Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo
Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo’s perfectly manicured Mediterranean gardens have changed little in the century-plus since they inspired Edith Wharton’s novel “The House of Mirth,” but the 125-room hotel—the only family-owned five-star property in the principality of Monaco—has heralded in a few new chapters since.
When maximalist French interior designer Jacques Garcia (behind Hôtel Costes in Paris and La Mamounia in Marrakech) was approached to redesign the hotel more than 20 years ago, he wanted to accentuate a “spirit of timelessness,” as he puts it. “Rethinking an address that could be, and in my opinion should be, a flagship for the spirit of the Riviera also meant preserving the historical dimension of the property,” says Garcia, who envisioned noblemen, politicians, and art collectors roving through the spaces.
He was careful not to compete with the neighboring Hôtel de Paris, so he took inspiration from belle époque architecture, infusing these elements into the hotel’s textures and materials.
The Egyptian columns on either side of the arch at the entrance were relocated from the designer’s 17th-century château in Normandy, and the four figures above the doors were crafted from the original mold used for Louis XIV’s brother’s statues. Decor throughout the public spaces is a blend of design styles and eras, from replica vases modeled after those Napoleon brought back for Josephine to the bar’s 19th-century black marble busts, which are also featured at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.
Over the past couple of years, Garcia has returned to put a fresh spin on the fine dining restaurant Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac and created a cigar lounge, lined in rich wood paneling and Pierre Frey fabric. As the hotel slowly rolled out different phases of its renovation, the next is perhaps the most anticipated: freshly redone guest rooms.
Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo has long been one of my favorite stays around the world—and that’s saying a lot considering I review at least a hundred per year. I have a soft spot for it, as it was the first hotel I stayed in the municipality, and I’ve watched it evolve over the decade-plus I’ve lived in France.
My last visit was during the Monaco Yacht Show three years ago, and while I could still see Garcia’s signature thread shining in the 45 newly debuted rooms on my recent visit, the changes are striking—everything is lighter. Out are the heavy marble sunken tubs, and in their place are elegant, free-standing cast-iron ones. And that’s just the start.
Keep reading for a full review of Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo.
The Rooms
Renovated rooms are spread across the second and third floors, with those on the second designed in soft blue tones with embroidered Colefax & Fowler striped floral wall fabrics. Rooms on the third floor are accented in butter yellow, “fabrics in light tones to embody the refined lightness of the Riviera—so there’s the sun and a bit of Italy in Monaco,” Garcia explains.
Touches of brass and antique mirrors add a retro feel while still maintaining a fresh and playful perspective. Garcia custom-designed some of the furnishings, like the oval, neoclassical-style writing desks and vanities that stylishly disguise as sliding TVs in the junior suites.
The view from the rooms hasn’t changed, and that’s one of the highlights in this hotel, especially from the terrace of the top-floor Prestige Suites, where guests can peruse sweeping panoramas of the Mediterranean Sea.
Food and Drink
The sultry lobby bar is a local favorite for a nightcap, but it’s also the perfect place to start an evening in style with a cocktail or glass of Champagne before heading to Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac. The namesake chef worked with legend Joël Robuchon for nearly 20 years before taking over the redesigned space and quickly earned two Michelin stars in 2024, within nine months of opening. While an à la carte menu is available, the tasting menu is an experience worth indulging in—standouts include a caviar-covered sea bream tartare cannelloni and deconstructed lobster lasagna. It’s easy to get carried away by the decadent, tiered bread trolley—a remnant from Robuchon—piled with baked-in-house baguettes and squid ink-layered rolls. You’ll want to save room, however, for the grand finale, when desserts are rolled out on their own trolley.
Yoshi is arguably among the most upscale spots for Japanese cuisine in the principality. Here, precision and attention to detail are key—think freshly grated wasabi, salmon belly served with caviar and gold leaf. The design unfolds around a zen, Japanese-inspired garden by landscape architect Jacques Messin,
Breakfast is served in Les Ambassadeurs or on the Odyssey pool deck, where Italian restaurant Zia takes over during the summer. What started as a pop-up in 2024 has grown into an all-day concept helmed by chefs Rocco Seminara and Manon Santini. Two of my standout poolside picks from Zia: the caviar-topped red prawn carpaccio and the Margherita pizza, brushed with tomato sauce from Puglia.
In the evening, the pool terrace transforms into a loungelike setting for aperitivo, where the highlight is the creative Negroni collection. During lunch, there are a couple of pizza options on Zia’s menu, but that number jumps to more than a dozen at dinner, where the meal starts out with an Instagrammable party trick—an edible candle that melts into oil for dipping bread. The pizzetta, topped with a zesty, herbaceous blend of verbena cream and local citrus confit, is the perfect dessert to end the evening.
