A MEDITERRANEAN JEWEL: HÔTEL DE PARIS MONTE-CARLO

Over the Mediterranean’s blue waters of Monaco bay blazes a city of beauteous palaces, home of a prosperous lineage of princes. Only a few meters above the sea stands the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, a luxurious Belle Époque palace that dates back to 1864. Endowed with elegant, ethereal architecture and an impeccable French style, it has been often renowned as one of the best hotels in the world. With a sparkling 5-star rating in the Forbes Travel Guide, two Michelin-starred restaurants and a legendary wine cellar, the hotel itself is an experience you cannot miss.

The rooms are decorated with sobriety and elegance, bathed in sunlight and sea breeze. Each one of them is an artwork in itself: the Exclusive Rooms are all different, and in the Diamond Suites you’ll enjoy your own private terrace with views to the bay or the Place du Casino, pool and jacuzzi. And, if you have a special interest for Monte Carlo’s royalty, you’ll be delighted by the Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace Diamond suites, in which you’ll find the royals’ favourite books and photographs, as well as personal artwork and belongings. Independently of your choice, you won’t be able to help but marvel at the aura of refinement that surrounds them.

With such accommodation, the meals here cannot be any less than magnificent, and the restaurants at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo await to satisfy your greatest culinary expectations. The hotel’s main restaurant, le Louis XV, proudly flaunts 3 Michelin Stars, and, in the words of its founder, chef Alain Ducasse, “the food tastes like the sun”. The iconic menu created by both Ducasse and chef Dominique Lory combines the best of Mediterranean flavours with fresh fruit and vegetables, all accompanied by equally marvellous wines. The Hôtel de Paris´s cellar is one of its main attractions: carved by hand in the rock of Monte Carlo, it houses the world’s greatest wine collection, a dream come true for any wine lover.

On the eight floor you will come upon Le Grill, a restaurant in which you will literally dine one step away from the stars, while on sunny days your lunch will be served amidst Mediterranean blue.  Chef Frank Cerutti has been delighting the most exigent commensals for 23 years, which has earned him a Michelin Star. The exquisite grilled meat and fish plates are accompanied with fresh pasta, cheeses and vegetables, as well as fine wines carefully selected from the hotel’s cellar. You won’t be able to leave without dessert: both the more traditional soufflés and the house’s ice-creams and sorbets are the very definition of ecstasy.  On the other hand, if you are looking to entertain, on the opposite side of the hotel the Salle Empire awaits you, an architectural jewel with views to the Place Casino that is considered the epitome of European art de vivre. With the regal architecture comes an excellent cuisine, serving traditional dishes made with the best Mediterranean ingredients. The result is a refined, decadent experience that lends itself for throwing lavish events.

You are invited to spend your evenings at the Bar Américain, a space that transforms itself with the passing of the day, and whose décor inspired in the 1920s will make you feel like in a Hollywood film.  It has an ample cocktail menu that shifts with the seasons, as well as live jazz, swing, blues, soul and French music. This bar’s glamour and refinement make it the ideal place to relax and delight your senses.

To liven up your stay, the Hôtel has tennis and squash courts, an idyllic 18-hole golf course, and a cultural event agenda that you won’t want to miss. You can also treat yourself to a wellness day at the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo¸ where a team of experts will be at the ready to provide you with treatments tailored to your every need. You truly can’t choose better: the complex is equipped with cutting-edge technology as well as a heated pool, solarium, gym, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, sensorial showers, beauty and hair salons, as well as a fantastic boutique. While you focus on your health you can enjoy a meal at L’Hirondelle, the restaurant at the Thermes Marins, which serves delicious gluten-free plates with vegan and vegetarian options that are sure to cater to all tastes.  And, after a day of relaxation and wellbeing, you’ll be ready to spend an incredible night at the Casino or in one of the city’s many attractions.

The Mediterranean, with its beautiful blue waters and sunbathed coast, is a paradise that can only be paired with the best luxury experiences. Glistening over Monaco bay, the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo awaits your visit, ready to amaze you with its infinite splendour.

Photos: courtesy.