CITY GUIDES / Monaco / The Gstaad Guy’s Guide to Monaco 🇲🇨

The Gstaad Guy’s Guide to Monaco 🇲🇨

Whether you live in Monaco all year round, or visit on your way from Nice to Saint-Tropez during your summer trips across the French Riviera, it’s undeniable that the principality has a lot to offer. Here are The Gstaad Guy’s favourite spots.

By The Gstaad Guy

Hotels

The Maybourne Riviera

Views
Quiet
Spa-Escape

Located just outside of Monaco in the rocky peninsula of Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, this is the perfect place for those looking to avoid the high-season crowds of Monte Carlo. Although the hotel is not beach-facing (it’s set instead on the top of a cliff), The Maybourne has a beach of its very own, Maybourne La Plage, that can be accessed exclusively by hotel guests.

Hôtel Hermitage Monte Carlo

Shopping Trips
Popping-In and Out
Cosy
Low-Season Escape

Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo is a low-season favourite for The Gstaad Guy. Located right in the centre of town, it’s naturally at its best when the peak-season tourists aren’t crowding the streets. It’s a perfect place from which to pop-out for a quick coffee, a stroll around town, or a tiny little shopping spree.

Restaurants

Cova, Palais De La Plage 🇮🇹🥐

Italian
Breakfast
Late Afternoon
Aperitivo
All Day Dining
Catching up with that friend you don’t want to see for too long
Pastries
Iced coffee

Cova is a casual breakfast or later afternoon snack/aperitivo classic in Monaco. One of the few places you’ll find healthy choices at any time, or an iced coffee with a tray of pastries.

What to order

Assortment of pastries (Cova calories don’t count in Monaco); iiced coffee of your choice; poached eggs on avocado toast.

It’s All Family (Pro-Tip)

Palais Constance Rosé is served here.

Crazy Pizza 🇮🇹🍕

Italian
Pizzeria
Lunch
Pre-Shopping Re-Fuel
Casual quick bite
Lunch
Thin & Crispy pizza
One of the few pizzas that won’t make you feel bloated

Crazy Pizza is one of The Gstaad Guy’s thin and crispy pizza classics. Their pizzas are made with a yeast-free dough, which means you don’t feel like you need a four hour nap afterwards. Plus there’s some lovely outdoor seating during lunch time.

What to order

Mains

Pizza margherita with bresaola and mushrooms, Pizza buratta, Pizza ventricina.

It’s All Family (Pro-Tip)

Palais Constance Rosé is served here.

Cipriani 🇮🇹🍝

Italian 🇮🇹
Dinner
Group Dinners
Date Night
Glamorous Night Out

All loyal viewers will be fully aware of The Gstaad Guy’s life-long love for Cipriani, and their iconic vanilla meringue cake. And his love for Cipriani Monte Carlo is just as enduring.

What to order

Starters

Artichoke salad, Beef carpaccio, Fried prawns.
Mains

Tagliolini forno, Veal farfalle.
Desserts

Vanilla meringue cake (Always).

It’s All Family (Pro-Tip)

Palais Constance Rosé is served here.

Gaia 🇬🇷🐟

Greek
Mediterranean🇬🇷
Dinner 🌙
Enjoying a leisurely dinner with your nearest and dearest (AKA people you don’t mind double-dipping with).

When you’ve had enough of Provencal cuisine and crave a meal en famille, head to Chef Izu’s Gaia Monte Carlo for your tzatziki and prawn saganaki fix. Make sure your table is on the terrace.

What to order

Starters

Sea bream carpaccio (design your bites with the different sauces), Prawn saganaki, Baked feta filo.
Mains

Lobster pasta, and choose your fish from the counter.
Desserts

The frozen Greek yoghurt and loukoumades.

It’s All Family (Pro-Tip)

Go heavy on starters and desserts, light on mains. The Gstaad Guy often doubles-up on starters, skips mains, and gets two greek yoghurts for dessert.

Rampoldi 🇮🇹🕯️

Italian 🇮🇹
Dinner 🌙
Date Night 🌹

Rampoldi is an institution that’s been around for ages, even longer than Alfred — making it a beloved staple in Monaco’s dining scene. It serves unbeatable truffle pizza that pairs well with a glass of Palais Constance Rose.

What to order

Starters

Vitello tonnato, Tuna carpaccio, Steak tartare.
Mains

Truffle pizza, Tagliatelles with beef ragout.
Desserts

Profiteroles, Tiramisu.

Cantinetta Antinori 🇮🇹🍝

Italian 🇮🇹
Dinner 🌙
Date night 🌹

One of The Gstaad Guy’s last-minute casual favourites, Cantineta Antinori are known for their exceptional pasta selection. Request outdoor seating on a warm summer night.

What to order

Every pasta on the menu. Skip the rest. Focus on what matters.

Nobu 🇯🇵🍣

Japanese 🇯🇵
Dinner (Golden Hour) 🌙
Sunset views
Date night
Group Dinner

When The Gstaad Guy is not at sea, or at the top of the Maybourne, but still wants a magnifique view from Monaco, Nobu Monte Carlo is his go-to.

What to order

Yellowtail jalapeno, New style salmon, Crispy rice tuna, Wagyu tacos, Scallop smelt egg roll, Toro and scallion roll.
Mains

Black Cod.
Desserts

Bento box with extra green tea ice cream.

It’s All Family (Pro-Tip)

Ask for Nicolas to arrange a table on the balcony — but there are only tables for two, so go tête à tête.

Bar

Twiga 🍸

Post Dinner 🍹
Drinks
Nightcap
Clubbing But Please No (A La Poubelle) Overstated Champagne Spraying Show.

Twiga is one of The Gstaad Guy’s go to nightcap spots in Monaco, and there’s no better way to enjoy a night out in Monaco than to be sipping Palais Constance cocktails and enjoying the lively scene.

What to order

Constance Cocktail (Palais Constance wine, saint- germain, everleaf mountain)

It’s All Family (Pro-Tip)

Palais Constance Rosé is served here.

Le Bar Américan🍷 🎶

Post dinner 🍹
Live band
A drink on the terrace
Jazz music

Le Bar Américan, at the Hotel De Paris is the spot to sip on a cocktail while enjoying smooth jazz and blues. Step onto the terrace for better views, where the music softens creating the perfect setting to chat with friends.

What to order

Anything you please, you are here for the atmosphere

It’s All Family (Pro-Tip)

Request Table 34. It was Frank Sinatra’s favorite, and it’s also Constance’s.

Things To Do

Monaco Open Air Cinema 🍿

If you’re looking for a causal, romantic, different soirée in Monaco, go to Monaco’s open-air cinema, set on a cliff, with sea views under the stars.

It’s All Family (Pro-Tip)

Make sure you get the VIP seats, and bring your own snacks and blankets.

Walk In The Old Town🚶‍♀️🖼️

Visit the Prince’s Palace with great views of the harbour, stroll through the Jardin Saint Martin and make sure to pick up a Santo Gelato ice cream (The Gstaad Guy recommends the pistachio).