Easy Escapes: Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo is the epitome of luxury on the French Riveria

The Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo is a boutique haven in one of the French Riviera's most glamorous spots. Describing the Hotel Metropole as luxurious feels like a downplay, with its Givenchy spa, Michelin-starred dining and a luxurious pool area designed by Karl Lagerfeld himself. This Belle Époque hotel oozes style, providing a peaceful retreat in bustling Monte-Carlo. 

Monte-Carlo has long been a tourist hotspot for those seeking the finer things in life. The most famous district in Monaco, it's a destination that's synonymous with glamour, style and hedonism, famed for its glitzy casinos, thriving yacht scene and chic hotels—not to mention being the place that captured the heart of Hollywood starlet Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco. While we need to acknowledge it's an expensive location, this much-hyped area is one to save for. 

The Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo is as lavish as you might expect for a five-star hotel located just off central hotspot Place du Casino, the beating heart of Monaco. At Hotel Metropole Ferraris and Porsches typically line its sweeping Herringbone-brick driveway, nestled among jasmine and orchid trees. Grand chandeliers hang in the floodlit reception area, which has a backing track curated by the hotel's sound designer, with music befitting different times of the day. 

But while Hotel Metropole may be exceptionally luxurious, it also has an understated elegance. Serenity is reflected in every detail, from the tasteful artwork in its spaces to its quietly attentive staff. 

The rooms

Hotel Metropole boasts 125 rooms that are sure to ignite your main character energy. Think period-style furniture, immaculately made-up beds with crisp white sheets, sumptuous fabrics and postcard-perfect Juliette balconies. The plush robes supplied by Italian designer Salvatore Ferragamo are the perfect finishing touch. Bathrooms are a highlight, crafted from marble and stocked with expensive-smelling toiletries (also from Salvatore Ferragamo).

Rooms vary in size from the smaller (but still perfectly formed) Delux and Superior rooms to a variety of suites, the most impressive being the  240m² Carré d’Or Suite, which comes complete with a private roof terrace overlooking the sights of Monte Carlo and out towards the Mediterranean Sea.

The food

Nowhere does food quite like the French, with the country boasting the most Michelin stars in the world year after year. And Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo is no exception. The hotel is home to a choice of stunning restaurants—Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac (Hotel Metropole's latest fine-dining spot), Yoshi (Michelin-starred Japanese dining), Odyssey (Karl Lagerfeld's poolside restaurant) and the Lobby Bar (a more relaxed, but still very gourmet dining option).

Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac is an exciting new launch within the hotel, its menu shaped by Head Chef Christophe's culinary heritage and passion for Mediterranean cuisine. Each dish will only have three flavours, focusing on seasonality and simplicity. 

Dishes include fresh sardines with a preserved lemon and tangy foam, sea bream tartare, caviar cannelloni, veal chop with asparagus and the Grand Marnier souffle. The restaurant's interiors also reflect the warm embrace of Mediterranean culture, redesigned by French architect and interior designer, Jacques Garcia.

Yoshi offers elegant dining, with Japanese delicacies and intricate dishes served in a secluded garden dining room. The restaurant opens out into a botanical-themed garden area designed by landscape architect Jacques Messin—a perfect spot for al fresco cocktails.

Launched by legendary French chef, the late Joël Robuchon, with Head Chef Takeo Yamazaki currently at the helm, Yoshi is the only Japanese restaurant on the Côte d'Azur to have been awarded a Michelin star since 2010 and a destination in its own right. The interiors, designed by French interior designer Didier Gomez, are incredibly chic, with elegant finishing touches to elevate diners' experiences. 

The next day, opt for a continental breakfast—which typically consists of fresh pastries, bread, fruit, eggs, juice and coffee—in your room for a quintessentially French balcony moment.

The experiences

To add an extra layer of luxury and authenticity to your stay, the hotel offers tailor-made 'Just For You' packages to elevate your experience. These range from a private evening at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco to the opportunity for children to create French pastries guided by the hotel's specialist chef. And if you really want to up the ante, the hotel can arrange a James Bond-style experience that includes a private helicopter ride with views over the French Riviera. 

The hotel’s newest 'Just For You' experience, 'Drive Through Time', centres around a one-of-a-kind visit to the car collection of H.S.H. The Prince of Monaco. The tours are led by a dedicated guide, sharing stories about the remarkable collection of more than 100 vehicles curated by Prince Albert II and his father, Prince Rainier III.

A hotel space imagined by Karl Lagerfeld was always going to exceed expectations. In the pool area, a unique fresco-styled glass installation inspired by Greek mythology surrounds the heated swimming pool, while outside you'll find plush white sunloungers and manicured gardens alongside a relaxing outdoor lounge area and Lagerfeld's stylish Odyessy restaurant. Venture inside Spa Metropole by Givenchy to experience its sauna, hammam, caldarium, ice fountain and aromatherapy showers. 

The hotel is close to plenty of attractions, with The Métropole shopping centre just next door, if retail therapy is on your Monte Carlo to-do list. High-end designer stores and upmarket restaurants surround the area—and you'll never be too far away from an impeccably dressed woman sipping champagne on the patio of a chic wine bar here. Port Hercules, a picturesque port that's been used since ancient times and is usually full of expensive yachts, is a 10-minute walk away. 

Need to know

Rooms at the Hotel Metropole start at £398 for a Double Room (B&B) and you can book through the hotel's websiteor phone at: +377 93 15 15 15

You can find out more about the hotel's Just For You packages here.