86 FRANCE MAGAZINE www.completefrance.com

2 Dolce VitaPerched on a vine-clad hillside just minutes south of Saint-Tropez, with breathtaking views of the shimmering waters of the Baie de Pampelonne, this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant certainly lives up to its name.

The Dolce Vita is part of Villa Marie, a luxurious Italian-style five-star hotel. Come for lunch and you’ll dine alfresco on the spectacular sun terrace, which looks over the azure waters of the hotel pool and the manicured sloping gardens. Lunchtime dishes take their inspiration from all corners of the Mediterranean, ranging from a Lebanese-style tabbouleh salad to a Provençal pan bagnat sandwich.

In the evening, meals are served inside the stylish conservatory-style building, complete with antique furniture P

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Saint-TropezLes Bonnes Adresses:

In this chic Riviera resort, Peter Stewart savours the tastes of the Mediterranean

1 La Vague d’OrFor a gastronomic feast in a spectacular setting, this three-Michelin-star restaurant is worth the splurge. Nestling on a private beach with views of the Golfe de Saint-Tropez, La Vague d’Or is one of two restaurants at the luxurious Résidence de la Pinède hotel.

Chef Arnaud Donckele (pictured below), who was trained by Alain Ducasse, gives a modern twist to classic dishes and makes full use of Mediterranean flavours. From the à la carte menu, I chose the loin and cheek of sea bass poached in sea water, with lime cress and seaweed, while my friend had the sea bass tartare with caviar, shellfish stock and large pied de cheval oysters from the Bassin de Thau, near Montpellier. Both dishes were packed with extraordinary flavours and looked exquisite.

When it comes to dessert, La Vague d’Or has a penchant for fruit-based dishes, so we selected the figs from Collobrières, inland from Saint-Tropez, which were either roasted or buried in luscious sorbet and complemented with slices of rosemary and orange peel.

The service was as impeccable as you would expect from a three-Michelin-star restaurant. Although prices are high, they are worth it for the intriguing mixture of ingredients and delicate balance of flavours in every dish. Open April to October, menus from €280, mains from €96.Résidence de la Pinède, Plage de la Bouillabaisse,83990 Saint-Tropez. Tel: (Fr) 4 94 55 91 00, www.residencepinede.fr

FOOD AND DRINK

www.completefrance.com FRANCE MAGAZINE 87

3 Restaurant l’OlivierJust a ten-minute walk from the vieux-port of Saint-Tropez lies the elegant La Bastide hotel, where you can enjoy Mediterranean cuisine in either the restaurant or bistro as you look over the garden and pool.

We opted for l’Olivier, an immaculate, cream-coloured restaurant that serves elegantly crafted dishes made from locally sourced produce. Dishes draw on the best of surf and turf, and I chose a fillet of red mullet decorated with salsify and roasted chestnuts from a menu that also included roasted sea bream with fennel and lemon water, and roasted pigeon with liquorice, lemon and turnips.

Excellent service and a wide choice of wines added to the enjoyment, as did the chance to relax afterwards in the garden, with its many exotic plants and centuries-old olive trees. Open from Tuesday evenings until Sundays, lunch mains from €28.La Bastide de Saint-Tropez, 25 Route des Carles, 83990 Saint-Tropez. Tel: (Fr) 4 94 55 82 55, www.bastide-saint-tropez.com

MARKETPlace des LicesHeld in the spacious square at the heart of Saint-Tropez, this open-air market sells everything from fruit and vegetables to breads, pastries, cheeses, olives, spices and charcuterie. Arrive early to secure the freshest produce. Open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8am-1pm.

Tel: (Fr) 8 92 68 48 28www.sainttropez tourisme.com

BREAD AND CAKESLa Tarte TropézienneTraverse des Lices 83990 Saint-Tropez Tel: (Fr) 4 94 97 04 69This quaint bakery in a side-street just off Place des Lices is a great spot to buy the eponymous pâtisseries, which were

originally made from sugar-coated brioche and a velvety cream. They come in many flavours, with the raspberry macaron variety particularly popular.

DELICATESSENL’Épicerie NaturelleTraverse du Marbrier 83990 Saint-TropezTel: (Fr) 4 94 97 14 58www.epicerie- naturelle.com

This organic delicatessen offers everything for a picnic, including fruit and vegetables, meats, cheeses, honey, preserves and breads.

ICE CREAMBarbarac2 Rue Général Allard 83990 Saint-TropezTel: (Fr) 4 94 97 67 83www.barbarac.frTourists and locals alike

flock to Barbarac (pictured above) for its amazing selection of ice creams and sorbets.

Eating in Stroll the market and food shops of Saint-Tropez to find the best produce for your picnic or supper

Saint-Tropez basks in

the Mediterranean sun

and elegant tableware, and the menu changes focus. Now it’s all about French Mediterranean haute cuisine inspired largely by the bounty of the sea. I chose a grilled sole with herb-infused mashed potatoes, while a companion had the oven-cooked royal gilt-head bream with a Provençal vegetable confit.

Dessert was an experience in itself as our table of six shared a perfectly crafted hot lemon and red berries soufflé – the largest that I had ever seen.

Our meal complete, we clinked glasses in a toast and watched as the tangerine sun gave way to a star-filled darkness. Open May-October, dinner mains from €39. Villa Marie, 1100 Chemin de Val de Rian, 83350 Ramatuelle. Tel: (Fr) 4 94 97 40 22, www.villamarie.fr