It goes without saying that Saint-Tropez boasts an enviable collection of glamorous hotels. From the storied Byblos to the LVMH-owned Cheval Blanc, the sun-drenched coastal town has long maintained a roster of properties that match its reputation for celebrity and excess.
What is rarer, however, is a hotel that feels personal and discreet — one that prioritises soul over spectacle, authenticity over ostentation. Now AREV, which opened in 2024, does just that, and it was a distinction that Luis Bustamante — who oversaw the two-year project, from the architecture to the interiors — focused on from the very start.
“AREV approached my studio wanting to create something that felt deeply connected to the spirit of Saint-Tropez,” says the Spanish designer. “The brief was to create a five-star destination with heart. Something intimate and residential, in the spirit of a sophisticated Riviera home.”
Built on the site of the former Lou Troupelan hotel, the new incarnation, says Bustamante, is heavily inspired by sailing culture and the classic visual language of the Côte d’Azur. This translates into a vibrant symphony of bold stripes, polished joinery and a defined palette of red, white and blue that runs throughout. “These colours feel both timelessly French and wonderfully energetic. I wanted guests to feel the romance of the Mediterranean from the moment they arrive.”
Crossing the threshold of the buttermilk yellow building with its Provençal blue shutters, Bustamante eschewed the idea of a traditional lobby in favour of a chic seating area lined with neat bookcases and smart piped sofas and chairs that invite guests to relax while checking in. This leads seamlessly onto The Strand restaurant and Q’s bar and champagne lounge, where navy striped stools are paired with precise, geometric wooden panelling and a playful indoor awning — a theatrical detail that references yacht clubs and seaside cafés while cleverly blurring the boundary between inside and out.
The Riviera narrative continues on the terrace that plays host to a clutch of scalloped parasols and relaxed seating beneath twisted olive trees. But it’s the 15-metre heated pool — the largest in Saint-Tropez — that is the undoubted star of the show. Flanked by striped loungers and a beach club style bar serving signature cocktails and light bites, on the pool floor are the words “A rêve in the sun” — a poetic nod to the hotel’s name, which is derived from the French verb rêver (to dream). A dedicated second pool caters to families, while those seeking shade can retreat to the courtyard, christened Place des Oliviers, that pays homage to the famous Place des Lices just a short stroll away. Home to two pop-up boutiques and a retro food truck offering artisanal coffee and snacks by day, it also features and an outdoor bar, and as evening draws in, it transforms into a gathering place for sundowners and live music.
The 35 rooms and suites showcase the same palette of red, white and blue, some with added caramel, while the signature stripes are paired with Toile de Jouy fabric and wallpaper, tailored upholstery and four-poster or canopy beds. “Every room shares a common visual language, yet each has its own personality, so guests feel they are discovering something unique,” Bustamante notes.
For those in need of some me time, AREV has teamed up with Maison ST, a Saint-Tropez perfumery and wellness brand to create a spa that offers complete serenity. Bustamante designed the space with pale woods, elegant stone and considered textures — a deliberate contrast to the energy of the social spaces. Treatments use local Mediterranean ingredients including sea salt and Tropezian herbs and bespoke Maison ST products. For the more energetic, a padel court, al fresco yoga, a fully equipped gym and a fleet of electric bikes and vintage buggies ensure that the rest of Saint-Tropez is always within easy reach.
Ultimately, every thoughtfully curated corner of the property reflects the freedom Bustamante was given to bypass a standard hotel template. “The most rewarding part has been seeing guests connect emotionally with the spaces,” he concludes. “Hospitality is at its best when it creates memories.”
Rooms from £505 a night; arevcollection.com
