Monte Carlo may be known for its superyachts, sports cars and grand Belle Époque architecture, but there is much more to discover. Spend a few days here and you can move easily between the beach, boutiques, galleries and an impressive selection of restaurants. For a stay that balances history, food, and time by the water, Société des Bains de Mer’s Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo and Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo offer two distinct perspectives on the destination.
Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo
Located in the city’s historic centre, Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo could be described as the quiet luxury of Monte-Carlo hotels. Its origins date to 1864, when the site held a small inn known as Le Petit Hermitage. Today, its neoclassical façade, ornate interiors and views across Port Hercule preserve that history, while the atmosphere feels surprisingly intimate. I arrive with my two children, both visiting for the first time, and it’s fair to say they were impressed.
The hotel has undergone recent renovations. Forty rooms and suites have been redesigned, including seven Diamond Suites, under the artistic direction of Pierre-Yves Rochon in collaboration with Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s interior architecture team. Rochon also worked on the original suites more than two decades ago, giving the project a welcome sense of continuity.
Facing the Mediterranean, the suites reinterpret Belle Époque elegance through Versailles parquet, Calacatta marble, botanical patterns and a calm palette of aqua, blue and beige. The Princely Diamond Suite is conceived as a private residence, with generous entertaining spaces, terraces overlooking the port and Prince’s Palace, and a white onyx bathroom with a sauna, hammam shower and Baccarat crystal fittings. The Presidential Diamond Suite brings together two bedrooms, sea-facing terraces and bathrooms finished in Calacatta Oro marble. The two suites can also be connected for larger families and groups.
The renovation introduces Bar Gustave beneath the hotel’s famous glass dome, created by disciples of Gustave Eiffel. Designed as a contemporary Belle Époque salon, it serves cocktails inspired by Art Nouveau and forgotten spirits from noon until late.
Our two nights at Hotel Heritage were truly unforgettable. Peace, luxury and time to unwind.
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
If Hôtel Hermitage offers calm, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo places guests within the theatre of the Principality. Opened in 1864 beside the Casino de Monte-Carlo, it has hosted royalty, artists and film stars across generations. Its grand public rooms retain their sense of ceremony, while the renovated bedrooms and suites feel lighter and more contemporary.
The location makes it an ideal base for experiencing Monte Carlo’s sociable side, particularly through its dining. Em Sherif Monte-Carlo returns to the hotel seasonally, carrying the warmth and generosity of Lebanese hospitality from Beirut to the Mediterranean. Led by Executive Chef Yasmina Hayek, the restaurant combines familiar mezze with dishes such as marinated blue lobster, Black Angus skewers with zaatar chimichurri and confit lamb shawarma.
The best place to have dinner is on the terrace overlooking the sea. The summer pop-up remains open until September 28.
Monte-Carlo Beach
A stay across the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer resort makes it easy to exchange Casino Square for the coast. Monte-Carlo Beach, set between pine trees and the Mediterranean, provides a day that moves at an entirely different speed.
Its Olympic-sized seawater pool is the natural centre of the experience. Open into October, it allows early-autumn visitors to enjoy a full beach day without the intensity of peak summer. Time alternates between swimming, shaded loungers and the private beach, creating a genuine pause from central Monte Carlo.
The coastal experience continues at La Vigie Zanoni Monte-Carlo, a seasonal 2026 pop-up created with Michelin-starred Italian chef Simone Zanoni. Positioned at Pointe La Vigie and reached through the pine forest or by boat via a private jetty, it draws on the ease of Italian coastal dining. Seafood, arancini, tortellini carbonara and ricotta ravioli are designed for sharing, while the lemon-filled setting and open views offer a convincing expression of la dolce vita. Available for a limited period in September, the collaboration is one of the final tastes of the Riviera summer before the season changes.
Autumn on the Riviera
Together, the two hotels reveal why Monte Carlo deserves more than a brief stop on a Riviera itinerary. Early autumn is a perfect time to visit. Summer has not quite disappeared, yet the crowds have begun to recede, and the atmosphere feels noticeably calmer. The result is a Monte Carlo that still sparkles, but leaves enough room to properly enjoy it.
