Zuma and Hôtel Byblos were always going to get on. Both are international names with nothing left to prove; both understand that luxury is much more enjoyable when it loosens its tie. Byblos has been part of Saint-Tropez mythology since 1967, born from founder Jean-Prosper Gay-Para’s admiration for the late Brigitte Bardot, the screen icon who made the town her home. Zuma arrived rather later, opening in Knightsbridge after chef Rainer Becker spent six years absorbing the food and culture of Tokyo. Its contemporary take on the izakaya was built around sharing, movement and the pleasure of people coming together. At Byblos, that philosophy feels entirely natural.
Set outdoors in the hotel gardens, the restaurant is handsome and inviting: bamboo, Japanese tiles, soft lighting and a bar that keeps the evening moving. The atmosphere is fun from the start. The staff do much more than serving the room; they bring it to life. They joke, advise, remember what you liked and appear at precisely the right moment, with the easy confidence of people who know that dinner at Zuma Saint-Tropez should be as fun as it is refined.
L-R: Assortment of dishes from the Zuma signature tasting menu; Beef Tartare with wasabi ponzu and crisp kombu crackers; and Zuma La Tropézienne, a dessert created specifically for Zuma Saint-Tropez as a contemporary, Japanese-inspired twist on the region’s famous pastry.
I visited with girlfriends on the last evening of our stay – and what an evening it was. At Zuma, the menu follows the brand’s familiar rhythm of sushi, sashimi, tempura and dishes from the robata grill, all of which arrive exactly at the right time. Signature dishes include black cod wrapped in hoba leaf, spicy beef tenderloin with sesame, red chilli and sweet soy, cedar-roasted baby chicken with barley miso, and lobster with garlic-shiso butter. The whole meal was a bright symphony of colours and flavours, seasoned with a good doses of estival efervescence.
Having visited the winery earlier that day, we drank Minuty. Fresh, elegant and feminine, it was the natural choice for a girls’ night out. With roots on the Saint-Tropez peninsula since 1936 and vineyards around Gassin and Ramatuelle, Minuty is as local to the occasion as sun-warmed skin and white linen. Chilled rosé alongside raw fish, miso, citrus and chilli is not a difficult decision.
Then there is the crowd: wealthy, good-looking, immaculately dressed patrons from all over the world attracted by the fact that Zuma is one of those places to dine and be seen. If you like people watching, this iisa private jet ticket to your favourite pastime.
After dinner, the new Byblos Sky Bar offers drinks and views over the Bay of Saint-Tropez. From there, it is only a short descent into Les Caves du Roy, the hotel’s legendary nightclub, illuminating Riviera nights since 1967. Dinner, rooftop cocktails, dancing until indecently late: Byblos has the whole evening under one glamorous roof.
Author: Julia Pasarón
Book your table, HERE or phone: +33 4 12 38 12 12
Discover the new suites at Byblos designed by Laura González, HERE.
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