings of five wines accompanied by goat cheese, Tuesdays to Fridays from March to October at 11:30 am, 2:30 pm, and 4:30 pm for 20 euros per person. Reservations must be made by 7 pm a day ahead of time.
1 pm Seafood and More Harbor Views
Soak up the tasting with fresh seafood on the harbor at Le Girelier. This waterfront restaurant is “a must-visit spot at the port of Saint-Tropez, with an elegant setting, design, and décor reminiscent of the yachting world, plus impeccable service,” says Adélie Ferrari of Château Malherbe in nearby Bormes-les-Mimosas.
She recommends ordering the “whole sea bream or sea bass, without hesitation—especially in a salt crust, it’s even better,” she says. “Otherwise, the bouillabaisse, the local specialty.”
3 pm Hit the Town
No trip to Saint-Tropez is complete without a stroll through town. “Soak in the charm of its boutiques, the colorful local market on Place des Lices, and the postcard-perfect harbor and bell tower,” says Olivier Souvelain, general manager at Château Gassier in the heart of Provence.
There are numerous luxury storefronts spread throughout the streets, including an iconic Chanel outpost located in an old hotel and a Dior boutique in a historic town house with a little garden. But “you have to walk through La Rue Clemenceau to the harbor and visit Rondini for real Tropezian handmade leather sandals and other beautiful shops like Marinette for provincial napkins, table clothes, and cushions,” says van Straaten.
In the late afternoon, locals gather together in the Place des Lices to play a match similar to bocce known as “jeu de boule, also called ‘pétanque,’ a game with big heavy steel balls,” he adds. The association, Les Boules Tropezienne, organizes regular tournaments.
And, if you want to dig deep into wine, Fabre-Lanvin suggests checking out Cave 1990. “It’s a fantastic local wine shop with a carefully selected collection and passionate, knowledgeable staff,” she says. “Bonus: they’ll deliver right to your boat”—if you just so happen to have one docked in the area.”
8 pm Dinner and and Show
After hitting the shops, grab a table at Le Café. Set on Place des Lices, the restaurant boasts “wonderful ambiance, including live music in the evening,” says van Straaten. The international menu overseen by Eric Frechon, who worked in three-Michelin-star restaurants in Paris, features brasserie-style fare with Mediterranean accents such as baked mussels, sole Meunière with lemon confit, and ricotta ravioli with black truffle. Plus, “they have a very good wine list and excellent service, van Straaten adds.
Sunday
10 am Kick off the Day with Wine and Cheese
Bertaud Belieu was “the first vineyard on the peninsula,” says van Straaten. It is also one of the prettiest. Rows of green vines surround the sandy, imposing terracotta-roofed winery and tasting room with its grand neoclassical columns and pediments. The striking venue has played host to a number of high-end events, including the annual Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation gala.
It’s not only a beautiful place to spend time, but “they make excellent rosé, white, and red wines,” van Straaten adds. “The Heraklion wines, in particular, are very special.”
Guests can taste through the lineup with one-and-a-half hour tastings, paired cheese and charcuterie, five days a week starting at 10 am. Reservations are required.
12:30 pm Lunch on the Beach
Ferrari recommends booking a table at Byblos Beach “for a stylish toes-in-the-sand day,” she says. The infamous beach club that attracts celebrities such as George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Beyoncé, and Mick Jagger is known for its sexy vibe and local Mediterranean cuisine (much of which is sourced from its own permaculture garden). The Ramatuelle restaurant offers international fare like yellowtail tiradito, linguine with clams, and Provençal aioli with local fish and vegetables.
2:30 pm Enjoy the Outdoors
After lunch, Souvelain recommends sweating out the rosé at Cap Taillat. The secluded natural escape is less than a 30-minute drive from Byblos Beach and offers crystal clear waters and incredible views of the other two capes and the Hyères island. “Cap Taillat is one of the last preserved and natural spots in the Saint-Tropez area, near Ramatuelle,” says Souvelain. “Apart from walking around, wandering, and enjoying the scenery, there’s not much else to do—this is what’s so special about it.”
Though, if you really need something to do, paddleboard rentals are available as are catamaran cruises.
7 pm Enjoy Aperitif on the Harbor
There’s a reason Cafe Sénéquier frequently gets mentioned as one of the must-visit spots in Saint-Tropez. The circa-1930 café, which started as a pastry shop, before the large red terrace debuted as a tea room, before transforming into the bustling café it is today. In addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner bistro mainstays, like omelettes, escargot, and beef béarnaise, guests can sip signature cocktails, spritzes, and a large selection of wines.
“It’s the perfect spot to watch people and boats while sipping a glass of chilled rosé,” says Fabre-Lanvin. “The wine list features local gems, including rosé of course, as well as fine whites from Côtes de Provence, Palette, Cassis, and Bandol for example.”
8 pm Change Course with Modern Japanese
While Mediterranean and French fare rule the roost in Saint-Tropez, this internationally-visited village also offers international cuisines. Ferrari suggests heading to the local outpost of Zuma “for a chic, modern take on Japanese cuisine.”
Set in the base of legendary Hotel Byblos, the upscale izakaya offers a solid selection of sushi, robata-grilled meats, and signature plates, like roasted lobster with green chilli and garlic shiso butter.
It also offers ambience for days. Opened in spring 2025, the outdoor restaurant features Japanese ceramics, textured teak accents, rich upholstery, and moody lanterns hanging from the trees. It’s hard to find a sultrier way to cap off a weekend in this French Riviera town.
Where to Stay
Set up in the hills of Gassin, five-star Althoff Villa Belrose offers easy access to all the action of Saint-Tropez but with a serene and quiet vibe. Its 39 modern French provincial-style rooms all boast beautiful marble-clad bathrooms and peaceful terraces with views of the bay or its pretty garden. For large groups, the property also offers three- to six-bedroom villas with access to all of the hotel’s amenities, including its cliffside pool.
One of the best known accommodations in town, Hôtel Byblos has been hosting celebs like Mick Jagger, Cher, and Grace Kelly since it debuted right in the heart of town in the 1960s. The neo-Provençal property, featuring pastel-colored stucco buildings and terracotta tiles, offers 86 rooms and suites decorated in a modern Mediterranean style. This year, it updated its onsite food and beverage program with three new venues including a new garden Italian restaurant and gorgeous rooftop bar.
For a tranquil beachside retreat, Ferrari highly recommends Lily of The Valley, 30 minutes from Saint-Tropez. Unlike many of the high-end hotels (including our two other recommendations), this luxury wellness hotel is open year-round. The Philippe Starck-designed property combines rustic and luxe natural elements, like walnut ceilings and marble bathrooms, throughout the rooms and expansive spa and wellness spaces. “It’s perfect for peace and quiet while having access to the most beautiful beaches in the area,” Ferrari says.
More Travel Coverage
- The ten dreamiest wineries to visit in Provence.
- Drink like royalty at these European castle wineries.
- But Napa will always be Napa, and these are the best Napa Valley wineries to visit right now.
- Here’s the definitive drinker’s guide to the Columbia River Gorge.
- These jet-setting fishing and drinking experiences will have you hooked.
In the Shop
For Wine On-the-Go
This versatile messenger-style wine bag comes with removable bottle liners, a corkscrew and an aerator.
The post Bakeries, Beaches, and a Bit of Rosé: 36 Hours in Saint-Tropez appeared first on Wine Enthusiast.
