Image source: BVergely
Prestigious hotels, upscale spas, private beaches, seaside cocktails, and royalty: these are the characteristics that distinguish Monaco, a sovereign city-state and small country on the French Riviera famous for its wealth and unparalleled charm, Princess Grace, and the Formula 1 Grand Prix It is a destination full of magic, where time seems to have stopped. Here, we highlight why it should be on your radar.
what’s new
Image source: Matej Kastelic / Shutterstock.com
Monaco’s famous Casino Square has been restored to its former glory while providing a new, spacious and safe place to meet. The renovated Place du Casino not only contains more pedestrian-friendly spaces, but also preserves the famous Formula 1 Grand Prix racetrack, and now has space for VIP customers of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group to park their well-deserved cars. Then, this world-famous local area has always had a crème de la crème for luxury shopping, but the new One Monte Carlo district – located between the Hermitage Monte Carlo and Place du Casino – takes things to another level. In addition to boutiques from top designers, including Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Prada, visitors can look forward to haute-couture snacks at Mada One (led by Michelin-starred chef Marcel Ravin), all surrounded by a new green area created to continue the focus of Emirate on sustainable design. On this note, it would be a mistake not to mention its lofty green goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. To achieve this feat, the city-state is determined to improve its tourism economy through environmentally conscious initiatives, including the Monaco E-Prix and E- Rally, as well as green transportation that includes e-bikes, e-cars and e-boats.
where to stay
Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo
Photo Source: W Press / The Metropole Hotel
Ideally located in the center of the principality, within walking distance of the Place du Casino, the Metropole Monte-Carlo is stunning due to its Mediterranean design, with all 62 rooms and 63 suites decorated by famous French designer Jacques Garcia. [The most luxurious room is the Suite Carré d’Or, with its 1,200-square-foot private terrace overlooking the water.] The second phase of his property-wide decoration and renovation work will be revealed in April 2023. Meanwhile, late and glamorous fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld is responsible for Odyssey, a stylish outdoor pool, bar and restaurant sheltered in the gardens, with a heated seawater pool backed by screens. Oversized glass with black and white pictures depicting the legendary Greek king. This hotel is a gourmet’s dream destination: it offers four mega-restaurants of Jules Robuchon, including Yoshi, the late chef’s first Japanese restaurant. Also known for its spa, the property opened its third Givenchy Spa to the world in April 2017. For an extraordinary experience, try the hotel experiences just for you: meticulously curated, customized excursions that include everything from Grand Prix training to helicopter flights over Mont Blanc.
Av. De la Madonne, 98000 Monaco
Hotel de Paris Monte Carlo
Image source: MONTE-CARLO SOCIETÉ DES BAINS DE MER
The Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, located on the legendary Place du Casino, has been an icon of Monaco since 1884, hosting everyone from the Rockefellers to the Rothschilds, specifically the wedding of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. In 2014, the mansion embarked on a $665 million four-year renovation led by French architect Richard Martinet, appearing with 208 refreshed rooms, including 96 luxury suites, an outdoor patio, tree-lined high jewelry, and two Royal style. Rooftop villas (include whirlpool tubs), a second Alain Ducasse restaurant – ÔMER joins the Michelin-starred Le Louis XV-Alain Ducasse à l’Hôtel de Paris, the one-star Le Grill – plus the star designer’s signature salon Commercial offers private yachting service, the first of its kind in the emirate. The Hôtel de Paris is also, quite uniquely, home to the largest hotel wine cellar in the world, holding over 350,000 bottles, half of which are from Bordeaux. For the best possible stay, book the two-story Princess Grace Suite, in honor of American actress Grace Kelly, who married Prince Rainier III of the city-state in 1956. Spreading over the entire seventh and eighth floors, the suite pays tribute to the American actress. A royal legend through artwork and books from her personal library as well as bouquets of her favorite pink roses. Expect mother-of-pearl inlays, 180-degree beachfront views, and spa-like features like a carved granite hot tub.
