Paris embraces the rise of private beaches inspired by Saint-Tropez

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By: Sahili Aya

Paris embraces the rise of private beaches inspired by Saint-Tropez

The private beach experience long associated with Saint-Tropez and the French Riviera is finding a new setting in Paris, where upscale venues along the Seine are turning summer relaxation into a premium experience.

In the capital, sun loungers, cocktails and waterfront terraces are increasingly being marketed as an exclusive alternative to the city's traditional public summer spaces.

A Riviera atmosphere on the Seine

One of the most visible examples is Foil in Paris, a floating venue near the Seine at the edge of the Bois de Boulogne.

Located in Paris's affluent 16th arrondissement, the venue opened in 2025 and has adopted the codes of a high-end Mediterranean beach club. Visitors can relax around a small swimming pool while enjoying drinks and music, creating an atmosphere deliberately reminiscent of the Côte d’Azur.

The concept is aimed at customers seeking a more controlled and intimate summer setting rather than the crowds associated with public beaches and free recreational areas.

Exclusivity comes at a price

That experience does not come cheaply.

Access to Foil in Paris costs €50 for three hours, while the venue limits attendance to roughly 30 people at a time. The restricted capacity reinforces the club's positioning as an exclusive destination rather than a mass-market attraction.

The model reflects a broader evolution in Parisian leisure, where private operators are increasingly monetizing access to outdoor spaces and waterfront experiences during the summer months.

Paris develops its own version of the beach club

The emergence of private beaches along the Seine illustrates how the capital is adapting the traditional French seaside club model to an urban environment.

Rather than competing directly with the public spaces available during the Paris summer season, these venues offer something different: privacy, curated surroundings and services designed to reproduce the atmosphere of a Mediterranean holiday without leaving the city.

The result is a distinctly Parisian interpretation of the beach club — one where the Seine replaces the Mediterranean and exclusivity becomes part of the attraction.