La Ponche · Restaurant · Saint-Tropez
Bardot-era five-star landmark above the port - market-led Mediterranean, sea-view terrace
La Ponche is the restaurant of Hotel La Ponche, the discreet five-star landmark folded into the old fishermen's quarter that shares its name, a short climb above the Vieux Port and a world away from its bustle.
The building began life as a simple fishermen's bar and grew, room by room, into one of the most storied addresses in Saint-Tropez. It kept that low-key soul even as the town around it turned glamorous, and a careful restoration returned it to life as a polished but understated five-star hotel, with the restaurant at its heart.
Getting there is part of the pleasure. You reach it on foot through the narrow lanes of the old quarter, past ochre houses and quiet squares, arriving at a small cove that the town somehow keeps to itself even in high August.
The history here is real, not marketing. Through the 1950s and 60s this was the bohemian refuge of Saint-Tropez - the circle around Brigitte Bardot, Roger Vadim, Pablo Picasso and Francoise Sagan gathered here, and the film And God Created Woman was shot on the little beach directly below. That artistic, private pedigree still shapes the mood.
The dining room is intimate and Provencal, softly lit in the evening, the kind of room that feels like a well-kept secret rather than a stage. It is the antidote to the see-and-be-seen tables down on the quay.
The terrace is the prize. It steps down toward the water with the bay laid out in front of you, close enough to catch the wash of the sea against the rocks - one of the loveliest places in the old town to watch the light change over a long dinner.
Chef Simon Pinault cooks a market-driven Mediterranean menu built on what the morning brings - local vegetables, the fish of the day, herbs and produce from the surrounding hills and coast. The style is elegant and quietly inventive rather than showy, and it moves with the season rather than following a fixed script from one year to the next.
Address: 3 Rue des Remparts, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France, Saint-Tropez
La Ponche takes reservations through TheFork. This MyRSVP guide covers the room, what it is known for and when to go in Saint-Tropez; use the booking link on this page to reserve direct.
Hours of operation
- Monday: Lunch 12:00 - 14:30, Dinner 19:00 - 22:30
- Tuesday: Lunch 12:00 - 14:30, Dinner 19:00 - 22:30
- Wednesday: Lunch 12:00 - 14:30, Dinner 19:00 - 22:30
- Thursday: Lunch 12:00 - 14:30, Dinner 19:00 - 22:30
- Friday: Lunch 12:00 - 14:30, Dinner 19:00 - 22:30
- Saturday: Lunch 12:00 - 14:30, Dinner 19:00 - 22:30
- Sunday: Lunch 12:00 - 14:30, Dinner 19:00 - 22:30
Frequently asked about La Ponche
How do I get a reservation at La Ponche in Saint-Tropez?
Tables at La Ponche are booked directly with the restaurant. If it is part of a bigger Saint-Tropez plan, MyRSVP handles the beach clubs and nightlife around your dinner and can point you to the venue's own reservations channel.
What should I order at La Ponche?
La Ponche is best known for its signature dishes and shareable plates. Tell MyRSVP your party size and any dietary needs and we note them with your request.
What is the dress code at La Ponche?
La Ponche keeps an upscale dining dress code: smart, dressed-up attire, no athletic wear or beachwear. MyRSVP confirms any current door specifics with your booking.
Where is La Ponche located?
La Ponche is in Saint-Tropez, at 3 Rue des Remparts, 83990 Saint-Tropez, France. MyRSVP can build it into a full Saint-Tropez itinerary alongside the surrounding nightlife.
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