The best straw huts around Montpellier

Can you feel it? Smell what? Well, that sweet smell of a holiday with your feet in the water, recharging your batteries to the max and leaving behind the trivialities of everyday life.

On the agenda: slathering on sun cream, soaking your feet, taking more naps in a day, choreographing positions to get the perfect tan… In short, lounging around, again and again.

And since the aim is to let yourself go, why not go barefoot in one of the straw huts we’ve found for you around Montpellier? Festive, bohemian, gourmet, family-friendly, eco-friendly – you decide!

From the west to the east of Montpellier, here are the best paillotes where you can relax in total peace and quiet!

In Palavas-les-Flots

1. Plage Bonaventure

You can take a dip in the sea without sacrificing comfort and style! Head to Plage Bonaventure to prove it. In operation since 2017, this straw hut has a way of standing out from the crowd. The credit goes to Sylvie and Jean-René Privat, the owners, who every season blow a gipsy-chic breeze across the clear sands of Maguelone’s lido.

Photo page Facebook La plage Bonaventure

The decor has been tastefully thought out, with linen sofas, driftwood, straw hanging baskets, wicker swings and handcrafted furniture… And the à la carte dishes honour local seasonal produce and authentic recipes.

On the beach, the deckchairs with their thick mattresses and the sunbeds mark the moment, or rather the hours, of relaxation. And that’s until 5pm, when the rental period ends. The friendly, professional welcome from the Privat couple, who also run the trendy Café Joseph in Montpellier city centre, adds to the ambience.

• Address: Rte de Maguelone, 34250 Palavas-les-Flots
• Budget: €€€€
• Opening times: April to September, 7 days a week, 10am to 1am.
• Disabled access: Yes

2. La Plage des Lézards

The family? Certainly the central pillar of Plage des Lézards. Run since 2016 by Martine Zahonero and her son Gautier, this straw hut has become a benchmark over the generations. By renewing itself, of course. But never turning its back on its main asset: a warm welcome.

Photo page Facebook La Plage des Lézards

Seated at one of the restaurant’s tables, the good points keep coming. First on the plate, with simple Mediterranean cuisine, but promising good produce. Then all around you, with the refined decor in light tones and the beautiful terrace overlooking the sea.

Just next door, 90 deckchairs and beds, well spaced out, await their future occupants. There’s plenty of room for you to digest, and perhaps to set the table again at the end of the day. Tapas and the emblematic mojito, now that’s a good idea!

• Address: 1269 Av. De l’évêché de Maguelone
• Budget: €€-€€€
• Opening times : From March to October, 7 days a week, from 12h to 02h.
• Disabled access: Yes

3. Les Pieds dans l’O

When you read the name of this address, you’re already a stone’s throw from the waves of the Mediterranean!

Created in 2014 by Patrick Soria, a former professional footballer, the paillote Les Pieds dans l’O aims to be accessible on all levels. Firstly, in terms of location, being ideally situated from Palavas town centre and even more so from Montpellier. And secondly, in terms of service, with optimum attention paid to the basics: quality, friendliness and availability.

In a cosy, contemporary but no-fuss décor, the words tasting and relaxation go hand in hand. On the sand, you can stretch out your toes on one of the deckchairs and four-poster beds made from natural and recycled materials. On the terrace, you can sit back and enjoy the multicultural mix of Mediterranean and international cuisine. For those who want to enjoy the same culinary experience at home, takeaway service is also available. Yum!

Photo page Facebook Les Pieds dans Lo

• Address: Boulevard Maréchal Foch
• Budget: €€-€€€
• Opening times: From mid-April to the end of September, 7 days a week, from 9am to midnight.
• Disabled access: Yes

4. Zenith beach

Welcome to Zénith plage!

In a stylish setting, with the sea as a backdrop, this straw hut has everything you need to make your holiday even more special and relaxing. After enjoying a meal with your feet in the sand, 100 deckchairs stand at attention to help you appreciate the seascape from other angles.

Photo page Facebook Zénith Plage

Have you come as a family and are looking for something to entertain your tribe? Don’t panic, at Zénith plage, we’ve got something to suit all ages. A few water sports facilities and you’re all set!

Pascal, Benjamin and their team are on hand to take care of everything in a friendly atmosphere. So relax!

• Address: Av. De l’évêché de Maguelone
• Budget: €€
• Opening times : From mid-April to the end of September, 7 days a week, from 09h to 00h.
• Disabled access: Yes

In Carnon

1. Le Mistral

If you’re a fan of the flashy and the glitzy, sorry, but this isn’t the place to stop. For the simple reason that Le Mistral is one of only a handful of eco-responsible paillotes on the Mediterranean coast.

Photo page Facebook Plage le mistral

A commitment to the planet that includes the reduced or even neutral use of plastic products, the suggestion of organic drinks and food, dry toilets and so on. Proof that it is possible to have a good time on the beach without damaging it.

Aside from this honourable distinction, Mistral offers all the services that a private beach can provide. By this we mean: sun loungers and beds to relax on, light regional dishes to satisfy your appetite and a drinks and cocktails menu to keep the temperature down. Full service with value for money said to be one of the best on the surrounding waterfront. What more could you ask for?

• Address: Le Petit Travers – Access 76
• Budget : €€
• Opening times: Mid-May to September, 7 days a week, 10am to 7pm.
• Disabled access: Yes

2. La Plagette

Indulging in the services of a private beach is not just for the wealthy. Honestly!

