Many come to Saint-Tropez for its party spirit. Others prefer the secret refuges hidden from view to experience the authentic Saint-Tropez of yesteryear; not the favourite celebrity summer hotspot but the fishing village from the 60s and 70s.

Lou Pinet (one of the hotels of exclusive Maisons Pariente hotel collection) is dedicated to connoisseurs of discretion, to those in love with the original Saint-Tropez spirit, to those who refuse to choose between dizzying thrills and absolute peace and to all those who want both – when and only when they desire.

Five minutes from the Place de Lices, towards the Salins headland, the Hotel Lou Pinet has the bohemian Saint-Tropez charm that captivated Françoise Sagan, Boris Vian, Picasso and Juliette Gréco. Like a slice of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in the Provençal sunshine! In 1955, Roger Vadim arrived, "And God created woman". And Brigitte Bardot invented Saint-Tropez. Time seemed to stand still at this particular moment at the Hotel Lou Pinet, the boho-chic refuge miraculously sheltered from the lively surroundings. The type of place you share only with your best friends.

"Sous le soleil exactement, pas à côté, pas n’importe où..." As in Gainsbourg’s song, the Hotel Lou Pinet is the place to be in Saint-Tropez. Ideally located between boules games played in the Place des Lices and the peninsula's most sought-after beaches – the privilege of an address that dates back to the 60s before the soul of this little village was transformed. At this time, the Pariente family visited this idyllic peninsula every summer holiday, like many others. And so began a long love affair between the Pariente and the peninsula. Starting with the grandparents and then passed down through the generations, this family tradition has faithfully continued.

Bewitched by Saint-Tropez to this day, the Pariente family proudly took over Hotel Lou Pinet in 2017, completely transforming it for the 2019 season with the ultimate dream team. In love with the south in general and the French Riviera in particular, the family have joined forces to reinvent Hotel Lou Pinet as they would a private home, where friends gather for a different take on Saint-Tropez. The real one.


CHARLES ZANA: ARCHITECT

Architect, interior decorator and designer, Charles Zana inherited his acute artistic sensibility from his art collector father. He has gone on to create numerous private homes worldwide, often for collectors. Steeped in Mediterranean culture, the southern native has a particular fondness for Saint-Tropez where he often spends his holidays. At the Hotel Lou Pinet, Charles designed the spaces and passages around light to bring sophistication and intimacy to the hideaway. He also drew on Provence's tremendous decorative arts heritage, from glass to ceramic, inspired by artists such as Matisse, Calder and Picasso – they too captivated by the beauty of the South of France. With Charles’ culture and taste for elegance, Hotel Lou Pinet’s decor features numerous period pieces from this era.


JEAN MUS: LANDSCAPER

One of the biggest names in landscaping worldwide, Mediterranean garden architect Jean Mus is a native of Grasse, the perfume town nestled in the hills that fill the air with southern aromas. With emotion a key element of his work, Jean was the perfect choice for the Pariente family to capture the spirit and memory of the boho-chic refuge. In his absolute element in Saint-Tropez, Jean has carefully curated the Hotel Lou Pinet’s outdoor areas to restore poetic authenticity and sensuality with distinctive species of flora and fauna from Provençal nature. Standout features of the immense lush garden include a miniature lavender field and herb garden as well as the impressive stone pines that stand tall and welcome guests.


A SECRET GARDEN WITH MEDITERRANEAN AROMAS

The iconic symbol of the pine (Lou Pinet in Provençal) inspired the hotel’s graphic identity in tribute to two venerable stone pines that have stood tall through the generations. Never faltering, the magnificent trees watch over the enchanting garden, through which lovely little winding paths offer a great place to wander. Get lost discovering nooks and crannies along the delicate aroma of pine resin fills in the air as the summer sun hits its peak, while the scents of lavender, orange and lemon trees, cistus and jasmine come and go with the seasons.


BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT

You needn’t look further than nature for Hotel Lou Pinet’s summer soundtrack, as the ever-buzzing cicadas and gentle breeze rustles through the trees. With 360° views of vibrant plant life, you’re sure to relax in this heaven of tranquillity protected from the bustling outside world. Light and shade interact in a flickering, hazy choreography as the exquisite Mediterranean nature performs its unending spectacle. All that’s left is to delight in the delicious sense of having arrived in a lost paradise, finding a forgotten and longed-for peace and breathing, finally, far from the every day.


THE CHIC VINTAGE SPIRIT OF THE 60S

"Ex-fan des sixties, petite baby doll…" While the shadow of Jane Birkin in her white lace mini dress and wicker basket lingers at the harbour, the Hotel Lou Pinet takes guests on a journey through time... to holidays and carefree abandon. Head to the lounge for a warm welcome to this luxury home away from home before following the path to your room over beautifully aged flagstones half covered with vegetation. Glance at the swimming pool, the largest of any Saint-Tropez hotel, which takes majestic centre stage on a huge terrace, giving structure to the hotel’s three houses.

