T+L’s Hotel Review of Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo

Lodge Metropole Monte-Carlo’s completely manicured Mediterranean gardens have modified little within the century-plus since they impressed Edith Wharton’s novel “The Home of Mirth,” however the 125-room lodge—the one family-owned five-star property within the principality of Monaco—has heralded in a number of new chapters since.

When maximalist French inside designer Jacques Garcia (behind Hôtel Costes in Paris and La Mamounia in Marrakech) was approached to revamp the lodge greater than 20 years in the past, he needed to intensify a “spirit of timelessness,” as he places it. “Rethinking an tackle that might be, and in my view ought to be, a flagship for the spirit of the Riviera additionally meant preserving the historic dimension of the property,” says Garcia, who envisioned noblemen, politicians, and artwork collectors roving by the areas.

He was cautious to not compete with the neighboring Hôtel de Paris, so he took inspiration from belle époque structure, infusing these components into the lodge’s textures and supplies.

The Egyptian columns on both aspect of the arch on the entrance have been relocated from the designer’s Seventeenth-century château in Normandy, and the 4 figures above the doorways have been crafted from the unique mildew used for Louis XIV’s brother’s statues. Decor all through the general public areas is a mix of design types and eras, from duplicate vases modeled after these Napoleon introduced again for Josephine to the bar’s Nineteenth-century black marble busts, that are additionally featured on the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

Over the previous couple of years, Garcia has returned to place a contemporary spin on the effective eating restaurant Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac and created a cigar lounge, lined in wealthy wooden paneling and Pierre Frey material. Because the lodge slowly rolled out completely different phases of its renovation, the following is probably essentially the most anticipated: freshly redone visitor rooms.

Lodge Metropole Monte-Carlo has lengthy been one in all my favourite stays all over the world—and that’s saying so much contemplating I evaluation a minimum of 100 per yr. I’ve a tender spot for it, because it was the primary lodge I stayed within the municipality, and I’ve watched it evolve over the decade-plus I’ve lived in France.

My final go to was in the course of the Monaco Yacht Present three years in the past, and whereas I may nonetheless see Garcia’s signature thread shining within the 45 newly debuted rooms on my latest go to, the modifications are hanging—every little thing is lighter. Out are the heavy marble sunken tubs, and of their place are elegant, free-standing cast-iron ones. And that’s simply the beginning.

Preserve studying for a full evaluation of Lodge Metropole Monte-Carlo.

The Rooms

Renovated rooms are unfold throughout the second and third flooring, with these on the second designed in tender blue tones with embroidered Colefax & Fowler striped floral wall materials. Rooms on the third ground are accented in butter yellow, “materials in mild tones to embody the refined lightness of the Riviera—so there’s the solar and a little bit of Italy in Monaco,” Garcia explains.

Touches of brass and vintage mirrors add a retro really feel whereas nonetheless sustaining a contemporary and playful perspective. Garcia custom-designed a number of the furnishings, just like the oval, neoclassical-style writing desks and vanities that stylishly disguise as sliding TVs within the junior suites.

The view from the rooms hasn’t modified, and that’s one of many highlights on this lodge, particularly from the terrace of the top-floor Status Suites, the place visitors can peruse sweeping panoramas of the Mediterranean Sea.

Meals and Drink

The sultry foyer bar is an area favourite for a nightcap, however it’s additionally the proper place to start out a night in type with a cocktail or glass of Champagne earlier than heading to Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac. The namesake chef labored with legend Joël Robuchon for almost 20 years earlier than taking up the redesigned house and rapidly earned two Michelin stars in 2024, inside 9 months of opening. Whereas an à la carte menu is offered, the tasting menu is an expertise price indulging in—standouts embody a caviar-covered sea bream tartare cannelloni and deconstructed lobster lasagna. It’s simple 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 need to save room, nonetheless, for the grand finale, when desserts are rolled out on their very own trolley.

Yoshi is arguably among the many most upscale spots for Japanese delicacies within the principality. Right here, precision and a spotlight to element are key—suppose freshly grated wasabi, salmon stomach served with caviar and gold leaf. The design unfolds round a zen, Japanese-inspired backyard by panorama architect Jacques Messin,

Breakfast is served in Les Ambassadeurs or on the Odyssey pool deck, the place Italian restaurant Zia takes over in the course of the summer season. What began as a pop-up in 2024 has grown into an all-day idea helmed by cooks Rocco Seminara and Manon Santini. Two of my standout poolside picks from Zia: the caviar-topped purple prawn carpaccio and the Margherita pizza, brushed with tomato sauce from Puglia.

Within the night, the pool terrace transforms right into a loungelike setting for aperitivo, the place the spotlight is the inventive Negroni assortment. Throughout lunch, there are a few pizza choices on Zia’s menu, however that quantity jumps to greater than a dozen at dinner, the place the meal begins out with an Instagrammable celebration trick—an edible candle that melts into oil for dipping bread. The pizzetta, topped with a zesty, herbaceous mix of verbena cream and native citrus confit, is the proper dessert to finish the night.

Actions and Experiences

You’ll rapidly need to declare your home lounging across the Karl Lagerfeld-designed pool terrace Odyssey, anchored by a 65-foot-long black-and-white set up, impressed by Ulysses’s voyage. The superbly landscaped oasis feels just like the principality’s best-kept secret, a low-key tackle the Riviera’s swanky seaside golf equipment—with a menu that alternates between Christophe Cussac’s Mediterranean-inspired plates and Zia, which returns subsequent spring.

