Monte Carlo is the most luxurious destination in the world. Those who visit the Principality of Monaco and settle for taking a selfie in front of the casino do not know what truly lies behind the opulent palaces and inside the hotels that charge thousands of euros per night.
The international jet set, crowned heads, celebrities, athletes, magnates are used to frequenting Monaco’s coolest venues, places inaccessible to ordinary tourists who cannot access them and must content themselves with watching from the outside. Five-star hotels (there are four), Michelin-star restaurants (16 in total) and then beach bars, beach clubs and exclusive circles open to a select few.
Awarded as Best European Destination 2025, the Principality of Monaco is a tiny slice of paradise that blends the timeless charm of its history and architecture, including ultramodern designs, with the vibrancy of an elite cultural and entertainment scene.
The Hermitage Hotel Monte-Carlo
Among Monaco’s most exclusive venues is certainly the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, perched above the central Place du Casino yet hidden by lush greenery from the eyes of passersby. Guests staying in this 5-star Belle Époque jewel can reside in one of 13 Diamond suites, sample the cuisine of Pavyllon, the restaurant of three-Michelin-star chef Yannick Alléno, or Abysse, the only Japanese restaurant on the entire Côte d’Azur with two Michelin stars, enjoy a Champagne aperitif at the Crystal Lounge when summer opens, or sip a cocktail crafted by a mixologist at the Campari bar in the hotel’s gardens. Hermitage guests have direct access to the Monte-Carlo Marine Baths, a splendid sea-front spa.
The Hôtel de Paris
Among Monaco’s newcomers, it is perhaps more famous than the Hermitage but decidedly more “touristy,” and above all, if the Hermitage is discreet, this one is perfect for those who don’t want to go unnoticed: luxury cars stop right in front of the main entrance under the gaze of all the onlookers, yet that is a detail, since the Hôtel de Paris has undergone almost complete renovation, save for the historic façade, and has been expanded in recent years (it now has 206 rooms including seven Diamond suites, among which the Princess Grace Suite on two levels measures nearly a thousand square meters and costs from €30,000 per night (a minimum five-night stay), and the Prince Rainier III Suite, a bit smaller but featuring an infinity pool with a current-swim option and thus commanding an even higher price (€40,000 per night), a legendary five-star hotel.
Many also frequent it just for the Michelin-star restaurants it houses, such as Louis XV – Alain Ducasse (3 Michelin stars, where one typically spends around €350) and Le Grill (one star). Its underground cellar, carved into rock as far back as the late 1800s, opened to visits only for a select few, is the largest hotel cellar in the world and among the most extensive globally, with about 350,000 bottles spanning 5,500 labels laid out on 1.5 kilometers of shelves, an invaluable and rare collection.
Méridien Beach Plaza
Very cool and heavily frequented in summer is the Méridien Beach Plaza, the only hotel in the Principality with a private beach. Among the bathers you’ll always recognize a number of famous faces. Billionaires go there by day, but also for Sunday brunch, for an evening aperitif, or for dinner. For summer 2025 the new Café Lacoste opens, a pop-up perfect for light lunches and cocktails under the sun. For hotel guests, of course, the beach is included, while outsiders must pay €140 per person for a sunbed.
Monte-Carlo Beach
The most fashionable beach, however, is the Beach, where there is a constant flow of Ferraris, Lamborghinis and other luxury cars unloading magnates and stunning women who spend the day in the sun, dining in their private tents, far from prying eyes. They can choose whether to dive from the rocks into the open sea or to swim in the Olympic-size sea-water pool. At the Beach you can also come just to dine at one of its three restaurants (Le Deck, Elsa, La Vigie, the most luxurious and expensive). This year the hotel opens the season with a major novelty: the renowned Ibiza beach club, Jondal, arrives at La Vigie with its unique interpretation of Mediterranean cuisine and a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere. VIP families can also give babysitters a bit of freedom, thanks to the Kids Club by Petit VIP, a dedicated area just for children. The Beach also has a 5-star hotel. In the low season, admission costs €150 per person.
Fairmont Monte-Carlo
Year-round, the panoramic rooftop of the Fairmont is the best address for a lunch, a dinner, or an aperitif. As regulars know, in the Principality, as on the entire Côte d’Azur, the sun shines for most of the year and outdoor terraces can be enjoyed even in winter. On the top floor of the hotel — formerly Loews, famous for the tunnel that during the Monaco Grand Prix becomes a track for Formula One cars — there are several exclusive destinations: the Amù restaurant, perched above the sea with a view of the brand-new Monaco district Terramare, to which Renzo Piano also contributed, the Japanese restaurant Nobu, and the famous Nikki Beach Monaco, with the pool and DJ sets on summer evenings, where you can enjoy a glam sunset aperitif.
Selva Monte-Carlo
The summer 2025 novelty is called Selva, opened at Amazónico, the restaurant inaugurated in 2024, on the rooftop of Café de Paris, the historic venue recently renovated overlooking Place du Casino. After dining on Latin American-inspired dishes, one dances in a forest in the city, a luxury jungle, or, as some have already dubbed it, the new “elettropical” club, to the music of international DJs, true stars who come to perform. The cocktails are prepared by skilled mixologists.
Sass Café
The historic venue, a reference point for the Monégasques, and also a piano bar for nightlife, is Sass, on the Larvotto seafront. The nouveau riches, the upstarts and the tourists who want to put on airs go there for dinner, but they don’t realize that after midnight it becomes the place to be, with people dancing on tables barefoot and a relaxed, décontracté vibe. It’s easy to spot famous faces, celebrities—residents or on vacation—, athletes (in Monaco they all live there, not only Sinner and Leclerc) and so many beautiful women sparkling with sequins. Here a mojito costs €90, a Coca-Cola €34.
Monte-Carlo Sporting
In summer, the Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival kicks off with fabulous dinner-show performances in the Salle des Etoiles of the Sporting, a beautiful theater perched by the sea, where internationally renowned artists perform. This year, from July 5 to August 15, acts include Santana, the Scorpions, Giorgia (Ferragosto night), Kool & the Gang, Will Smith and others. The evening prices, dinner included, vary between €400 and €500 per person.
Jimmy’z
For after-hours, there is only one address: the timeless Jimmy’z. An ultra-VIP venue that for more than forty years has been the Riviera’s most trendy nightclub, where the greatest DJs in the world have performed and where the six-liter bottles of Champagne reign supreme! Entry is possible only with a reserved table. The famous dance floor, the lush garden and the legendary Summer Bar floating on the lagoon have always been there, but it has recently been redesigned, so if you’ve been before, it’s time to return. Jimmy’z is not open every day: from March through July it’s open only on Friday and Saturday nights, while in July and August it is open from Wednesday to Saturday.
