After more than seven decades, one of the French Riviera’s most beautiful and famous private beaches, Plage Paloma, has announced that it will not reopen – marking the end of an era on the Côte d’Azur.
Editor’s note: Riviera Edition visited Paloma Beach regularly until its final season in 2024. For many Riviera residents and returning visitors, the beach represented a rare example of the Côte d’Azur’s traditional seaside culture – elegant yet laid-back, immersed in a breathtaking landscape.
Founded in 1948 and later named after Paloma Picasso, the beach quickly became one of the Riviera’s most beloved coastal destinations. Over the decades it attracted not only artists, but politicians, film legends and performers too. It also drew sun-seekers from around the world, and was one of the most popular French Riviera beaches on Instagram. Paloma was a top bucket list item for any discerning traveller to the Riviera. And yet it remained refreshingly understated.
Its image was glamorous but its real attraction was its simplicity. Its authenticity. A stunning location, hidden from view, where you could kick off your shoes, swim for hours, soak up the sunshine, drink chilled rosé, savour the grilled fish and immerse in the French ambiance. (No flashy displays of wealth!)
But this came to an end – we thought it was just a pause – after the summer of 2024, when major cliff reinforcement work was required on the Plage de la Scaletta. Paloma Beach was meant to reopen in 2025, but the work was not yet finished.
And then this week, the announcement came.
In a message shared on Instagram yesterday, Paloma Group founder Jean-Claude Vannini and his children Baptiste and Agathe wrote:
“Today it is official, and it is with great emotion that we announce that Paloma Beach will not be reopening its doors.”
They thanked guests for “all these years of loyalty and for the shared moments that will forever remain engraved in our hearts.”
Where exactly was Plage Paloma?
Paloma Beach sat on the north eastern side of the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula, one of the most prestigious stretches of coastline on the French Riviera. The bay is so sheltered you would barely notice the beach if you didn’t know it was there (which is why, despite its international reputation, Paloma always felt like a secret discovery as you descended from Chemin de Saint-Hospice down the stairs to the club).
The beach (Scaletta) looks across the water (over superyachts and paddle-boarders) toward Beaulieu-sur-Mer and the Riviera coast towards Monaco and Italy; and with its impossibly crystal-clear waters, it is one of the most scenic and natural swimming spots anywhere along the Côte d’Azur.
Why Paloma Beach became a Riviera legend
- The name. It was named after artist Pablo Picasso’s daughter, Paloma, who spent time on the peninsula as a child while her father visited his friends.
- The history. The beach club itself opened in 1948, a year before Paloma was born, just as the French Riviera was recovering from the Second World War and entering a new age of international travel. People were drawn by its quiet glamour and discreet charm.
- The family. For more than 70 years Plage Paloma was run by the Vannini family, one of the Côte d’Azur’s long-established hospitality families. Across three generations they maintained the spirit that made Paloma unique.
- The food. Regulars returned annually for grilled fish, Mediterranean salads and long lunches that stretched into late afternoon swims.
- The glamour. The beach was popular with artists like Picasso, politicians (Winston Churchill), film stars (including two Bonds – Sean Connery and Roger Moore), as well as performers like Elton John.
- The nature. Jagged cliffs and crystal-clear waters, it’s one of the most beautiful bays on the coast. Because it is sheltered, the water is famously clear and almost always calm making it a fantastic place to swim for hours.
- The location. The beach is located in one of the most expensive residential areas on the planet. In fact Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is sometimes nicknamed the ‘peninsula of billionaires’. But the best part of the location is that from the right-hand side of the beach, you can take a stroll along the Sentier du Littoral that winds around the peninsula.
A final goodbye
In their message announcing the closure, the Vannini family thanked guests for decades of loyalty and shared memories, promising that the spirit of Paloma would continue in other forms.
They did tease: “We still have a few surprises in store for you…”
Messages have poured in from heartbroken Paloma fans who got engaged there, named their daughters after Paloma, brought their children and then their grandchildren, or simply enjoyed the best days of their lives there.
Corniche Watches, which created at least three exquisite watches in collaboration with Paloma Beach, said it was more than just the gorgeous setting. “It was the people. Throughout the years we shared many beautiful lunches with the family, and on a few occasions even had the joy of joining them on their boat. There was always a warmth and generosity that made you feel less like a guest and more like part of the extended Paloma family.
“For us, Paloma Beach will always represent a certain Riviera ideal. Elegant yet relaxed. Iconic yet intimate.”
Paloma Beach has forever set the standard for the ultimate French Riviera experience. It was never the loudest beach club on the Riviera. But it may well have been one of the most loved. Which is why it feels like the end of an era.
But fortunately the Vannini family continues its warm hospitality with several venues, including Espuma oyster bar and restaurant in Villefranche and Baia Bella in Beaulieu-sur-Mer. This is where Paloma fans flocked last year. It’s not too far away; also off the beaten track. Run by the Paloma Group, it’s eco-conscious, family-friendly and also includes fresh seafood.
Perhaps we’ll see you there in the summer…
Paloma Beach Closure: What We Know
Is Paloma Beach permanently closed?
Paloma Beach in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat will not reopen. The Vannini family, who ran it for over 70 years, confirmed the news in an announcement shared in French and English on Instagram on 4 March 2026.
Why is Paloma Beach closing?
The Vannini family’s statement did not mention a reason for the closure. However the beach was unable to open in 2025 due to major cliff reinforcement work at Plage de la Scaletta, and the structure was dismantled. The precise future of the site remains unclear. Like all private beach establishments in France, Paloma operated under a coastal concession – a system that periodically requires municipalities to review operators and infrastructure along the shoreline. In fact Paloma Beach lasted longer under the same family than many private Riviera beach clubs, which is part of why its closure feels like such a significant moment.
Will Paloma Beach reopen in the future?
The Scaletta beach itself will remain public so you can visit the bay, but the private Paloma Beach and restaurant will not reopen. No details have yet been announced about a new operator.
Who owned Paloma Beach?
The beach club was operated for decades by the Vannini family, a Côte d’Azur hospitality family whose restaurants also include Baia Bella in Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Espuma in Villefranche.
Why is Paloma Beach famous?
Paloma Beach was widely considered one of the most beautiful beach clubs on the French Riviera. Located on the prestigious and naturally beautiful peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, it was named after Paloma Picasso and became a Riviera institution after opening in 1948.
Have memories of Paloma Beach? Share them with us on Instagram @rivieraedition.
