Cheval Blanc St-Tropez

If the Cheval Blanc name isn’t quite a household name, give it time — with the backing of the LVMH luxury conglomerate, this brand has quickly taken its place at the top end of the hospitality world. The villa that now houses Cheval Blanc St-Tropez is close to a century old, and occupies a prime location right on the beach, removed by a few minutes’ walk from the busy waterfront and town center — in fact it’s the only hotel in town with its own on-site private beach. But it’s perhaps only now, after a thorough interior reimagining at the hands of the designer Jean-Michel Wilmotte, that its full potential has been realized. The scale remains small — just 32 rooms and suites — which is conducive to the sort of slightly sedate seclusion that is Saint Tropez’s stock in trade. Its new interiors feel rooted in Provence but free from cliché, decked out in striking azure and pure white, and are packed with works by local artists. The Cheval Blanc Spa by Guerlain is a major attraction, as is the private beach club with its heated swimming pool. And the food and beverage program is a powerhouse under the direction of chef Arnaud Donckele; the flagship restaurant, La Vague d’Or, has earned no fewer than three MICHELIN Stars.