PL Casino du, 98000 Monaco
Hermitage Monte Carlo Hotel
Image source: MONTE-CARLO SOCIETÉ DES BAINS DE MER
This modern and luxurious hotel in the heart of Monaco is an example of sophistication. Among the many fine Belle Epoque details, perhaps the most famous is the glass dome designed by Gustave Eiffel. With ornate urns, ornate mantle clocks, and classic French furnishings, this portrait of a 19th-century mansion brings together the romance and exclusivity that comes with it. The hotel’s 278 rooms are equally elegant thanks to their Louis XV-style furniture and era-appropriate powder colours, although it should be noted that the terrace rooms are the best due to their views of the sea and port. The hotel also boasts a beach club on a completely private stretch of sand, as well as the futuristic 75,000-square-foot Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo health spa, which is among the best in Europe with a heated saltwater pool, hammam and whirlpool overlooking the Prince’s Palace – as well as a… The wonderful and secret underground passage that leads there.
Square. Beaumarchais, 98000 Monaco
Where do you feed?
Image source: MONTE-CARLO SOCIETÉ DES BAINS DE MER
Michelin star experiences
Image source: MONTE-CARLO SOCIETÉ DES BAINS DE MER
There are 12 Michelin-recognized restaurants in Monaco, which is no small feat for a country less than four miles in radius. Start with Le Louis XV-Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo and its three Michelin stars, where Riviera-inspired cuisine marries the best local produce with the amazing wines that can be found in the hotel’s legendary wine cellars. On the eighth floor of the luxury hotel is another star, owned by Le Grill, whose kitchens have been overseen by Chef Frank Cerruti for more than 20 years. Yannick Alléno à l’Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo blends the best of gourmet dishes, healthy eating and luxury – “the best of simplicity” – as the three-Michelin-starred chef likes to say, on the restaurant terrace with unparalleled panoramic views of Port Hercules and the Rock . Across from the Place du Casino, the Michelin-starred Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo is hidden behind the entrance by two imposing Romanesque columns. Yoshi is the place for Japanese food lovers, with maki, sashimi, fish and meat prepared teppanyaki style by Chef Takeo Yamazaki, accompanied by the finest cocoa and whiskey or Japanese green tea. The culinary extravaganza continues nearby at La Table d’Antonio Salvatore in Rampoldi, which received its first Michelin star in 2021 for fusing classic, original and innovative dishes. Below the famous hairpin bend on the Formula 1 circuit, the sea emerges along the newly renovated Larvotto Beach, at its far end lies the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort and Blue Bay. There, chef Marcel Ravin weaves his culinary alchemy to blend Caribbean and Mediterranean flavors to great effect. On the edge of the principality is Monte Carlo Beach, which is open every year for the summer season. Elsa is one of three restaurants in this timeless location overlooking the sea, and is the first restaurant serving organic food and wild-caught fish to receive a Michelin star. Other Michelin-accredited dining experiences include La Montgolfière-Henri Geraci, a family-run restaurant in a small pedestrianized street in the Old Town; Song Qi, a fine Chinese restaurant across from the Grimaldi Forum; Beefbar, a trendy “meat” bar serving quality wagyu, black angus, and more on the docks of Fontvieille Marina; And Maya Bay, a special Japanese and Thai experience.
local experiences
No stay in the principality is complete without tasting local dishes, and Monaco is positively brimming with places where local traditions can be appreciated. In the Monaco-Ville region, under the pine trees of the Place du Palais, try Monegasque stockfish, a perfect dish you’ll also find on the colorful streets of the Old Town, at La Montgolfière. Continuing the narrow streets, the hidden treasure club of the Pauliste de Rocher is the perfect place to relax in the shade on the restaurant terrace overlooking Port Hercule. For another special local experience, head to Perles de Monte-Carlo in the Port of Fontvieille, and enjoy an exceptional selection of oysters raised in Monaco.
where do we play
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So what else can you do in Monaco when you’re not indulging in gastronomical experiences, spending time at the spa, designer shopping, or tanning? Answer: In fact, quite a lot. Visitors can tour the Palais du Prince (when the king is not a resident, that is) and explore the lush Princess Grace Rose Garden or the Musée Oceanographique, one of the oldest aquariums in the world. Get a James Bond program at Casino de Monte Carlo, one of the most famous casino in the world thanks to the beaux-arts marble lobby and onyx columns, which served as the setting and inspiration for Casino Royale 2006. Of course, one must make it a point to catch the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, a race through the city streets after Boulevard Albert I, which takes place each May.
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