Le Byblos, Saint-Tropez’s undisputed icon

Le Byblos, hotel to the stars and star of the Tropezian hotel scene

The most luxurious villas and a plethora of 5-star hotels populate Saint-Tropez and its peninsula. To say that lovers of beautiful places are spoilt for choice would be an understatement. But one hotel unquestionably stands out from the crowd, boxing in another category. That of legends. That hotel is Le Byblos. Icon among icons, Le Byblos has acquired such a reputation in the collective imagination that it is more frequently associated with the palace in Troyes than with the small Lebanese port, neighbouring Beirut, which gave it its name!

Yet Le Byblos, which celebrates its 57th anniversary this year, owes a great deal to the Land of the Cedars. Behind the hotel's creation was Jean-Prosper Gay-Para, a Lebanese, wealthy owner of the Excelsior in Beirut, a Francophile and a great collector of antiques. The romantic - and certainly somewhat romanticized - story goes that he had this "Palace of the Thousand and One Nights" built for Brigitte Bardot, with whom he was in love. Despite a colossal investment, the historical context - the Six-Day War - forced Gay-Para to part with his hotel only a few months after its inauguration. In September 1967, French businessman Sylvain Floirat, then at the helm of industrial (Matra) and media (Europe 1) gems, became the proud owner.

The hotel and its famous nightclub Les Caves du Roy immediately established themselves as the summer HQ for French (Bardot, Johnny, Eddie Barclay, Polnareff...) and international stars (Grace Jones, Elton John, Cher, Lauren Bacall, Romy Schneider and many others). Among the epic celebrations that have marked the history of the site is Mick and Bianca Jagger's wedding in 1971, at the height of the Rolling Stones' golden age.

And even today, despite competition from Ibiza and the discretion of super-yachts, VIPs continue to flock to the Byblos every summer. Kate Moss, Jennifer Lopez, Leonardo Di Caprio and Marion Cotillard have all recently visited the emblematic hotel in Saint-Tropez.

Byblos Saint-Tropez | What's the hotel like?

Just a three-minute walk from Place des Lices, the Byblos is a veritable " village within a village ". Spanning almost 17,000m², its "neo-Provençal" architecture unfolds in a series of gardens, squares and fountains, dotted here and there with antiques (ancient stelae, sculptures and mosaic fragments from Roman times, and even the ancient gateway to the catacombs of Palmyra) and colorful works of art. The hotel's emblem, inspired by Greek mythology (Zeus metamorphosing into a bull), and the "Grand Escalier" are by Jean Derval and Roger Capron respectively, renowned ceramists and close friends of Picasso, whom they worked with in Vallauris in the early 1950s.

In Le Byblos, guests will find a myriad of facilities and famous names. At the Spa by Sisley, an oriental atmosphere and a change of scenery are guaranteed for a wellness break. The Lebanese salon, transported piece by piece from a 16th-century palace in Beirut, remains one of the symbols of Byblos extravagance.

Gastronomy at the Byblos

When it comes to restaurants and bars, the palace leaves guests spoilt for choice. The rooftop Skybar with a breathtaking view over the Bay of Saint-Tropez. The B. Lounge, offering refreshing cocktails and Mediterranean-inspired dishes for lunch or dinner. 

Set against the backdrop of the swimming pool and the fairytale setting of the Byblos hotel, this restaurant is a place to share and exchange ideas and emotions. Or the new Il Giardino table, inviting you on a gustatory journey to the heart of Italy, comfortably seated under the planted pergola directly by the pool.

The Byblos' executive chef, Nicola Canuti, draws his inspiration directly from the palace's agroecological kitchen garden, which boasts 70 varieties of vegetables, fruit and aromatic flowers, in order to offer the finest produce on his tables.

Byblos Beach, the hotel beach

Since its opening in 2019, Byblos Beach has become one of Pampelonne's benchmark beaches. Here, you'll find the know-how, the savoir-être and all the services and attentions of the palace, and that's what makes all the difference. The chic yet relaxed ambience of the place contributes to its uniqueness. At the table, you'll enjoy light, tasty Mediterranean cuisine, with a focus on short circuits and seasonal produce: market garden produce, farm produce and fish returns.

And the rooms?

Since its expansion and the construction of the "Hameau" in the 1980s, the Byblos has 86 keys, including 47 suites. And what they all have in common is that they're... different! What sets them apart? The space (at least 28m²), the mix of old and new, the profusion of precious textiles by the greatest French or English designers (Manuel Canovas, Dedar, Pierre Frey, Osborne & Little, Jane Churchill...) or the abundance of colors and patterns evoking the Mediterranean universe: flowers or leaves, stripes, Asian or aquatic inspiration.

For the 2024 season, interior designer Laura Gonzalez has drawn inspiration from the bewitching colors of Saint-Tropez and the legendary aura of Le Byblos to create 4 new suites. Each tells a unique story of elegance and chic, distilled from the colors of coral, subtle yellow, turquoise and celadon. These new suites reflect the very essence of the luxury hotel, with a bold marriage of colors and influences. Iconic pieces, antique objects and handcrafted creations such as ceramic mini-bars and marquetry doors punctuate the spaces.

This relaxed refinement is also evident in the Missoni Home signature suite. A huge 180m² space featuring the label's inimitable style of geometric lines, zigzag patterns and multicolored prints. Rosita Missoni herself designed the décor, selecting furniture, textiles and accessories from the collections of the fashion house she founded in the 1950s.

What makes the difference?

Lots of things! Of course, there's the unique location in the heart of Saint-Tropez and the "made-to-measure" Byblos service, a hotel that knows its customers inside out. The hotel is also one of the few French palaces to have been run by the same family - the Chevanne family, who head the Floirat Group - for over half a century. This " at-home " vision of luxury has won the loyalty of both the staff (some of whom have been with the hotel for over forty years) and the large number of guests who return year after year, and sometimes generation after generation!

Where to find us?

200 meters from Place des Lices, 500 meters from the port and at the foot of the Citadelle of Saint-Tropez. A 10-15 minute drive takes you to the private Byblos Beach in Pampelonne, near Ramatuelle.

The room to book?

One of the 4 new suites designed by Laura Gonzalez, featuring harmonious colors and noble materials.

What to remember?

A bohemian-style palace and mythical Côte d'Azur hideaway, Le Byblos remains Saint-Tropez's most sought-after address. A one-of-a-kind icon, and therefore inevitably unrivalled.