Steeped in history, COMO Le Beauvallon embodies the Côte d’Azur lifestyle. The original hotel opened in 1914, a 100-room Belle Époque palace designed by Swiss architect Julien Flengenheimer. Over the decades, the property has housed soldiers from two world wars, acted as a retreat for creatives, and became the place to be seen in the 1960s with Hollywood stars, politicians and royalty flocking to the beloved Riviera.
Now, after nearly two decades as an exclusive-use events venue, COMO Le Beauvallon has opened its doors to hotel guests once more. Proudly standing on the hillside (a mere eight-minute complimentary boat transfer across from the port of Saint-Tropez) the iconic building hosts 42 rooms, with light-filled generous sea-facing suites, elegantly styled and equipped with glass bathtubs (so as not to distract from the view). The crown jewel of the property is the ‘COMO suite’, offering framed sweeping vistas of Saint-Tropez, the penthouse is a spacious sanctuary with an eclectic mix of furnishings.
Instantly noticeable is the property’s collection of art and design, which includes classics such as the ‘Up5’ chair by B&B Italia and was curated with Chinese philosophy and a cross-cultural dialogue between Asia and the Riviera’s artistic heritage in mind. Unfolding less like a formal exhibition and more like a lived-in narrative, guests can discover the full collection via the ‘COMO Le Beauvallon’ app.
The property is also home to the 2002 Serpentine pavilion by Toyo Ito and Cecil Balmond. Based on an algorithm of a cube, the complex pattern made up of numerous opaque and transparent triangles and trapezoids. Primarily used as an events space, it is a stark contrast to the sprawling serene pine grove.
Alongside the pavilion is the latest addition to the estate, Beauvallon Sur Mer by Yannick Alléno, the property’s new waterfront restaurant. Housed under a monumental rotunda, the structure hosts an al fresco sanctuary offering horizon views dotted with ‘white elephants’. The marquetry tables, and artisan details subtly nod to the nautical heritage of the Riviera, making it the ideal spot for summer lunches and sunset evenings. The opening marks chef Alléno’s debut in the beach club space, offering a seasonal menu that fuses the boldness of Southeast Asian cuisine and the vibrancy of Mediterranean seafood.
The restaurant, accompanying beach club and pool occupy an exclusive stretch of sand overlooking the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The comprehensive renovation was led by interior designer Dorothée Delaye. In a bold and vibrant reinterpretation, Delaye blends the Belle Époque heritage with modernist audacity, drawing inspiration from the care-free chic of the 1950s and the streamlined ‘ocean liner’ spirit synonymous with the Côte d’Azur. Working with artisans and French fabric giants such as Lelievre, Pierre Frey and Maison Thevenon, she has created a ‘graphic and solar immersion’, pairing geometric patterns and azure-blue jacquard weaves with the iconic Riviera stripe, which adorns the yellow scalloped parasols.
Saint-Tropez once famed in the 1950 and 60s is firmly back in fashion, with COMO Le Beauvallon unveiled as one of the last hidden gems, with a revived sense of elegance and charm, infused with meaningful wellness and quiet luxury. Suites start from €1,600 per night in low season (approx £1,365), comohotels.com/lebeauvallon
