Pan Deï Palais

This refurbished 19th-century mansion hotel, located just off the Place des Lices, is a favorite amongst many St. Tropez regulars.

• Larger suites to fit families
• Fantastic location by the Place de Lices, convenient to shopping and dining
• Tranquil courtyard pool and restaurant open only for guests during the day

Once the home of Napoleonic hero General Jean-François Allard and his Indian-born wife, Princess Bannou Pan Deï, the Palais feels like a colonial-style home. The lobby is decorated with Indian antiques and Asian furnishings, statues and colorful carpets, and the unusually spacious guest rooms have ceiling fans and beds are draped with shimmering fabrics. Best of all, they can convert into modular super suites, ideal for traveling families. Keep in mind that the Asian décor is not for everyone. Guests who love it call the hotel tranquil and magical; those who don’t feel like they are sleeping in an antiques store.

Between boutique-hopping (the top shopping is just outside the hotel), guests can lounge on Indonesian daybeds by the heated pool, sip Champagne cocktails at their private bar or book a shiatsu massage in the mini-spa. The restaurant serves up innovative Mediterranean and Asian dishes, and there’s a small bar that’s fun for evening drinks. The ambiance at both stays convivial, though if you want to party, the top clubs are just down the road. Pan deï Palais feels exclusive and intimate given its small size, and is a great escape from the usual St. Tropez fare. The lobby and lounge areas, as well as the pool and outdoor space are beachy, homey and comfortable and have an oasis vibe.

The hotel also has a small spa, which features treatments using the Valmont skin care line. The Swiss brand even customized the “Princess Pan Deï” treatments, designed to fight the effects of the sun and to treat the premature signs of aging.

Couples or families with well-behaved children in search of a bit of calm within the heart of St. Tropez.