Excellent your strokes with knowledgeable coach-led swimming lesson or an aquagym session within the heated saltwater pool, or head right down to the Spa Metropole by Guerlain, which options an expansive, Technogym-outfitted health studio. If you’d like a extra unique have a look at the belle époque on line casino or different landmarks just like the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, e book one of many lodge’s “Just For You” packages that embody guided visits and after-hours excursions of the palace’s throne room and grand flats.

The Spa

Spa Metropole has lengthy been a vacation spot in Monaco, and for its opal- and gold-accented glow-up, the lodge enlisted inside architect Samy Itani of Itani & Courtois, who has labored alongside Didier Gomez, the designer behind the unique spa and Yoshi. You’ll nonetheless discover loads of marble from its days as a Givenchy spa, however now one other lauded French home is on the helm: Guerlain.

As the primary and solely Guerlain spa in Monaco, the redesign feels each trendy and timeless—uncooked wooden, stone, and textured finishes carry a pure lightness to the house. Guerlain is thought for signature skincare rituals just like the anti-aging Final Black Orchid, however in order for you an expertise you possibly can solely have in Monaco, e book one of many three unique, Riviera-inspired therapies, just like the 90-minute Golden Sand therapeutic massage, carried out on a heated quartz therapeutic massage desk.

One a part of the spa that’s been left untouched—the Pedi.Mani.Remedy Studio by Bastien Gonzalez, thought-about to be the world’s prime pedicurist who counts everybody from royals to Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Campbell as purchasers. I’ve by no means skilled a pedicure prefer it—my completely sculpted, polish-free nails have been shining for 2 weeks after the hour-long expertise designed to be the final word treatment to your ft.

Household-friendly Choices

The fifth-floor Household Suites comprise a Deluxe Junior Suite and a separate kids’s bed room designed by native inside design studio Sabrina Monte-Carlo. All the pieces within the “Only for Youngsters” Suite is tailored, from a hand-painted cradle and altering desk for infants to a cloud-shaped headboard for older kids, plus a play space, in fact. On-site family-friendly actions embody a pastry-making class within the Odyssey kitchen to a summertime youngsters membership stocked with board video games and books.

The lodge can be dog-friendly and is aware of how one can roll out the purple carpet for pets. My pomeranian, Indiana Jones, was an enormous fan of the regal canine mattress and goodie bag of treats (the toy remains to be one in all his favorites!). For the final word pampering, e book the devoted canine bundle, a partnership with the For Pets Solely spa throughout the sq., which features a therapy like an fragrant salt bathtub with scented candles and stress-free music, adopted by a photoshoot with knowledgeable photographer. Canine walkers and sitters may also be organized.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The principality has formidable—however achievable—sustainability targets set in place, aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. The lodge is simply as dedicated to decreasing its personal environmental footprint, from working to switch single-use plastic with sustainable supplies (it was the primary five-star lodge in Monaco to modify out plastic straws) to eco-responsible buying. Government chef Christophe Cussac sources contemporary, native, and seasonal merchandise for the entire property’s eating places.

Elevators and ramps to the eating places, spa, Odyssey pool deck, and all visitor room flooring make sure the areas are wheelchair accessible. 4 accessible visitor rooms—three Status Rooms and one Deluxe Premium Junior Suite—can be found for visitors with lowered mobility.

Location

The lodge’s location is enviable—as one in all solely two lodges off the Place du On line casino sq., you’ll be inside a brief stroll of Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, a Parisian-style brasserie whose terrace is a favourite for watching luxurious vehicles as they wind across the on line casino and right down to the Method One-famous Fairmont hairpin curve. Reserve a desk up on the rooftop at Amazónico for a number of the finest sundown views of the principality, or step issues up a notch throughout the road at Michelin-starred Le Grill, the place the panoramic vistas from the eighth-floor restaurant stretch all the way in which to the Italian coast.

Monaco is lower than 45 minutes from the Good Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE), however if you happen to actually need to make an entrance (and shave off time sitting in site visitors), it’s a brief, seven-minute helicopter switch with Monacair—and the views from above are well worth the trip alone. When you arrive, valets can whisk you across the principality within the lodge’s branded electrical car, impressed by the Nineteen Sixties-style open-top Mini Mokes common in Saint-Tropez.

Monaco is smaller than Central Park, measuring lower than a sq. mile, so most sights are simple to achieve by foot or bus (€2 per journey and Apple Pay is accepted on board). Trip-share apps received’t choose you up in Monaco, however they’ll drop you off within the principality if you happen to order a trip in France or Italy. Inside Monaco, taxis have a set price of €18 and customarily arrive rapidly, besides throughout main occasion weekends, such because the Grand Prix.

E-book Now

Lodge Metropole Monte-Carlo is a part of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Leading Hotels of the World. American Specific Platinum cardholders can earn Leaders Membership factors that may be redeemed without cost nights at The Main Resorts of the World properties, plus perks like room upgrades when accessible, assured late checkout, and a $100 meals and beverage credit score.

Nightly charges for the brand new rooms at Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo begin from 1,250 euros ($1,450).

Each T+L lodge evaluation is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed on the property, and every lodge chosen aligns with our core values.