We return from Saint-Tropez with a certainty: there are hotels where you simply sleep, and there are hotels where you truly unwind. The Hotel Sezz Saint-Tropez, designed by architect Christophe Pillet, clearly falls into the latter category. Located 1.5 km from the town centre, nestled between a pine forest and Canoubiers beach, this 5-star Design Hotels member offered us one of the most beautiful stays of the 2026 season. Here is our full review of Hotel Sezz Saint-Tropez, after several days on site, testing the room, spa, pool, and Michelin-starred Colette restaurant.
What struck us upon arrival was the silence. Not the empty silence of a deserted hotel, but the carefully crafted quiet of a place designed for relaxation. Minimalist lines, dark wood, light stone, palm trees filtering the light. The Sezz reopened for the season on 1st May, and all teams were present and perfectly well-drilled. Spoiler alert: we awarded it 10/10. Truly, flawless.
The Arrival and Attention to Detail · Exceptionally Kind Staff
First moment, first pleasant surprise. Upon entering the room, a handwritten note awaited us, signed Angélique: « Dear Raphaël, we are delighted to welcome you to the Sezz… ». Next to it, a fresh fruit tartlet. It’s not just the gesture that matters, it’s what it signifies about everything else: here, things are given time. Throughout our stay, the staff were exceptionally kind, never rushed, always just right. This is the kind of service that can’t be improvised and alone justifies a return visit.
The Room · Designed by Christophe Pillet, Opening onto the Garden
Our room is a manifesto of Mediterranean design. A large dark wood arch frames the bed, a Sezz fan is placed on the linen, and full-height bay windows open directly onto the garden and private terrace. Natural light floods the room from morning to evening. No clutter, no trinkets, just the volumes, the materials, and nature entering through the window. This is exactly Pillet’s promise: to let the natural setting speak for itself.
The private terrace, found in almost all rooms, is undoubtedly the Sezz’s most beautiful gift. Two armchairs, a low table, and a green hedge that provides isolation without enclosure. We had our coffee there every morning, and our last drink every evening. It’s quiet, intimate, and just the right distance from the main pool.
The Bathroom · Italian Shower, Outdoor Shower and Acqua di Parma Amenities
The bathroom is a continuation of the room: grey stone, clean lines, double vanity, and an extra-large Italian shower on one side, an outdoor shower opening onto a private patio on the other. The outdoor shower is a pure gem: rinsing off in the open air under the Saint-Tropez sun is one of those unforgettable details. Regarding amenities, the Sezz made the right choice: Acqua di Parma Blu Mediterraneo Arancia di Capri, Sezz embroidered honeycomb bathrobes, and slippers. Not a single false note.
Our Favourite Feature · The Heated Outdoor Pool, Like Being in Greece
If we had to retain just one image of the Sezz Saint-Tropez, this would be it. The outdoor pool, surrounded by palm trees and white sun loungers, is heated throughout the season: we swam there morning and evening, without hesitation. The pool is generously sized, the water a near-Caribbean turquoise, and the 360° decor so minimalist that we had this strange, lasting impression: we could be in Greece. The palm trees, the sky, the silence, the off-white stone, the complete absence of loud music. This is what Saint-Tropez does best, and most rarely: tranquillity.
Special mention to the poolside service: lemon water, fresh fruit, towels changed without us needing to ask. And zero crowds, even during the reopening weekend. This is what distinguishes a great hotel from an unforgettable one.
The Hotel Sezz’s Susanne Kaufmann Spa and Indoor Pool
The Sezz spa is by Susanne Kaufmann, one of Europe’s most discerning skincare brands. The indoor pool, more secluded than its larger outdoor counterpart, is a sanctuary of dark wood, black stone, and subdued lighting, with four white sentinel vases echoing the venue’s Japanese-inspired DNA. Here, you can swim a few laps, lie back, and read. It was exactly what we needed to unwind after lunch.
