La Ponche

The story

La Ponche Restaurant Saint-Tropez – Provencal Modern Cuisine by the Sea

La Ponche

On the old port of Saint-Tropez, La Ponche has been a fixture since 1949. What began as a bar where Boris Vian played trumpet and Brigitte Bardot laughed has grown into a five-star hotel with a restaurant that draws its own crowd.

The restaurant, led by Chef Simon Pinault and directed by Marine Bon Mugnaïni, focuses on modern cuisine rooted in Provencal traditions. The menu changes with the seasons, built on ingredients sourced from the best local producers. The result is authentic, unfussy cooking that lets the region speak.

The dining room is intimate, decorated with hand-painted murals of Saint-Tropez and the traditional thirteen desserts of Provence. But the real draw is the terrace, which extends toward the sea. You eat to the sound of water lapping against the pontoon, with views across the bay.

The bar next door retains its original black-and-white checkerboard floor and deep armchairs around a large fireplace. It was here that Roger Vadim set scenes for And God Created Woman, and the spirit of that era – festive, light – still lingers.

La Ponche is recognized by the Michelin guide, a nod to the quality of its modern Provencal cuisine and the consistency of its kitchen. It is a place where the food, the setting, and the history of Saint-Tropez come together naturally, without fanfare.