--- okf_version: "0.2" type: "Article" title: "Saint-Tropez Beach Clubs: From Club 55 to Salto on Pampelonne Beach" description: "The famous Saint-Tropez beach clubs aren't actually in Saint-Tropez. We check out Pampelonne Beach, from the legendary Club 55 to newcomer Salto." resource: "https://travelmemo.com/france/saint-tropez-beach-clubs-club-55" language: en translation: { lang: de, resource: "https://reisememo.ch/frankreich/beach-clubs-saint-tropez-club-55" } author: "Walter Schaerer" publisher: "Travelmemo" photo_count: 9 tags: ["France"] generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-11-03T20:47:31+00:00 } verified: - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2026-11-03T20:45:06+00:00 } sources: - id: photos resource: saint-tropez-beach-clubs-club-55.md#photos title: "Original photography by Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer" author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer" last_modified: 2026-09-25 review: independent: true basis: on-site evidence: photos funding: self-paid affiliate_network: "stay22" timestamp: 2026-11-03T20:47:31+00:00 --- ## Saint-Tropez Beach Clubs: From Club 55 to Salto on Pampelonne Beach Here’s what I didn’t know: the famous beach clubs of Saint-Tropez aren’t actually in Saint-Tropez. They line up a few kilometers south along Pampelonne Beach, in the municipality of Ramatuelle. This is where it all began in 1955. With a beach shack, Brigitte Bardot and Roger Vadim’s film crew. That shack became the legendary Club 55. To this day, it’s considered the granddaddy of all beach clubs, long before [Ibiza’s beach clubs](https://reisememo.ch/spanien/ibiza/ibiza-beach-clubs-restaurant) perfected the concept. After the [beach clubs in Croatia](https://reisememo.ch/kroatien/beach-clubs-kroatien) and the ones [in the Algarve and Alentejo](https://reisememo.ch/portugal/beach-clubs-restaurants-algarve-alentejo), I want to know: does the original live up to its reputation? ## Salto - the New Beach Club near Saint-Tropez **Salto is the new address on Pampelonne, and our pick for lunch on the beach.** Beach Club Salto is the newcomer on Pampelonne Beach, set on the grounds of the former Tropicana. The kitchen is Italian-Mediterranean: grilled fish, seafood, homemade pasta, lots of it made for sharing. We settle onto the shady terrace with its rattan chairs and teak tables. Through the greenery, we catch flashes of orange umbrellas and a churning sea. ![Terrace with wooden tables and wicker chairs at Beach Club Salto on Pampelonne Beach.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDc2OCcgeG1sbnM9J2h0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnJz48L3N2Zz4=) Shaded terrace at Beach Club Salto on Pampelonne Beach. Gentle songs drift over the tables with the food, skillfully accompanied on guitar. Live. At lunchtime. Bravo! ![Singer and guitarist perform live music at Beach Club Salto near Ramatuelle.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+) Live music at lunch in Beach Club Salto near Ramatuelle. I order the seafood risotto. It arrives in a hammered copper pan and tastes every bit as good as it looks. ![Seafood risotto in a copper pan at Beach Club Salto on Pampelonne Beach](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMjQnIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+) Seafood risotto served in a copper pan at Salto on Pampelonne Beach Katja orders the tagliatelle with scampi. Homemade, with extra-large scampi. ![Plate of tagliatelle with scampi and glass of white wine at Beach Club Salto](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDc2OCcgeG1sbnM9J2h0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnJz48L3N2Zz4=) Homemade tagliatelle with scampi at Beach Club Salto Add two glasses of Chardonnay and, to finish, two *noisettes*. That’s what the French call an espresso macchiato. ![Cappuccino with pastry on the terrace at Beach Club Salto in Ramatuelle](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+) Café noisette to finish at Salto in Ramatuelle **How much does lunch at Salto cost?** For two mains, two glasses of white wine and two coffees, we pay €150 (about $175). For reference, a few mains from the menu: - Daurade Riviera (sea bream): €39 - Cacciucco with lobster bisque: €59 - Fritto misto with shrimp, sole and scallops: €58 - Charcoal-grilled chicken with morels: €55 - Angus beef tagliata: €68 - Sole meunière: €18 per 100 grams (pricing by weight turns a sole lunch into a surprise package) ![Speisekarte des Beach Clubs Salto auf Terrasse mit Holztischen und Korbstühlen](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgMSAxJyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnPjwvc3ZnPg==) Salto Plage de Pampelonne Route de Bonne Terrasse 83350 Ramatuelle Phone +33 7 89 71 03 32 Instagram @saltosttropez ## Club 55 - the Legend **Club 55 is where beach club life was invented.