Nine miles west of Toulon in the South of France, the 17-acre Bendor Island is preparing for a major return to the Mediterranean hospitality scene. After a five-year restoration led jointly by the Ricard family and Zannier Hotels, the private island will open May 1, 2026, as Zannier Île de Bendor, with reservations now live. Maritime shuttles from Bandol will once again run the short seven-minute crossing to the reimagined retreat.
The project revives a site long associated with Paul Ricard, the entrepreneur who introduced the aniseed-flavored pastis apéritif in 1932 as a legal alternative to absinthe. His high-visibility marketing campaigns made the Ricard name virtually synonymous with pastis; during the 1956 Suez Crisis, he even organized a much-publicized “caravan of thirst” that delivered pastis to Paris by camel. He bought Bendor in 1950 and developed it into a beloved Riviera destination. Ricard, an influential arts patron, envisioned the island as a public cultural hub rather than a private compound, with small hotels, a marina, and an artists’ village. Sculptors, glassblowers, and artists in residence created works on-site, while Bendor’s craggy coast welcomed the first scuba diving center in France. The island also became a beach destination beloved by both locals and high-profile guests, including Salvador Dalí, Josephine Baker, and Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
Seventy-five years later, Marc de Jouffroy, the CEO of the Paul Ricard Company and Ricard’s great-grandson, is spearheading Bendor’s renaissance. He says the island’s infrastructure had deteriorated significantly, prompting a rebuild from the ground up. The restoration removed concrete and added rainwater collection systems to nurture extensive new landscaping, which includes 200 new trees. “Our ambition with Zannier Bendor is to elevate this island to the ranks of the Mediterranean’s most iconic destinations while staying true to his founding vision: creating a place devoted to people’s happiness,” he tells Afar.
A Delos Harbour Suite living room at Zannier Île de Bendor in France
Courtesy of Zannier Hotels
The renewed hamlet will channel Bendor’s historic spirit with an art gallery and three artisan ateliers, and eight dining concepts led by chef Lionel Levy, known for his menus at Marseille’s Une Table au Sud and stints at Michelin-starred restaurants across southern France. Additional facilities include a dining club, a kids’ club, and a 13,000-square-foot wellness center designed to extend the season beyond summer, with eight treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, a hammam, a cold bath, a mud bath, meditation and yoga, Reformer Pilates, balneotherapy, and more.
At the island’s center, a new village square will serve as a communal gathering point for pétanque and pastis in classic Provençal fashion.
Zannier Hotels’ 93-room luxury property will be split into three distinct concepts: Delos, inspired by 1960s Rivera style; Soukana, focused on well-being; and Madrague, five family-style houses with private gardens. The Ghent-based company, known for its intimate, design-driven properties in Megève, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Namibia, collaborated closely with the Ricard family on the vision.
“We believe Zannier Bendor will be among the most exciting openings of 2026,” says Zannier founder Arnaud Zannier. “This private island in the South of France—rich with history and owned by the iconic Ricard family—will emerge as a living art gallery offering something for everyone.” From $750, including boat transfers and breakfast
