It’s 8pm in and the sun has just dipped below the horizon. For a moment, the sky turns electric, bathing the coastline in a shade of cyan blue. Birds soar above; trees ripple in the breeze; and cicadas sing in unison.
This is a jewel of the Cote D'Azur with the most spoiling view in St Tropez. Perched on the hilltop of Ramatuelle, above the glistening Pampelonne Plage, this hotel feels otherworldly. Especially, come sunset, when the F Scott Fitgerald heroines swill martinis on the terrace.
It’s no wonder the 1920s novelist had a penchant for the French Riviera...
Glamorous, alluring and oh-so-elegant, is the hotel du jour for the social set. Which is why I am here, checking into a luxurious suite, a chic, contemporary haven, with its very own patio overlooking the twinkling Mediterranean. But there’s no time to open the champagne; nor to soak in the bathtub (complete with jacuzzi jets), for we (my boyfriend, Giorgio and I) have a date at La Voile, the hotel’s two Michelin-starred restaurant.
La Voile is understatedly glamorous with tall, white, postmodernist lamps, and Matisse-esque nudes hanging on the walls. Minimalism rules here, with muted white and beige tones, and a few pops of blue in the sleek furnishings. (With that sea view, shown off by floor-to-ceiling windows, such minimalism makes sense).
After we are tucked into Scandi- wooden chairs (‘these are expensive,’ Giorgio explains quietly), we delve into the Tasting Menu. It’s a rich roller coaster throu.