When compiling any list of the best hotels in Monaco it can sometimes seem like the list is turning into a roll call of some of the best hotels in the world.
Luxury and service are the watchwords in a principality built on the power of money to raise expectations constantly.
The following recommendations come from a selection of hotels that have developed in an environment of unparalleled competition for the attention of monarchs and magnates, movie stars, and models over a century or more.
You might think that this has led to eye-watering runaway prices, and while the sky is the limit for some of the top suites and the incredible services on offer, there are plenty of affordable options for all budgets to enjoy.
We have scoured the internet and interrogated both public and professional review sites to make sure we can present the very best hotels in Monaco in 2023.
The Monte Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort
The 8 Best Hotels in Monaco
The Hotel de Paris
What can anyone say about the aspirations for luxury and service of an establishment that boasts the most extensive wine cellar in the world? Amongst its 600,000 bottles, there will be something for every palate, including some of the most expensive vintage champagnes on earth.
At the Hotel de Paris, there are three Michelin-starred restaurants, more than any other hotel in the principality, and an iconic American Jazz Bar that is an absolute must-visit for any shaken-not-stirred James Bond fan.
The hotel sits at the epicenter of luxury and excess, where you can go on a supercar safari and likely find a billion dollars of motor vehicles parked out front, then pop inside for a bit of diamond shopping before visiting the private spa or its own beach.
Casino view rooms seem a little pricey, but if it is space rather than the view you need, then go for a junior suite with a courtyard view for twice the space at a comparable price.
Guests tell us that the level of attention from the staff is second to none following a new, intensive training regime.
The building’s location and Belle Epoque elegance also topped many guests’ expectations.
Be prepared to pay for the entire stay on arrival, minus tips and other additional services, but then, if you are booking into the Hotel de Paris, surely affording such luxury is the least of your problems.
The Monte Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort
From getting on the helicopter in Nice you can arrive here in this prestigious luxury hotel in just seven minutes. With its own heliport, the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort make it easy for the millionaires among us to make their hotel a first stop in the principality.
For those enjoying a slower pace of life, then there is a private jetty that can receive arrivals by yacht.
Superbly positioned right on the seafront by Larvotto Beach, everything about this hotel appears to be geared toward the well-being of its guests, with an entire floor given over to a spa, the Cinq Mondes, a hairdresser, gym, nail bar, and an indoor pool.
Eat in the Michelin-starred Blue Bay restaurant in the evenings, and spend some time perfecting your skills at the billiard tables.
All the rooms exude contemporary luxury and are good sizes too. For the best sea views request even number rooms between two and twenty.
Guests adore the location, describing it as perfect, and the views, especially from the eighth floor, come in for particular praise.
The Blue Bay restaurant is singled out for having a dazzling menu that caters to all tastes, especially vegetarian and vegan customers.
The Hotel Metropole
The Hotel Metropole manages to effortlessly combine Belle Epoque glamour with world-class modern design with input from stylists Gomez and Lagerfeld. It is centrally located, just off the Place de Casino, while retaining an air of privacy.
Its 126 rooms and suites are all spacious, but the Carré d’Or Sute tops the lot at over 100 m2 and a private roof terrace that measures an incredible 110 m2.
Please upgrade to a deluxe room for its massage jet showers in the en-suite bathrooms.
There are not one but two Michelin-starred restaurants to choose from here too.
If you are traveling with children, then the suites have separate bedrooms.
Guests love the hotel’s ambiance with its designer touches, the secluded location in the middle of the metropolis, and the hundred small ways the staff made stays special.
The concierge service, catering to individual needs such as transport and birthday celebrations, received particular praise.
The Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel
One hundred years of high society is one phrase to describe this hotel with its luxury Olympic size pool. Today the hotel has the feel of a pleasant, cosy exclusive club rather than a hotel.
It offers everything you might expect from a beach resort, from fishing to parasailing. Kids will love the club facilities too.