Golden sunlight streams through in total harmony with the natural decor, featuring the linen, ceramic, rope, terracotta and whitewash that inspired 20th-century artists, from Chagall to Cocteau. In this sophisticated, understated ambiance, the rounded, almost organic shapes pay tribute to 60–70s style, from the layout of the rooms to the large banquettes and lamps designed by Charles Zana in the dining room. Expect period knick-knacks, old plates on walls and sculptures. Each object carefully handpicked to showcase the region's arts and crafts heritage, from Vallauris pottery to Biot glassware. Here, hand-made with love has found its ultimate canvas.


ROOMS & SUITES:
ABSOLUTE PEACE GARDEN WITH A PRIVATE GARDEN



There’s not a soulless magnetic card to be found among Hotel Lou Pinet’s 34 keys – you’ll be given a real one like the good old times. Guarding them is the Concierge, i.e. "master of golden keys". A partner in crime, he or she knows all the peninsula’s secrets and shares the best spots and greatest discoveries with his or her guests. The 34 spacious rooms and suites are bathed in light with dual-aspect windows in many of the rooms and bathrooms. Each comes with a private garden with an outdoor lounge for that at-home or at-a-friend’s feeling. Some have a unique décor: here, an elegant hand-made tapestry headboard with colourful abstract motifs, there a bespoke ceramic enamelled Charles Zana lamp that blends in magically. Throughout, you’ll find light hues with the occasional black highlighting, rooms with slightly rounded shapes, natural stone, wrought iron, sophisticated cane effects, linen, wood and a joyful blend of textures and materials for a gentle sunshine ambiance.







SPA & FITNESS

A short walk down to the bottom of the garden takes you to the spa, an intimate, protective haven, designed to resemble a secret cave. This remote spot is perfect for enjoying sensations to the full during a massage or fitness session. With two treatment rooms (one twin), a steam room and a gym with panoramic skylights, you have everything you need to let go and find the balance lost in the frantic pace of everyday life. A coach is available upon request to create a personalised programme and there’s a yoga class in the garden every morning to the sound of cicadas.



BAR - RESTAURANT

Elegant and relaxed, the restaurant decor mimics the hotel’s style. With large terraces, it naturally extends outdoors and blends in with the garden, overhanging the pool. Tucked into the greenery, the various tables are scattered here and there for a natural sense of privacy. There too, guests bask in the fragrant Mediterranean nature at lunch and dinner – special moments at their own pace in a private refuge where time seems to stand still. Sheltered by a wooden pergola, the outdoor bar faces a stone pine that protects the neighbouring tables from the sun with its gentle shade. After nightfall, the garden is lit with fairy lights and lanterns for magical evenings under the stars.



BEEFBAR AT THE HOTEL LOU PINET

Beefbar has arrived at the Hotel Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez. A sophisticated concept based on premium cuts of meat, it was created by Riccardo Giraudi in 2005. A successful mix of quality produce and chic, uber-modern simplicity, Beefbar brings a touch of excellence to one of the most beautiful places on the planet. While the Black Angus Prime, Wagyu WX and Kobe beef remain the menu’s guest stars, other less carnivorous and more Mediterranean influences bring some added flavour. Think grilled fish, ceviche, carpaccio, risottos, salads and pasta. Beefbar at the Hotel Lou Pinet also serves up a number of sharing plates, Beefbar’s global signature. Options range from premium meat to revived street food specialities.



A NEW TAKE ON SAINT-TROPEZ

For many, Saint-Tropez means beaches, yachts, luxury boutiques and spectacular parties. However, an exclusive, secret Saint-Tropez remains. Here, you walk barefoot from morning to evening and chic simplicity wins out over noisy ostentatiousness. Hotel Lou Pinet’s Saint-Tropez is a collection of precious moments typical of the Mediterranean lifestyle: a slow-living paradise.

Breakfast in the shade under the stone pines in the beaming morning light before a trip to the beach and the feeling of salt on skin that’s already tanned by your return. A late lunch that lingers lazily. There’s nothing to hurry for. Why not enjoy a slice of tarte tropézienne? Eventually… A siesta in the cool and peaceful twilight before a boat ride. A ritual game of pétanque at the bottom of the hotel garden before the ON SAINT-TROPEZ sacred aperitif hour when guests can sample the regional pastis flavour.



If you are interested in booking your stay at Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez, please call us on +44 20 7148 1778 or send us an enquiry.

For more information about the hotel, please visit here.