(Jack Nicholson and Cher at the Hotel Byblos Saint-Tropez, above, during the 70s.)We're going to be including the occasional film festival report at the Hollywood Interview in the weeks and months to come, and that includes the coolest places to stay and celebrate at. It doesn't get much cooler than the Hotel Byblos Saint-Tropez and the nightclub Les Cave du Roy, both longtime favorites - to say the least - of the crowd at Cannes. Our correspondent and publicist extraordinaire Nicole Muj reports on the ground from the legendary festival.
by Nicole Muj
Summer in the South of France has officially begun, marked by the season opening of the legendary Hotel Byblos Saint-Tropez and world famous nightclub Les Cave du Roy. Located on the stunning coastline on the Bay of Pampelonne, lined with sandy white beaches and sun-filled days, Saint Tropez is the home of this iconic hotel.
Without question, the Byblos is the premiere hotel of the Cote D'Azur, host to some of the world’s top stars over the years, including Jack Nicholson, Cher, the late Princess Grace and Brigitte Bardot. Mick Jagger proposed to Bianca on the balcony of a Byblos suite. Bardot still makes her home in the quaint seaside village. Offering recluse from the busy neighboring festival town, the Byblos invites Cannes VIPs a place to get away to relax and rejuvenate, away from the spotlight in the secluded, ultra luxurious residence.
(The view from the Hotel Byblos, above.)
Originally opened in 1967, the Byblos, the striking hillside hotel with its distinctive exterior painted in shades of rich terracotta and deep golds, is part of the Groupe Floirat, a collection of properties owned by the Chevanne family. This season, the Byblos unveiled the labors of an elaborate transformation project that included renovation of one third of the hotel’s rooms, refurbished in luxurious colorful fabrics that celebrate the uniqueness of the French Riviera and joy of the summer. Charming bathrooms extend the beach experience, with exquisite mosaics by Botticini, dramatic mosaic tiles mixed with polished pebbles. Designed with a subtle mix of Lebanese and Mediterranean styles, the hotel lobby warmly welcomes guests with inviting modern couches and chairs surrounded by traditional kilim rugs, a tribute to the hotel’s origins.
Dining at the Byblos offers a wonderful culinary journey. Guests may enjoy the poolside restaurant The B. featuring “light bites” or tapas, delights from the Mediterranean region with inspirations from French, Italian, Greek, Spanish and Lebanese dishes. For more formal dining, the Byblos serves up SPOON, the Riviera’s version of the popular franchise created by the globally renowned chef Alain Ducasse. Of course, the popular Provencal rosé wine, the water of Saint-Tropez, flows freely at every meal.
After the sun goes down, it’s time for Saint Tropezians to come out and play. The Byblos is the home to Les Caves du Roy, perhaps the most famous nightclub in Europe. Year after year, Les Caves hosts a who’s who of the international celebrity jet set. Beyonce, Jay Z, Sting, Elton John and Bono all have walked through the doors of Les Caves that recently unveiled its first major facelift since the 1970s.
(The late Princess Grace at the Byblos, above.)
To help recover and rewind after an evening at clubbing or a day of play under the Provence sun, the Byblos Spa offers a haven of peace and serenity, featuring rejuvenating treatments and rituals exclusively by Sisley cosmetics.
(Christophe Chauvin, Antoine Chevanne, & Junior, of the Byblos, above.)What's next at the Byblos?
Antoine Chevanne, the handsome, young General Manager/Director General of Groupe Floirat, has grand plans to expand the Groupe Floirat brand, with the recent opening of La Réserve, the first of a collection of charming, boutique hotels, and the October 2009 unveiling of The Black Legend Monaco. The lavish new nightclub dedicated to the sounds of Motown is just what the principality ordered. Plans to extend the “Riviera experience” across the pond are also in works. The company’s ambitious expansion strategy includes the opening of a new Byblos-inspired hotel and Les Caves nightclub in the US in the very near future. But until that happens, the legend of the Byblos remains…in Saint-Tropez.
(Check out the Byblos website here. )
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