Activities and Experiences
Studio Phenix/Hotel Metropole, Monte Carlo
You’ll quickly want to claim your place lounging around the Karl Lagerfeld-designed pool terrace Odyssey, anchored by a 65-foot-long black-and-white installation, inspired by Ulysses’s voyage. The beautifully landscaped oasis feels like the principality’s best-kept secret, a low-key take on the Riviera’s swanky beach clubs—with a menu that alternates between Christophe Cussac’s Mediterranean-inspired plates and Zia, which returns next spring.
Perfect your strokes with a professional coach-led swimming lesson or an aquagym session in the heated saltwater pool, or head down to the Spa Metropole by Guerlain, which features an expansive, Technogym-outfitted fitness studio. If you want a more exclusive look at the belle époque casino or other landmarks like the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, book one of the hotel’s “Just For You” packages that include guided visits and after-hours tours of the palace’s throne room and grand apartments.
The Spa
Spa Metropole has long been a destination in Monaco, and for its opal- and gold-accented glow-up, the hotel enlisted interior architect Samy Itani of Itani & Courtois, who has worked alongside Didier Gomez, the designer behind the original spa and Yoshi. You’ll still find plenty of marble from its days as a Givenchy spa, but now another lauded French house is at the helm: Guerlain.
As the first and only Guerlain spa in Monaco, the redesign feels both modern and timeless—raw wood, stone, and textured finishes bring a natural lightness to the space. Guerlain is known for signature skincare rituals like the anti-aging Ultimate Black Orchid, but if you want an experience you can only have in Monaco, book one of the three exclusive, Riviera-inspired treatments, like the 90-minute Golden Sand massage, performed on a heated quartz massage table.
One part of the spa that’s been left untouched—the Pedi.Mani.Cure Studio by Bastien Gonzalez, considered to be the world’s top pedicurist who counts everyone from royals to Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Campbell as clients. I’ve never experienced a pedicure like it—my perfectly sculpted, polish-free nails were shining for two weeks after the hour-long experience designed to be the ultimate cure for your feet.
Family-friendly Offerings
The fifth-floor Family Suites comprise a Deluxe Junior Suite and a separate children’s bedroom designed by local interior design studio Sabrina Monte-Carlo. Everything in the “Just for Kids” Suite is tailor-made, from a hand-painted cradle and changing table for babies to a cloud-shaped headboard for older children, plus a play area, of course. On-site family-friendly activities include a pastry-making class in the Odyssey kitchen to a summertime kids club stocked with board games and books.
The hotel is also dog-friendly and knows how to roll out the red carpet for pets. My pomeranian, Indiana Jones, was a huge fan of the regal dog bed and goodie bag of treats (the toy is still one of his favorites!). For the ultimate pampering, book the dedicated dog package, a partnership with the For Pets Only spa across the square, which includes a treatment like an aromatic salt bath with scented candles and relaxing music, followed by a photoshoot with a professional photographer. Dog walkers and sitters can also be arranged.
Accessibility and Sustainability
The principality has ambitious—but achievable—sustainability goals set in place, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. The hotel is just as committed to reducing its own environmental footprint, from working to replace single-use plastic with sustainable materials (it was the first five-star hotel in Monaco to switch out plastic straws) to eco-responsible purchasing. Executive chef Christophe Cussac sources fresh, local, and seasonal products for all of the property’s restaurants.
Elevators and ramps to the restaurants, spa, Odyssey pool deck, and all guest room floors ensure the spaces are wheelchair accessible. Four accessible guest rooms—three Prestige Rooms and one Deluxe Premium Junior Suite—are available for guests with reduced mobility.
Location
The hotel’s location is enviable—as one of only two hotels off the Place du Casino square, you’ll be within a short stroll of Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, a Parisian-style brasserie whose terrace is a favorite for watching luxury cars as they wind around the casino and down to the Formula One-famous Fairmont hairpin curve. Reserve a table up on the rooftop at Amazónico for some of the best sunset views of the principality, or step things up a notch across the street at Michelin-starred Le Grill, where the panoramic vistas from the eighth-floor restaurant stretch all the way to the Italian coast.
Monaco is less than 45 minutes from the Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE), but if you really want to make an entrance (and shave off time sitting in traffic), it’s a short, seven-minute helicopter transfer with Monacair—and the views from above are worth the ride alone. Once you arrive, valets can whisk you around the principality in the hotel’s branded electric vehicle, inspired by the 1960s-style open-top Mini Mokes popular in Saint-Tropez.
Monaco is smaller than Central Park, measuring less than a square mile, so most attractions are easy to reach by foot or bus (€2 per journey and Apple Pay is accepted on board). Ride-share apps won’t pick you up in Monaco, but they will drop you off in the principality if you order a ride in France or Italy. Within Monaco, taxis have a fixed rate of €18 and generally arrive quickly, except during major event weekends, such as the Grand Prix.
Book Now
Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo is part of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Leading Hotels of the World. American Express Platinum cardholders can earn Leaders Club points that can be redeemed for free nights at The Leading Hotels of the World properties, plus perks like room upgrades when available, guaranteed late checkout, and a $100 food and beverage credit.
Nightly rates for the new rooms at Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo start from 1,250 euros ($1,450).
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