La Ponche – Saint-Tropez’s Golden-Era Gem, Reimagined
Bardot-Era Glamour Meets Mediterranean Soul
5, rue des Remparts
83990 Saint-Tropez
Type: boutique hotel, design hotel, heritage hotel, luxury hotel
Style: boho chic, cinematic, glam & sexy
Vibe: quiet
A Storied Icon, Beautifully Renewed
After an eight-month transformation led by Milanese interior designer Fabrizio Casiraghi, Saint-Tropez’s smallest five-star hotel is shining once again. La Ponche, set in the heart of the French Riviera’s most glamorous coastal town, blends Mediterranean charm with refined, understated luxury, capturing the spirit of La Dolce Vita that defined Saint-Tropez’s golden years.
Design with a Nostalgic Twist
Casiraghi’s interiors revive Bardot-era decadence through mirrored panels behind the bar, American walnut wood ceilings, black-and-white checkered tiles, a glowing fireplace, and wrought-iron coffee tables with glass tops. The effect is timeless yet fresh, inviting guests to sink into an atmosphere of classic Riviera elegance.
Culinary Heart and Social Soul
The hotel’s restaurant and bar, helmed by celebrated chef Thomas Danigo (formerly of Laurent and Recruiter Sergeant), is a lively hub from morning espresso to late-night cocktails. It’s a place where locals and guests mingle, surrounded by the echoes of a storied past and the warmth of a renewed future.
Rooms with a Story
Each guest room is named after one of La Ponche’s illustrious past visitors and infused with a sophisticated yet effortless design: off-white American walnut woodwork, richly varnished dark accents, tiled floors, and walls adorned with artwork by Jacques Cordier—husband of the hotel’s beloved owner-turned-ambassador Simone Duckstein—and original Pablo Picasso lithographs.
DNA Hotels Verdict
La Ponche is more than a hotel stay—it’s a journey back to the golden age of Saint-Tropez. With its refined design, intimate scale, and connection to a glamorous cultural past, it offers a uniquely soulful Riviera experience where history, art, and understated luxury converge.
Amenities:
• 24-hour front desk • air conditioning • beach • free WiFi • massages • on-site parking (charged) • pets allowed (charged) • restaurant • room service • room with a view • yoga
