There is a certain cachet to the luxury hotels in Monaco. The principality has associations with high-end brands, from automobiles to perfume, and the hotels are no different. Rates are high, but then so are expectations.
So with so many luxury hotels in such a small area, how does a traveler decide which one suits their needs best? What do you need to know to decide to stay in one hotel or another?
Do you need personal service or personal space, all the twenty-four-hour razzamatazz of an international world-class resort, or serious business connectivity?
The Principality of Monaco is one of the smallest sovereign states in the world, so there is limited space for competition. The battle to be the top luxury hotel in Monte-Carlo is fierce, with hundreds of millions of dollars spent in recent years on upgrades and renovations.
The ultimate winners of this contest are the customers, treated to hotel experiences that exceed expectations every time, so let’s dive in and see which hotel works best for you!
Seven Best Luxury Hotels in Monaco
Here is a short list of seven four and five-star best luxury hotels that range from the affordable business level all the way up to the royal suites that seem to float above the city. It is almost a study of the history of pleasure, beginning in the fabled Belle Epoque of 19th century Europe, up to the present high-octane drama of the Grand Prix.
1. Hôtel de Paris, 5 Stars in the Heart of Monte-Carlo
The Hotel de Paris re-opened five years ago in 2019 following a four-year $280 million renovation, which upgraded all the hotel’s services while enhancing and restoring all the Belle Epoque decoration and features that set this hotel apart.
Its 99 rooms boast city or patio views, with sea views at a premium, but they start at a spacious 41m2.
Set on the Place de la Casino, the famous Monte-Carlo Casino is across the street, and hotel guests enjoy free admission.
Prices include entry to the 7000m2 Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo spa.
The Le Louis XV restaurant boasts 3 Michelin Stars, and Le Grill has one, and all the restaurants have a strict dress code. No sneakers allowed.
There are two further restaurants, Le Bar Americain, which features live jazz performances, and Em Sherif.
The hotel has a private beach with a saltwater pool and a rooftop pool attached to its spar.
James Bond stayed here twice, once during Never Say Never Again and then GoldenEye.
007 didn’t leave a review, but most guests were happy with their rooms and the ‘anticipatory nature of the service’ they received.
Located in the center of Monte-Carlo it is said to be impossible to find a room during the Monaco Grand Prix unless you have ‘connections’.
2. Fairmont Monte-Carlo, Four Stars for the Grand Prix Action
The Fairmont Monte-Carlo Hotel couldn’t get closer to the action at the Monaco Grand Prix as it is built over part of the track. The racetrack, famously run on general public roads, goes through a tunnel by the notorious hairpin bends.
There is a rooftop pool and terrace with great views of the Grand Prix motor racing circuit.
Rooms start at 35m2, a good size for a hotel room in the city’s center. Junior suites add another ten square meters.
Riviera Suites are huge at 70m2 and boast two private terraces, one with a dining area and a view of the sea.
It has a Japanese, South American Fusion restaurant, Nobu, and a traditional French Bar and Restaurant in the lobby. The Horizon Restaurant is located on the rooftop terrace.
The hotel’s services include a spa, fitness center, a hairdresser, and a shopping mall.
The location was a big plus for customers saying it was ‘unbeatable’ and that the hotel was clean and well maintained.
All rooms feature air conditioning and a balcony or terrace, and guests can choose a sea view, a garden view, or a ringside seat at the Grand-Prix Circuit de Monaco.
3. Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, Five Stars for the Heritage and History
The Hotel Hermitage building has been listed as a historical monument, but the hotel is as modern and appealing as any other luxury hotel in Monaco. Customers that stay at the Hermitage return more often than at other establishments in the principality.
It has 278 rooms with 35 suites and 8 Exclusive Diamond Suites for a truly top-end world-class hotel experience.
The Yannick Alléno à l’Hôtel Hermitage has one Michelin Star but also enjoys a fabulous panoramic sea view.
The hotel boasts direct access to the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo spa.
Gustave Eiffel, the engineer who designed and built the Eiffel Tower in Paris, designed the lobby. His name can be seen inscribed high on the cupola in the Winter Garden.
The staff is praised by the rafters by reviewers saying they are friendly, welcoming, and ‘can’t do enough.’
4. Le Meridien Beach Plaza, Four Stars for Global Business
With its private beach, directly accessed from the hotel, and its proximity to the Grimaldi Forum Congress Centre, the Le Meridien is perfect for people doing business in Monte-Carlo. As part of the Marriot Group, their loyalty system counts for something here too.
Standard rooms are not large, but they are reported to be clean, and they have all the features that an international traveler has come to accept as the norm.
For a 24-hour clientele, the hotel can cater to all food and drink requirements.
The hotel has both an indoor and outdoor pool, a fitness suite, and a TechnoGym cardio room and sauna.
On the private beach, guests can get a drink at the Alang bar.
Guests report that the food here is excellent and that the rooms represent ‘fantastic value for money’ for Monte-Carlo.
5. Hotel Metropole, 5 Stars for Designer Delights
Just a step away from the Place de la Casino is the award-winning Hotel Metropole, decorated by renowned interior designer Jacques Garcia. Didier Gomez designed the hotel’s spa, while Karl Lagerfeld is credited with styling the Odyssey Lounge Restaurant.
It has 126 rooms, including 64 suites, and has been repeatedly upgraded and refurbished, the most recent works completed in 2021.
The House of Givenchy Spa offers exclusive care and relaxation treatments.
Outside, there is a seawater pool, a garden, and a bar.
The in-house Japanese restaurant, Yoshi, has the only Michelin Star accreditation for a restaurant of its type on the French Riviera.
The Carré d’Or Suite is one of the largest in Monaco and features 100m2 of internal space matched with a 110m2 private terrace.
Visitors praise the staff, especially at the pool, but warn future customers of the high bar prices ‘even for Monaco.’
6. Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort, Four Star for Refined Pleasures
For a dramatic entrance to Monaco, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort boast its helicopter pad for your transfer from Nice Airport. The journey time is just seven minutes, so if you need to get down to business without delay, then this might be the place for you.
The hotel is a little distance from the center of the principality in four hectares of seafront gardens, with a lagoon, hot tubs, a spa, a gym, and a waterfall.
Spa treatments come at an additional cost, as does access to the seating on the sun terrace.
In the summer months, the hotel runs a kid’s club, too, keeping younger customers involved and happy while parents can indulge in the hotel’s services.
Renowned chef, Marcel Ravin, leads the cuisine at the hotel, which has two restaurants in the gardens.
The rooms are air-conditioned and are above average size-wise, individually decorated with incredible sea or city views.
If you are arriving in Monaco by boat, the hotel also has a private jetty for you to moor at.
The ‘vibe’ at this hotel makes for a great atmosphere in an ‘iconic’ building, and the service was singled out for praise by many customers.
7. Port Palace Hotel, Four Star for When Size Matters
The Port Palace Hotel is a smaller establishment than most, describing itself as a boutique hotel’, however, its room and suite sizes are larger than average, and the rates are reasonable by comparison.
Located next door to Port Hercule it is also well situated for the Grand Prix and is a five-minute walk from both the Casino and Railway Station.
All rooms come with a dressing room and en suite, air-conditioning, and usual amenities.
The hotel offers private parking for guests on-site too.
The room sizes ‘wowed’ guests at the Port Palace Hotel, but there was disappointment that there was no gym or spa facility on site.
