In 1950 Paul Ricard, the Marseille-born founder of the pastis brand, bought a small, stony island in the bay of Bandol. He did not discover it so much as invent it. Over the following years he gave Île de Bendor a harbor, a Provençal village, small hotels, sculpture and studios for artists, and for decades it was where locals, families and celebrities mixed; AFAR notes that Salvador Dalí and Josephine Baker holidayed there. After a five-year transformation, the island reopened on May 1, 2026, as Zannier Île de Bendor.
The reopening matters because it revives the island’s original idea rather than replacing it. Zannier Île de Bendor is a sociable, village-style Riviera retreat, built around food, art and a substantial spa, and it offers something the glossier end of the Côte d’Azur rarely does: a car-free island a seven-minute boat ride from the mainland.
Seven minutes from Bandol
The island covers about seven hectares, roughly 45 kilometers east of Marseille and 15 kilometers west of Toulon. The boat from Bandol takes seven minutes, and AFAR reports that hotel guests get a free boat ticket they can use as often as they like. Cars stay at the port. Day visitors with restaurant, spa or atelier bookings can come across on the public boat, while pools and loungers stay reserved for hotel guests, so the island is busier by day than by evening.
A five-year revival
Société Paul Ricard, still run by the family, worked with Zannier Hotels on the project. Arnaud Zannier led it alongside Marc de Jouffroy, Paul Ricard’s great-grandson, with Hardel Le Bihan Architectes and the landscape studio Niez Studio Paysagistes. Their stated aim was “to reimagine Paul Ricard’s island dream.” Zannier’s other hotels, from Le Chalet in France to Phum Baitang in Cambodia and Sonop in Namibia, are known for fitting into their settings, and Bendor follows the same instinct.
Three styles on one island
The 93 keys are split between three settings with very different moods.
Delos
Delos has 39 keys on the eastern tip of the island and looks back to the 1960s Riviera, with airy rooms in sky blue and cream.
Soukana
Soukana, with 49 keys at the other end, is built around rest and reconnection, in warm earth tones and linens.
The Madrague houses
The five Madrague houses near the harbor are two stories each, with private gardens. They have the most Provençal character of the three.
Which to book
The choice is about mood rather than hierarchy. Couples who want the island’s social side should look at Delos, closest to the main pool and its all-day restaurant. Wellness-focused guests and those who want quiet will be better served by Soukana, with its own restaurant and rooftop bar. Families with young children should aim for a Madrague house, where two floors and a private garden near the harbor make a stay feel like renting a village home.
Eight places to eat and drink
Ricard wanted his island to be sociable, and the dining reflects that. There are three restaurants, four bars and lounges, a café and a crêperie, with the Michelin-starred chef Lionel Lévy guiding the restaurants as executive chef.
Le Grand Large is the gastronomic room, with sea views and a chef-in-residence program run with Fulgurances, bringing in a new chef each season; for 2026 it is Lucas Antoniotti. It opens four days a week, closed Monday to Wednesday, so book it early in a stay. Nonna Bazaar, the second outpost of a concept that started in Menorca in 2022, serves sharing plates, and Nonna Beach takes the idea to the shoreline. Soukana has an Asian-leaning restaurant with a rooftop terrace over the Mediterranean. Café Paul Ricard serves traditional Provençal food, Bar Patrick honors Paul’s son, and Delos serves all-day casual dining beside the main pool.
A serious spa
Behind the boules and the pastis there is a substantial wellness offer. The 1,200-square-meter wellness center is the flagship of Rēsonance, Zannier’s new wellbeing concept, which combines modern methods such as bioresonance with traditional practices in personalized programs. Facilities include a hammam, a high-tech treatment room, indoor and outdoor pools, an outdoor yoga platform and a fitness center, with tennis and pickleball courts outside. AFAR describes the spa building as “a stunner.”
Art and craft
Ricard filled the island with artists, and the habit has stuck. There is a gallery, three artisan ateliers and a concept store. AFAR mentions a ceramicist, a jeweler and a perfumer working in the Village des Artisans, with hands-on sessions for visitors. A kids’ club keeps younger guests busy.
How it compares
The French Riviera’s grand hotels mostly trade on formality, from Cap Ferrat to Saint-Tropez. Bendor is looser and more creative, with a village at its center, and that is its advantage for families and groups of friends. For a broader view of the region, see our luxury Provence travel guide, and for island alternatives, the best private island resorts.
The trade-offs follow from the concept. With day visitors arriving for lunch and the spa, the island is not a sealed-off hideaway in daytime. Anyone expecting Saint-Tropez glitz or a hushed palace hotel will find a different mood. Winter operating dates are not published, so off-season travelers should confirm with the hotel.
Who should stay
Zannier Île de Bendor suits families, wellness travelers, food lovers and couples who want a relaxed, Provençal version of the Riviera. It is a natural choice for multigenerational trips, when the Madrague houses and kids’ club let everyone set their own pace.
Planning Your Stay at Zannier Île de Bendor
Location: Île de Bendor, a seven-minute boat ride from Bandol, between Marseille and Toulon.
Hotel style: Car-free private-island village with 93 keys across Delos, Soukana and the Madrague houses.
Best for: Families, wellness stays, food lovers, groups of friends.
Room to book: Delos for the social side, Soukana for calm, a Madrague house for families.
Reserve ahead: Le Grand Large (Thursday to Sunday), spa programs and atelier workshops.
Reservations: Through the official Zannier Île de Bendor website.
The Final Word
Zannier Île de Bendor succeeds by remembering what made the island special in the first place: good food, art, families and an open door to the mainland. For travelers who want the Riviera with warmth rather than ceremony, Paul Ricard’s island is back.
This In-Depth Guide is based on the hotel’s official materials and independent reporting, verified October 18, 2026.
