This happy hotel captures the relaxed spirit of St Tropez …
St Tropez is awash with posh hotels, from the iconic Byblos home of the famous Caves du Roy nightclub, to newer cool kids on the block such as Arev and Airelles Saint-Tropez, Pan Deï Palais. The latter are glamorous, both a few minutes from the port and Place des Lices. However, if your vibe is more rustic and you want to be away from the throng of day trippers, Hôtel La Tartane is perfectly positioned near the Plage Les Salins. It’s a charming combination of colour and ambiance designed like a Provencal village by Jordane Arrivetz, founder of Notoire agency. It perfectly captures the relaxed vibe for which St Tropez was originally known.
The hotel is composed of six traditional stucco houses with 27 rooms and suites divided named after actors and muses of from the 1920s: Ernest (Hemingway), Peggy (Guggenheim), Pablo (Picasso), Gabrielle (Chanel), Sara (Murphy) and Scott (Fitzgerald). Pack Tender is the Night – a reread is sure to amplify any stay.
There is plenty of design inspiration. The colour scheme of whitewashed beams is complemented by bright colours: almond green, pastel pink or luminous yellow on the walls, the parquet and, in small touches, on floral cushions. Wooden benches, carved desks, rattan chairs and headboards, travertine tables, embroidered textiles further add to the allure as do the stylised murals by Brazilian artist João Incerti.
Nearly all rooms and suites have private patios or terraces shaded by olive trees. The hotel garden is planted with a remarkable collection of citrus trees, not to mention the large umbrella pine that welcomes visitors, and which inspired the hotel’s logo. The pool appears behind a row of planters. It is surrounded by large wooden day beds with fringed umbrellas. Like the rooms, hand-painted designs by artist João Incerti adorn the bar.
Dining at La Tartane’s bright, airy restaurant feels like being at a sophisticated beach club due to its pergola, rattan benches and armchairs and coral fabrics. This summer, the hotel has launched Gaia, a new Greek-inspired dining concept, already established in outposts such as Monte Carlo, London, Miami and Marbella.
Lunch, reserved for hotel guests, focuses on freshness and lightness, with a selection of salads and mezze, while dinner, open to external guests, offers a more generous menu. Among the signature dishes are the “Tsipoura” sea bream carpaccio, the “Choriatiki” Greek salad, oven-baked feta “Varelisia Feta Psiti,” and grilled octopus “Chtapodi Sti Schara.” It’s just the sort of place you want to end a day in St Tropez.
SEE MORE: An Insider’s Guide to St Tropez
