Pastis Hotel St Tropez

Creamy plaster, wrought-iron rimmed balconies, and French doors adorned with slate-blue shutters combine to give this pretty three-story hotel a classic Provençal look -- at least from the outside. Inside it's another story, where the attentive British owners’ love of 20th-century design is on full display. Take the lobby seating area: sure it retains original elements (most noticeably the curvaceous staircase), but the space is dominated by a Le Corbusier leather couch and Warhol’s soup-can prints. Similarly, retro furnishings (picture wicker chairs and zinc-topped tables) fill the wee, fire-lit bar, but these are offset by an eclectic collection of modern paintings and photographs. Like the decor, the guest list here is an interesting melange that includes young families as well as older couples, both gay and straight.  

Separated from the sea by a scenic tree-lined boulevard, Pastis sits at the entrance of St. Tropez and, being on the main route in, puts the renowned resort town’s sights and services close at hand. Visitors who want to hit area attractions can walk to the Annonciade (a respected gallery) or the Citadelle (a fortress-cum-museum) in under 20 minutes, while beach lovers can reach the nearest strand in five minutes on foot or reach the famous Plage de Pampelonne in 11 minutes by car. As an added bonus, other Côte d'Azur destinations are in easy day-tripping distance. Note that arriving guests can drive in from Toulon, Nice, and Marseille (their airports are all under two hours away) or from Saint-Raphaël (which has the closest Eurostar station). Ferries from Saint-Raphaël and Sainte-Maxime also serve St. Tropez; ground transportation can be arranged through the hotel. 

• 11-minute walk to Annonciade Museum
• 19-minute walk to La Citadelle
• 11 minute drive to Plage de Pampelonne
• 29-minute drive to Sainte-Maxime
• 56-minute drive to Toulon-Hyères Airport 
• 66-minute drive to Saint-Raphaël 
• 89-minute drive to Grasse
• 90-minute drive to Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport
• 93-minute drive to Antibes or Cannes
• 114-minute drive to Marseille-Provence Airport

Ranging in size from 226 to 474 square feet, the individually decorated guest rooms here have an art-gallery feel thanks to the plentiful artworks and "objets" that make them so visually distinctive. Guests can spot an Andy Warhol poppy print or cartoonish Roy Lichtenstein panel here, or a Keith Haring plate and vintage Le Corbusier daybed there. Impressive in their own right, such pieces become even more vibrant when contrasted with antiques and original architectural elements like limed oak floors and ceiling beams. Crisp white walls and premium white linens (think 400-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets) provide a neutral canvas for it all. 

Functional as well as funky, the air-conditioned accommodations have tea/coffee-making equipment, minibars, digital safes, flat-screen TVs receiving international channels, DVD players, a selection of movies and books, plus free-Wi-Fi. Better yet, all have furnished terraces or balconies -- some boasting both pool and sea views. Each also has a marble-trimmed bathroom that includes double sinks and a deep soaking tub with a rainfall shower head, save for one which has a cool copper bath and handheld shower instead; cozy waffle robes and top-end Ortigia toiletries are welcome extras. Light sleepers should note that, despite triple-glazed windows, roadside rooms may be prone to noise when traffic peaks.

The Pastis has fewer features than you might normally expect in a hotel with such high-quality finishes. For example, there's no fitness room on-site, nor is there a restaurant per se -- though made-to-order breakfasts and light lunches can be enjoyed at extra charge in the bar area, on the poolside terrace or in your room. What this spot does offer is a convivial lobby/lounge that functions as a communal living room, plus a sizable emerald-green pool that is heated most of the year. Set amidst towering palms and fig trees and lined with white sun loungers, the latter feels like an idyllic retreat when high-season crowds descend on St. Tropez. Other features include a 24-hour front desk with concierge capabilities and basic business services; dry-cleaning/laundry and turndown services; on-request babysitting; and free Wi-Fi throughout.