** In the mid-1950s, Roger Vadim was shooting *Et Dieu… créa la femme* (And God Created Woman) with Brigitte Bardot on Pampelonne Beach. Geneviève and Bernard de Colmont fed the film crew from their beach shack. That makeshift canteen became Club 55. Today, their daughter Véronique and granddaughter Camille run the restaurant. The vegetables for the famous crudités basket come from the family’s own gardens at Château de la Mole, Domaine des Bouis and Domaine de Piegros. The tablecloths are blue and white. The menu lists simply grilled wild fish, sardines from the plancha and onion tart. Sounds modest. The prices certainly aren’t… Seasoned sailors assure us that after the regattas in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, Club 55 is the place to be. Le Club 55 Boulevard Patch 83350 Ramatuelle Phone +33 4 94 55 55 55 ## Beach Clubs on Pampelonne Beach – Come Rain or Shine **At the end of September, Pampelonne is half in hibernation, half in a storm.** We visit the fine sandy beach on a Friday in late September. High season is over, and some clubs are already closing. The wind blows so hard that the orange umbrellas stay tightly furled. ![Closed orange umbrellas on Pampelonne Beach at Beach Club Salto.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+) Closed umbrellas on Pampelonne Beach near Ramatuelle on a windy September day. The sea is foaming, and the waves crash onto the shore with real force. In weather like this, swimming is strictly for the dogs. ![Woman walking a dog along the sandy beach of Ramatuelle by the wavy Mediterranean coast](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDc2OCcgeG1sbnM9J2h0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnJz48L3N2Zz4=) The wide sandy beach of Ramatuelle is popular even with choppy seas You park in the large lot behind the dunes. From there, wooden boardwalks lead through reeds and dune grass to the individual beach clubs. ![Curved wooden boardwalk through reeds in the wetlands near Pampelonne.](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDEwMTknIHhtbG5zPSdodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2Zyc+PC9zdmc+) The wooden boardwalk winds through the wetlands behind Pampelonne Beach. We eat at Salto. Because of its high Google ratings. And because its restaurant is just about the only one still open. ## More Beach Clubs on Pampelonne Beach We only see the following clubs from a distance. Verde – the Iconic One Macramé parasols, daybeds and a woven sun arch at the entrance. On the table: grilled fish, truffle pizza, Champagne and signature cocktails. Verde now runs outposts in other resort towns. Verde Chemin de l’Epi 83350 Ramatuelle Phone +33 4 94 79 72 23 verde-beach.com Les Palmiers – the Classic Luxurious loungers and daybeds right by the water. The kitchen focuses on whole wild fish, lobster salad, gambas, ceviche and pasta in the southern Italian family tradition. Les Palmiers Chemin des Tamaris 83350 Ramatuelle Phone +33 4 94 79 82 70 clublespalmiers.com Byblos Beach – the Elegant One The beach offshoot of the Hotel Byblos in Saint-Tropez. Light Mediterranean cuisine, under head chef Allan Gonthier since 2026. Byblos Beach Boulevard Patch 83350 Ramatuelle Phone +33 4 94 43 15 00 byblos-beach.com Bagatelle – the Reinvented One Once known for its parties, now focused on restaurant and lounge. Mediterranean cuisine, plus fashion and wellness collaborations. The season runs until the end of September. Bagatelle Les Tamaris Chemin de Matarane 83350 Ramatuelle Phone +33 4 94 79 83 25 bagatelle.com Loulou – the Laid-Back One A “vacation home” by the sea among tamarisks, olive and lemon trees. Ideal for a long lunch and a full beach day. Loulou Chemin des Tamaris 83350 Ramatuelle Phone +33 4 94 79 80 04 loulou-ramatuelle.com Plage de l’Orangerie – the Year-Rounder On Pampelonne Beach since the 1970s. Locally caught fish, a selection of meat dishes, homemade desserts and low-key live music. According to its magazine, it’s open for lunch year-round, and for dinner as well in July and August. Plage de l’Orangerie Chemin des Tamaris 83350 Ramatuelle Phone +33 4 94 79 84 74 plage-orangerie.com Playamigos – the Buddy Club A “beach among friends” with a Greek-Lebanese sharing menu, surfboard-shaped tables and sunset cocktails. Playamigos Chemin des Tamaris 83350 Ramatuelle Phone +33 4 22 47 07 80 Indie Beach – the Lifestyle Club Sharing menu, an international crowd and a James Perse pop-up store. DJs spin on Thursday evenings and on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Indie Beach Route de Bonne Terrasse 83350 Ramatuelle Phone +33 4 94 79 81 04 Le Bar du Soleil – the Venerable One An institution on Pampelonne Beach that’s just opening a new chapter. Southern French cuisine with Spanish influences. Le Bar du Soleil 409 Allée de la Mer Route de Tahiti 83350 Ramatuelle Phone +33 4 94 79 66 87 lebardusoleil.com ## Beach Clubs Outside Pampelonne 270° by Golfe Azur – the Family Business The Leflon family runs this institution on Plage de la Bouillabaisse in Saint-Tropez. At lunch, Victor Leflon cooks with the catch of the day; in the evening, there are tapas at sunset, with a 270-degree view over the bay. 270° by Golfe Azur Plage de la Bouillabaisse 83990 Saint-Tropez