At La Plagette, you’ll find everything you need without breaking the bank. Drinks (in moderation), good food, deckchairs facing the sea and even a Stand Up Paddle hire stand. That’s the icing on the cake!

It’s a simple but effective formula that appeals to a wide range of customer profiles: families, the elderly, youth groups… It’s as if the whole family were here together. And it’s not the managers who will make you feel otherwise.

Photo Facebook page Laplagette Carnon

La Plagette is the place to be if you want to feel at home, but on holiday. Just make sure you book in advance.

• Address: Le Grand Travers – Access 70
• Budget: €-€€
• Opening times: May to mid-September, 7 days a week, 10am to 7pm.
• Disabled access: Yes

At La Grande-Motte

1. Bikinis beach (formerly la plage des Bikinis)

Since 2022, Bikinis Beach has been full of new ideas: a change of owners and name, a revamped team, an innovative menu, a makeover of the decor… A good dose of new blood for the most “friendly and family-friendly” straw hut in the Montpellier area.

Here, you can unwind in a charming Balinese setting where everything is palm trees, banana trees, bamboo and, more broadly, seaside zen. Which is why we’re quick to take up (reclining) positions on the deckchairs and two-seater beds facing the inevitable Grande Bleue.

Just when our stomachs are feeling peckish, the chef gets busy in the kitchen, treating us to fresh, local produce and homemade dishes. The fine selection of wines, from here and abroad, will add an international touch to the whole experience.

Once night has fallen, the magic of the place continues to work to a background of DJ music and a few classic or revisited cocktails. On reflection, perhaps it will take more than one summer to try out the Bikinis Beach services in their entirety.

Photo Facebook page Bikinis Beach

• Address: 12 Esp. Jean Baumel – La motte du couchant
• Budget : €€-€€€
• Opening times : April to September, 7 days a week, 9am to 2am.
• Disabled access: Yes

2. La Voile Bleue

Photo page Facebook La Voile Bleue

La Voile Bleue is 25 years old and still going strong. What began as a simple straw hut has grown over the years to become one of the most popular and avant-garde private beaches in the south of France.

Launched in 1997 by the Ortiz brothers, each season this address takes its customers to a different, but highly exotic, atmosphere and setting. It’s a real experience!

During the day, the 800 m² of La Voile Bleue is all about lounging on deckchairs or at one of the restaurant’s carefully laid tables, but in the evening, the heavy artillery is out to set the pace for your summer nights. DJs from all over the world warm up the turntables with house and hip-hop sounds on the terrace, in the bar and in the VIP area. Bob Sinclar, Klingande, Sam Feldt, Burak Yeter and Kungs are just some of the big-name guests we’ve had before.

From the food to the ambience, not forgetting the décor, La Voile Bleue is still shaking things up. To be part of the adventure, make sure you book ahead.

• Address: Avenue du Grand Travers, Access 59
• Budget : €€€€
• Opening times: April to early September, 7 days a week, 9am to 2am.
• Disabled access: Yes

3. La Paillote Bambou

How did the history of the paillotes at La Grande-Motte begin? Well, you’ll find the answer here, at La Paillote Bambou. It was the first private beach to be set up on the Montpellier coast in 1996. And 26 years later, it’s still going strong.

Photo page Facebook La Paillote Bambou

As soon as the weather is fine, loyal customers and newcomers alike flock to this privileged seaside setting. The former immediately resume their summer habits, while the latter acclimatise to their new surroundings without too much difficulty. And what a place it is! All the use of wood, rattan and above all bamboo plunges us into a particularly refined bubble of well-being.

A sense of detail and quality that continues in the restaurant’s plates, where the chef’s gourmet suggestions are carefully prepared. For breakfast, lunch or dinner.

From family-style to trendy, the atmosphere at Paillote Bambou can be enjoyed all day long, without ever losing its conviviality.

• Address: Avenue du Grand Travers, Access 47
• Budget: €€-€€€
• Opening times: Beginning of May to end of September, 7 days a week, 9am to 2am.
• Disabled access: Yes

4. La Rose des vents

Sunshine, gourmet options, cosy sun loungers and smiling managers – these are the best features of La Rose des vents. So why make things complicated when you can make them simple?

At this private beach, there’s no room for fuss. The main thing is to sample the joys of idleness at very reasonable prices. Carried away by the rolling waves, you can enjoy a hearty salad, sip a good cocktail, relax with a glass of chilled wine and, above all, let off steam. An authentic straw hut spirit, without asking for more, that’s all!

Children bursting with energy and sports enthusiasts in need of exercise can also find something to suit them at La Rose des vents. Physical activities such as paddle-boarding and aquagym are often available on site, as well as pedalos and other water sports. So there’s plenty of choice if you want to let off steam and build up your muscles!

Photo page Facebook Plage La Rose Des Vents

• Address: Allée de l’Illiade, Access 33 – La motte du couchant
• Budget : € € € € € € € € € € € € € € €
• Opening times : April to September, 7 days a week, 9am to 8pm.
• Disabled access: Yes

Summer may not have started yet, or not by much, but it doesn’t matter… You can now discover or relive the hut experience from this selection of huts around Montpellier for an afternoon, a day or more, if you like. Once again, it’s up to you!