The End of an Era at Paloma Beach — But the Story May Not Be Over

 

The French Riviera has lost one of its most beloved seaside institutions. After decades of sun-soaked lunches, celebrity sightings, and languid afternoons beside turquoise water, the iconic beach club at Paloma Beach will not reopen its doors this season.

For generations of locals, yacht owners, and Riviera regulars, the small but magical cove on the eastern side of Saint‑Jean‑Cap‑Ferrat has been synonymous with the golden age of Mediterranean beach life.

But in 2025 the historic restaurant and beach facilities — which had stood since the late 1940s — were demolished as part of a municipal redevelopment project aimed at bringing the site into compliance with France’s strict coastal protection laws.

The plan includes replacing the aging structure with a removable seasonal building, along with environmental improvements along the nearby Sentier du Littoral (Saint‑Hospice coastal path) and stabilization work on the surrounding cliffs. With construction and administrative processes still underway, the beach club is expected to remain closed until at least 2027.

Yet the spirit of Paloma may not be gone for good.

Owners Baptiste, Agathe, and Jean-Claude recently shared a message hinting that their story with the beach is not over. “The spirit of Paloma will continue to exist and to surprise you,” they wrote — a tantalizing suggestion that the beloved institution could eventually return in some new form.

The affection surrounding Paloma Beach is easy to understand.

Tucked into a sheltered Scaletta cove with sweeping views across the bay toward Beaulieu‑sur‑Mer, the beach club built a reputation for effortless Riviera elegance rather than flashy excess. Its striped umbrellas, clear water and relaxed restaurant terrace made it a favourite for long Mediterranean lunches of grilled fish, rosé, and slow afternoons drifting between table and sea.

Over the decades, the guest list read like a who’s who of Riviera history. Visitors reportedly included figures such as Winston Churchill, Elton John, Tom Cruise and Roger Moore — all drawn by the beach’s unique combination of beauty and low-key charm.

More recently, Paloma found a new global audience when it appeared in the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris. Film fans might also recognize the beach from Fifty Shades Darker, where the character Christian Grey — played by Jamie Dornan — famously emerges from the Mediterranean in one of the movie’s Riviera scenes.

But beyond its film cameos and famous guests, what truly made Paloma special was its atmosphere. In a region increasingly defined by mega-yachts and high-energy beach clubs, Paloma managed to preserve something rare: the feeling of a classic Riviera summer day. Families, artists, locals and travelers mingled beneath the pines, slipping into the sea between leisurely meals and long conversations that stretched late into the afternoon.

For now, the restaurant chairs and striped umbrellas may be gone. Yet the cove itself — one of the most beautiful swimming spots on the Riviera — remains open to the public. Visitors can still descend the path, slip into the same crystalline water, and imagine the decades of Riviera summers that unfolded here.

And if the owners’ message is anything to go by, this may not be the final chapter for Paloma Beach — only an intermission.