Phone +33 4 94 97 07 38 Les Graniers – the Hidden One A small rocky cove with a jetty, loungers and a rustic restaurant under sailcloth awnings. Les Graniers Chemin des Graniers 83990 Saint-Tropez Phone +33 4 94 97 13 43 lesgraniers-sainttropez.com ## My Verdict: The Granddaddies of Beach Clubs Look a Little Worn Out Whether it’s the salty breeze or a lack of renovations: most of the clubs look a bit run-down. Their Google ratings aren’t especially high, either. Except for the (still new) Salto in the southern stretch and Tamaris Plage in the northern one. ## Tips for Visiting the Beach Clubs of Saint-Tropez - **Getting there:** Drive to the large parking lot behind the dunes, then walk the wooden boardwalks to the club of your choice. - **Season:** Some clubs close at the end of September, Bagatelle for example. In the fall, there are fewer visitors, but it’s windier. - **Reservations:** In high season, book a table in advance, or you can forget about that leisurely lunch on the beach. - **Budget:** At Salto, plan on around €70-80 for a main course, a glass of wine and a coffee. - **Recommended hotel:** We stay at the Hotel La Villa Douce in Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer, high above the Côte d’Azur. Fully booked? Other hotels we checked out on the Saint-Tropez peninsula: - Le Pré de la Mer - Mirage Hotel - Hotel Club La Galère - Le Bailli de Suffren ![Rocky coast with palm trees and dense vegetation near Ramatuelle on the Côte d'Azur](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB2aWV3Qm94PScwIDAgNzY4IDc2OCcgeG1sbnM9J2h0dHA6Ly93d3cudzMub3JnLzIwMDAvc3ZnJz48L3N2Zz4=) The wild coastline near Ramatuelle south of Saint-Tropez Cheers! And to capture the mood of the old days: Douliou douliou Saint-Tropez! ## Photos ```yaml photos: - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/terrace-beach-club-salto-pampelonne-beach.webp" caption: "Shaded terrace at Beach Club Salto on Pampelonne Beach." keywords: ["Ramatuelle", "somersault", "outdoor area", "beach club", "wooden furniture", "close to the sea", "Pampelonne", "beach café"] captured: 2026-09-25 geo: {latitude: 43.2127, longitude: 6.6631} credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/live-music-lunch-beach-club-salto.webp" caption: "Live music at lunch in Beach Club Salto near Ramatuelle." keywords: ["Ramatuelle", "somersault", "beach club", "guitar", "live music", "Mediterranean feeling", "female singer"] captured: 2026-09-25 geo: {latitude: 43.2127, longitude: 6.6632} credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/seafood-risotto-beach-club-salto-pampelonne-beach.webp" caption: "Seafood risotto served in a copper pan at Salto on Pampelonne Beach" keywords: ["Ramatuelle", "somersault", "beach club", "food culture France", "indulgence", "seafood risotto", "Pampelonne", "summer kitchen", "sun terrace", "wine pairing"] captured: 2026-09-25 geo: {latitude: 43.2127, longitude: 6.6631} credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/homemade-tagliatelle-scampi-beach-club-salto.webp" caption: "Homemade tagliatelle with scampi at Beach Club Salto" keywords: ["Ramatuelle", "somersault", "beach club", "seafood pasta", "culinary journey"] captured: 2026-09-25 geo: {latitude: 43.2127, longitude: 6.6631} credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/cafe-noisette-finish-beach-club-salto.webp" caption: "Café noisette to finish at Salto in Ramatuelle" keywords: ["Ramatuelle", "somersault", "beach club", "café noisette", "cappuccino", "coffee culture", "outdoor café", "terrace atmosphere", "cozy"] captured: 2026-09-25 geo: {latitude: 43.2127, longitude: 6.6631} credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/closed-beach-umbrellas-pampelonne-beach-salto.webp" caption: "Closed umbrellas on Pampelonne Beach near Ramatuelle on a windy September day." keywords: ["Ramatuelle", "somersault", "beach club", "Pampelonne", "beach", "closed sun umbrellas"] captured: 2026-09-25 geo: {latitude: 43.2127, longitude: 6.663} credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/beach-walk-dog-ramatuelle.webp" caption: "The wide sandy beach of Ramatuelle is popular even with choppy seas" keywords: ["Ramatuelle", "dog by the sea", "beach walk"] captured: 2026-09-25 geo: {latitude: 43.2135, longitude: 6.6636} credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/boardwalk-through-wetlands-behind-pampelonne-beach.webp" caption: "The wooden boardwalk winds through the wetlands behind Pampelonne Beach." keywords: ["Ramatuelle", "somersault", "wetland", "wooden walkway", "nature trail", "Pampelonne", "marshland", "hiking"] captured: 2026-09-25 geo: {latitude: 43.2121, longitude: 6.6629} credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer" - url: "https://travelmemo.com/wp-content/uploads/wild-rocky-coast-near-ramatuelle-south-saint-tropez.webp" caption: "The wild coastline near Ramatuelle south of Saint-Tropez" keywords: ["Ramatuelle", "Côte d'Azur", "rocky coast"] captured: 2026-09-25 geo: {latitude: 43.2121, longitude: 6.6641} credit: "Travelmemo | Walter Schaerer" ```