Indie Beach

Indie Beach is on Route de Bonne Terrasse at the southern end of Pampelonne, and it aims squarely at the gap between the sedate hotel beaches and the full-volume clubs. The sand is fine and the sea shallow for a long way out, and the beach opens at eleven with the restaurant following at midday and running to seven, at which point the day ends rather than rolling into a night session. A single lounger price covers the towel and the parasol, which is unusual on this beach and removes the usual add-on creep. Music is central: DJs play through the afternoon and build towards sunset, but at conversational volume rather than club level. The kitchen describes its cooking as solar and healthy, which in practice means grilled fish and meat brought out to share, plenty of vegetables, and a proper vegan section rather than a token dish. A rotating pop-up boutique operates on site, currently stocking James Perse. Boats can moor and call in on channel 74. Book ahead in August, when the front lines go first and the afternoon DJ slot draws a crowd that stays put.