The Outdoor Garden Fitness Room
A little nod to travellers who dislike losing their routine on holiday: the Sezz has set up its fitness pavilion right in the garden, under an open structure, nestled among the palm trees. Treadmills, bikes, weight training area: you can work out in the morning to the sound of cicadas and a gentle Mediterranean breeze. It’s anything but a carpeted basement gym, and that makes all the difference.
Colette Restaurant · Chef Philippe Colinet’s Michelin-Starred Dining and His Sens 7 Actes Menu
Dinner at Colette, the Sezz’s gourmet restaurant, was one of the highlights of our stay. Chef Philippe Colinet, Michelin-starred, offers two menus: Substances 5 Actes and, more notably, his Sens 7 Actes menu, which plays on the five senses (and a little more). Each dish is a small theatrical presentation that awakens one sense at a time: touch with mackerel, shiso, lemon, peas; smell with asparagus, parsley, egg, chervil; sight with tuna, pepper, onion, bean, olive; taste with mussel, parsley, garlic, fennel, bread; hearing with Mediterranean, seaweed, bottarga, spirulina… We chose the Sens 7 Actes menu, and it was, without hesitation, the best meal we had in Saint-Tropez this season.
The highlight: we were seated at the chef’s table, meaning we could watch Philippe Colinet and his brigade cooking live, just a few metres away from us. Watching a Michelin-starred chef work with precision, plate his dishes, and brief his team, is another level of gastronomic experience. The opening amuse-bouches (an incredible interplay of seaweed and buckwheat) immediately set the tone: here, it’s all about precision, noble plant-based ingredients, and a Mediterranean interpretation of local produce.
For the 2026 season, Philippe Colinet also introduces a new feature: holistic menus designed as an extension of the spa treatments, with cuisine that prioritises plant-based ingredients, local produce, and essential nutrients, without sacrificing pleasure. If we return to the Sezz this summer, this is the menu we will try.
Breakfast · A Wellness-Oriented Buffet
Breakfast is served at Colette, opening onto the terrace and garden. The buffet is generous, fresh, and balanced: sliced fruits (watermelon, melon, pineapple, grapefruit, orange), freshly squeezed morning juices, crispy pastries, Italian charcuterie, aged cheeses, eggs cooked to order, and a remarkable superfoods section (seeds, goji berries, dried fruits, honey by the ladle). For someone who takes their time in the morning, it’s a real pleasure.
Getting to Saint-Tropez and the Beach from Hotel Sezz · What You Need to Know
Let’s be honest: Hotel Sezz is not right in the centre of Saint-Tropez. On foot, the town centre (Place des Lices, port, Sénéquier) is about a 25 to 35-minute walk, which can be long under the July sun. However, this is precisely what makes the Sezz so peaceful, and the hotel has anticipated this: at the concierge desk, guests have access to bicycles, electric scooters, and a complimentary shuttle service that reaches the centre in a few minutes. In practice, we never had to call a taxi.
And the real luxury is being able to walk to Canoubiers beach: cross a small path, and you’re there. Clear water, a beach less crowded than Pampelonne, and a tranquil atmosphere. For meditative walks at sunrise or sunset, it’s unbeatable.
Verdict · 10/10
We tend to be wary of perfect scores: they leave little room for nuance. But here, throughout our stay, we found nothing to fault. The design is just right, the service is warm, Colette restaurant is a true gastronomic destination, the heated outdoor pool is one of the most beautiful we’ve tested on the Côte d’Azur, and the tranquillity of the place is a luxury that’s becoming rare in Saint-Tropez. It’s a hotel for those who want the beauty of Saint-Tropez without the noise, design without ostentation, and a Michelin-starred meal without the need for a tie. In our opinion, it’s a 10/10.
Practical Information
- Address: 151 route des Salins, 83990 Saint-Tropez
- Category: 5-star, member of Design Hotels
- Architect: Christophe Pillet
- Restaurant: Colette, Michelin-starred, Chef Philippe Colinet
- Menus: Substances 5 Actes (€110) or Sens 7 Actes (€145 with wine pairing, €100 without alcohol)
- Spa: by Susanne Kaufmann
- Season: open from April/May to October
- Official website: https://saint-tropez.hotelsezz.com/
