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

The manicured Mediterranean gardens of the Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo have changed little in the nearly century since they inspired Edith Wharton’s novel “The House of Merit,” but the 125-room hotel—since then Monaco’s principally family-owned five-star property—has heralded in some new chapters since then.

When maximalist French interior designer Jacques García (behind the Hôtel Castes in Paris and La Maimonia in Marrakech) was approached to redesign the hotel more than 20 years ago, he wanted to enhance the “spirit of folly.” “Rethinking the address that could be, and in my opinion should be, a flagship for the spirit of the Rivera, means preserving the historic dimension of the property,” says García, who envisioned aristocrats, politicians, and art collectors roaming the spaces.

He was careful not to compete with the neighboring Hôtel de Paris, so he drew inspiration from Belle Étpoque architecture, incorporating these elements into the hotel’s texture and materials.

The Egyptian columns on either side of the arch at the entrance were transferred from the designer’s 17th-century chateau in Normandy, and the four figures above the doors were cast from the original mold used for the busts of Louis XIV’s brother. The decoration in the public spaces is a mix of design styles and eras, from the replica vises made for Napoleon to Josephine brought back to the bar’s 19th-century black marble busts, which are also included in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

In the past two years, García has returned to put a fresh spin on the fine-dining restaurant Les Ambassadors by Christophe Kossack and created a cigar lounge lined with rich wood paneling and peiré-free fabric. As the hotel slowly developed the various phases of its renovation, the next one is perhaps the most anticipated: the updated guest rooms.

The Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo has long been one of my favorite stays around the world—and it’s saying a lot that I do at least a hundred reviews every year. I have a soft spot for it, as it was the first hotel I stayed in in the municipality, and I’ve seen it evolve over the decade I’ve lived in France.

My last visit was three years ago during the Monaco Yacht Show, and while I could still see Garcia’s signature threads gleaming in the 45 newly debuted rooms on his recent visit, the changes are striking – everything is lighter. Outside are heavy marble sunken tubs, and in their place are beautiful, freely cast iron ones. And this is just the beginning.

Read on for a full review of Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo.

The room

The renovated rooms span the second and third floors, the second designed in soft blue tones with embroidered coliseums and Fowler-striped floral wall hangings. The rooms on the third floor are draped in buttery yellow, “fabrics in lighter tones to embody the refined light of the Riviera – so Monaco has a little bit of sun and Italy,” explains Garcia.

Touches of brass and antique mirrors add a retro feel while still maintaining a fresh and playful approach. Garcia custom-designed some of the furnishings, such as an oval, neoclassical-style writing desk and vanity that stylishly disguises as a sliding TV in the junior suite.

The view from the rooms has not changed, and is a highlight of this hotel, especially from the terrace of the top-floor Prestige Suite, where guests can enjoy sweeping panoramas of the Mediterranean Sea.

Eating and drinking

The cheeky lobby bar is a local favorite for a nightcap, but it’s also the perfect place to start the evening with a cocktail or glass of champagne in style before heading to Les Ambassadors by Christophe Kossack. The namesake chef worked with the legendary Jules Robuchon for nearly 20 years before taking over the redesigned space and quickly earned two Michelin stars in 2024, within nine months of opening. Although an à la carte menu is available, the tasting menu is an experience worth indulging in. The decadent, tiered bread trolley—a remnant of Robuchon—is easy to pile up with baguettes baked in-house and rolls with squid ink layers. However, you’ll want to save room for the grand finale, when the dessert is served on its own trolley.

Yoshi is reportedly among the top spots for Japanese cuisine in the principality. Here, precision and attention to detail are key. The design by landscape architect Jacques Messine unfolds around a Zen, Japanese-inspired garden,

Breakfast is served in Les Ambassadors or on the Odyssey pool deck, where Italian restaurant Zia takes over during the summer. What started as a pop-up in 2024 has grown into an all-day concept by chefs Rocco Seminara and Manon Santini. Two of my standout poolside picks from Zia: the caviar-topped red shrimp carpaccio and the Margherita pizza, slathered with tomato sauce from Puglia.

In the evening, the pool terrace transforms into a lounge-like setting for aperitifs, where the highlight is the creative Negroni collection. During lunch, there are a few pizza options on Zia’s menu, but that number jumps to more than a dozen at dinner, where the meal begins with an Instagrammable party truck. Pizzetta, topped with verbena cream and a zesty, herb blend of local lemon confit, is the perfect dessert to end the evening.

Activities and experiences

Inspired by the voyages of Ulysses, anchored by a 65-foot-tall black-and-white installation, you’ll want to stake your claim around the Karl Lagerfeld-designed Pool Terrace Odyssey. The beautifully landscaped oasis feels like the principality’s best-kept secret, a low-key take on the Riviera’s swanky beach clubs. It’s accompanied by a menu that alternates between Christophe Kossack’s Mediterranean-inspired plates and Zia, which returns next spring.

