After more than a decade as an exclusive private estate, the historic Le Beauvallon is preparing to welcome guests once more as a hotel. Opening in April 2026, the Belle Époque property overlooking the Gulf of Saint-Tropez will operate under COMO Hotels and Resorts’ management, marking the hospitality group’s entry to the French Riviera. The 1914 building, which once hosted Winston Churchill and Audrey Hepburn, occupies a ten-acre hillside estate with direct water access.

Le Beauvallon has witnessed the evolution of French Riviera hospitality across more than a century. Built in 1914 during the final flourish of the Belle Époque, the property served as a hotel until 2008, when it closed for extensive restoration work. Seven years later, it reopened as a private residence available exclusively to single-party bookings. That chapter concludes next spring, when COMO Hotels and Resorts assumes management and restores its function as a hotel.

The property’s location explains much of its enduring appeal. Perched on a hillside within a ten-acre private estate of palms, pines and lawns, the main building commands unobstructed views across the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The grounds descend to the water’s edge, where a beach club, pool and restaurant await guests. Yacht owners can moor tenders directly in front of the property, whilst the hotel operates two speedboats for guests wishing to explore the region (one provides an eight-minute journey to Saint-Tropez itself, the other accesses the beaches of Ramatuelle and Pampelonne.

Pritzker Prize-Winning Pavilion Relocated from London

The bayside gardens contain an unexpected addition to the Riviera landscape: the 2002 Serpentine Gallery Summer Pavilion. Originally designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Toyo Ito for London’s Kensington Gardens, the structure was dismantled and transported to southern France, where it now occupies a position overlooking the Mediterranean. The installation, suspended between sky and water, serves as a venue for private functions.

The pool adjacent to Ito’s pavilion features silvery blue and green tiles arranged to catch the light. Together, these elements form the centrepiece of the hotel’s waterfront gardens, accessible via pathways from the main building above.

Two Distinct Dining Venues

Beauvallon Sur Mer, the property’s beachside restaurant, operates from sunrise through evening service. The kitchen combines Provençal ingredients with Asian techniques, producing a menu that reflects COMO’s broader culinary philosophy whilst acknowledging the coastal Mediterranean context. Floor-to-ceiling windows ensure uninterrupted views across the bay during service.

The main building houses additional dining spaces. The Winter Garden provides all-day service, whilst an adjacent terrace extends the dining room outdoors during warmer months. The lobby features an installation by Chinese artist Zheng Lu, visible from the lounge area where lighter refreshments are available throughout the day.

COMO Shambhala brings Bali-developed Treatments to France

COMO’s arrival brings the COMO Shambhala wellness concept to the French Riviera for the first time. The main building contains a gymnasium and dedicated treatment rooms, where therapists trained in the techniques developed at COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali deliver massages, facials and bodywork sessions. Daily yoga classes run alongside these individual treatments.

The COMO Shambhala Kitchen provides an alternative menu option throughout the property. Available both in guest rooms and at the Winter Garden, these dishes prioritise nutritional density whilst maintaining the refinement expected at a Riviera hotel. Guests can integrate these meals into broader wellness programmes or select them independently.

Individual Design Across all Accommodations

Each of the property’s 42 rooms and suites carries individual design elements rather than adhering to a uniform template. Many spaces display works from the hotel’s art collection, with more than 300 pieces accumulated over decades, including sculptures, installations and rare objects.

Suites face the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, whilst rooms designated as Hillview look inland across Provençal countryside. The headline COMO Suite provides the most extensive bay views alongside additional living space. Every floor includes a corridor pantry stocked with refreshments and snacks, accessible to guests at any hour without contacting staff.

The emphasis on residential atmosphere over hotel formality extends to service patterns. Staff anticipate requirements whilst maintaining discretion, an approach refined across COMO’s existing properties in Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Côte d’Azur Entry Expands European Portfolio

The opening represents COMO Hotels and Resorts’ first property on the Côte d’Azur, expanding a portfolio that currently spans locations from Bhutan to Turks and Caicos.

The opening of COMO Le Beauvallon in April 2026 marks an important moment for the COMO Group – a rare opportunity to establish our presence in one of Europe’s most exclusive destinations. It enriches our portfolio and reinforces our commitment to delivering empathetic service, authentic experiences, and a deep connection to place” Olivier Jolivet, CEO, COMO Group

Le Beauvallon’s conversion from private estate back to hotel operation reverses the trend towards exclusive-use properties that has characterised luxury hospitality in recent years. Rather than limiting access to single parties, COMO is betting that the property’s combination of historic pedigree, waterfront location and contemporary amenities will attract sufficient demand to justify traditional hotel operations on one of the Mediterranean’s most competitive coastlines.