In July and August, you can sign them up for music workshops, cookery lessons, and water sports while you enjoy a relaxing yoga class or a treatment in the spa.
Staying at the Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel gives you free access to the Thermae Spa and half-price entry to the Monte-Carlo Tennis Club too.
Rooms are generally light, with sea views, and their design is inspired by the art of Matisse and Cocteau.
Classy, classic and perfect for beach lovers, and convenient for the city say the guests that stay here.
The organic food at the restaurant is appreciated while many state a firm intention to return to what is now their favorite Monte-Carlo hotel destination.
The Hotel Hermitage
Just around the corner from the Place de Casino is the Hermitage Hotel, the place to be seen if you are a celebrity or minor royalty, an oligarch or influencer. Its classic Belle Epoque style has been retained while the hotel has been upgraded to reflect modern resort conveniences.
A tunnel takes you to the glass-fronted spa, while kids can benefit from being enrolled in the kid’s club at the sister hotel The Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel.
L’Hirondelle restaurant offers terrific gluten-free selections amongst others for those with special dietary requirements.
Room sizes, overall are on the small side, but upgrading to deluxe should solve that for most people.
Go for a Deluxe with a sea view for the best value regarding size and price, but book early to avoid disappointment.
Apart from the efficiency and welcome by the staff guests comment that the location of the Hermitage Hotel, by being close to everything Monte-Carlo has to offer, yet set slightly apart, makes this a most attractive place to stay.
It is at the heart of the action while remaining a tranquil base from which to enjoy the city.
Le Méridien Beach Plaza
With a great location close to the Grimaldi Forum and Japanese Gardens Le Méridien Beach Plaza is ideal for business travelers. Apart from that, it is all about beach life with direct seafront access to a fabulous private beach.
The higher the floor, the better the view, with some rooms giving vistas of both the sea and the city.
On the beach, there are watersports, a massage tent, terraces, and two pools to choose from. Inside there is a freshwater pool and a cardio gym.
The food here doesn’t come too highly rated unless you opt for the summertime Twiga Beach Club with its signature Italian and Japanese flavors.
Guests report the staff to be exceptionally attentive and keen to ensure the comfort of people staying at the hotel.
Other guests see the location as being a top reason to stay here, with its proximity to the sporting arena and the fact that it has direct access to a private beach with all amenities.
The Fairmont Hotel
A Monte-Carlo king-pin establishment, the 600-plus room Fairmont Hotel might be vast, but it has a human scale that will make everyone feel welcome.
Here you can swim in the rooftop pool, have a ringside seat for the Formula 1 Grand Prix, watch the cars on the famous hairpin bend, then eat at the Horizon Restaurant with 360° views.
All rooms come with private terraces, but if you want a quieter option with a sea view, ask for a room on the fourth floor or above on the right-hand side of the hotel.
The Nobu Restaurant is a favorite spot for locals and hotel guests with its Asian and South American fusions, while all the eateries here offer discounted children’s menus too.
Guests report great room sizes with perhaps the most comfortable beds in Monte-Carlo and superb sea views.
The location also takes some beating with its central position in the principality.
The Port Palace
Recommended for yachtsmen and women and their guests wanting a break from sealife but who wish to remain in touch with the water. Every room at the Port Palace overlooks Port Hercules, and the corner suites give unparalleled views of the exit from the Grand Prix F1 tunnel.
Inside the lobby is a vintage race car from the golden age of motor racing, and from the top floor, you can walk directly to the Place de Casino, such is the vertical geography of the principality.
With only fifty rooms, the hotel has a boutique atmosphere, a gym, a small spa, a hammam, and a sauna.
The food here is limited to one main restaurant on the rooftop, but then world-class restaurants are a very short walk away.
Guests tell us that the views from this hotel are absolutely second to none and that the central location is unbeatable.
The breakfast comes in for very positive comments too.