Perfect your stroke with a professional coach-led swim lesson or aquagame session in the heated saltwater pool, or head to Spa Metropole by Guerlain, which features a spacious, technogym outdoor fitness studio. If you want a more exclusive look at the Belle Étatpoque Casino or other landmarks like the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, book one of the hotel’s “Just for You” packages that include guided tours and hourly tours of the palace’s throne room and grand apartments.

Spa

The Spa Metropole in Monaco has long been a destination, and for its milking and gold-toned sheen, the hotel enlisted interiors by interior architects Etani & Cortos, who worked with Didier Gomez, the designer behind the original spa and Yoshi. You’ll still find plenty of marble from its days as a Givenchy spa, but now another iconic French house is at the helm: Guerlain.

As the first and only Guerlain Spa in Monaco, the redesign feels both modern and timeless – wood, stone and textured finishes bring a natural lightness to the space. Guerlain is known for signature skincare rituals like the anti-aging Ultimate Black Orchid, but if you want an experience you can only find in Monaco, with three exclusive, Riviera-inspired treatments, such as a 90-minute golden sand massage, performed on a heated quartz massage table.

A part of the spa that remains untouched. Pedin.Mani.Core Studio by Bastian Gonzalez, considered the world’s leading pedicurist who counts everyone from the Royals to Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Campbell as clients. I’ve never experienced a pedicure like this—my perfectly sculpted, polish-free nails were designed to be the ultimate treatment for your feet after an hour-long experience for two weeks.

Family friendly offerings

Fifth-floor family suites include a deluxe junior suite and a separate children’s bedroom designed by local interior design studio Sabrina Monte Carlo. Everything in the “Just for Children” suite is tailor-made, from hand-painted cribs and changing tables for kids to cloud-shaped headboards for older kids, plus a play area, of course. Family-friendly activities on site include a pastry-making class in the Odyssey Kitchen, which is stocked with board games and books in the summer kids’ club.

The hotel is also dog-friendly and knows how to roll out the red carpet for pets. My Pomeranian was a huge fan of the Indiana Jones, Regal dog bed and treat bag (the toy is still one of her favorites!). For the ultimate pampering, book the dedicated dog package, a partnership for pets across the square, which includes a treat like a scented salt bath with scented candles and soothing music, followed by a photo shoot with a professional photographer. Dog walkers and sitters can also be arranged.

Access and stability

This enthusiasm for carbon neutrality by 2050 has ambitious—but achievable—sustainability goals. The hotel is just as committed to reducing its environmental footprint, working to replace single-use plastic with sustainable materials (it was the first five-star hotel in Monaco to replace plastic straws). Executive Chef Christophe Kassock sources fresh, local and seasonal produce for all of the property’s restaurants.

Elevators and ramps to the restaurant, spa, Odyssey pool deck, and all guest rooms ensure that spaces are wheelchair accessible. Four accessible guest rooms – three prestige rooms and one deluxe premium junior suite – are available for guests with reduced mobility.

location

The hotel’s location is enviable—as one of only two hotels off the Place du Casino square, you’ll be a short stroll from the Parisian-style brasserie Café de Paris Monte Carlo, whose rooftop is a favorite for watching the luxury cars as they drive around the casino and up to the famous Formula One Fairmont Hairpin Crew. Reserve a table on the terrace at Amazinico for some of the principality’s best sunset views, or stake out a spot across the street at Michelin-starred Le Grille, where the panoramic vista from the eighth-floor restaurant stretches all the way to the Italian coast.

Monaco is less than 45 minutes from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE), but if you really want to make the entrance (and shave time sitting in traffic), it’s a short, seven-minute helicopter transfer to Monaco—and the views from the top are worth the ride alone. Once you arrive, the valets can whisk you around the principality in the hotel’s branded electric vehicle, inspired by the open-top mini-mocks of the 1960s popular in Saint-Tropez.

Monaco is smaller than Central Park, measuring less than a square mile, so most attractions are easy to reach by foot or bus (2 per trip and Apple Pay is accepted on board). Ride-share apps won’t pick you up in Monaco, but they will drop you off in the principality if you order a ride in France or Italy. Within Monaco, taxis have a fixed rate of €18 and usually arrive quickly, except on major event weekends, such as the Grand Prix.

Book now

Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo is part of American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts and world-renowned hotels. American Express Platinum Cardholders can earn Leaders Club Points that can be redeemed for free nights at leading hotels at properties around the world, in addition to rewards like room upgrades, guaranteed late checkout, and a $100 food and beverage credit.

Nightly rates for new rooms at the Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo start at €1,250 (£1,450).

Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selection aligns with our core values.