Hanging over the edge of the Mediterranean sea, this vast hotel boasts a Nobu, Nikki Beach, and magnificent views of the Monaco Grand Prix.
Forget doing Monaco on a budget, this city state should be visited only when you’re ready to drop the big bucks. Monte Carlo, the principality’s capital, is littered with extravagant hotels. From the refined grandeur of Hotel de Paris, to the shoreline luxury of Monte Carlo Beach, the city boasts some of the most dazzling addresses on the Med. We visited Fairmont Monte Carlo, a deluxe hotel that prides itself on its remarkable number of facilities.
The architecture is very Brutalist. From the outside the building is all imposing 70s concrete and challenging lines, but inside the décor is bright and elegant. The property is softened by it’s seaside location, one of the best in Monaco. Built onto cliffs at the water’s edge, the hotel offers unobstructed panoramic sea views from many of its rooms. The structure’s immense height means it is also one of the best places to watch the annual F1 Grand Prix from, which the hotel capitalises on with numerous glitzy parties.
Facilities are superb and plentiful. 602 rooms and suites, a rooftop pool serviced by Nikki Beach, a state of the art gym, spa, bar, and three restaurants including an outpost of Nobu. The Fairmont, though only a four star hotel, offers a luxurious, contemporary stay in one of the most glamorous cities in the world.
SLEEP
The hotel’s enormous number of rooms makes it one of the largest in Europe, and certainly the largest in Monaco. It is here that the benefits of 70s architecture shine through: rooms are much bigger than typical on the Mediterranean coast and most have balconies. It is well worth splurging on one with a sea view. The décor, inspired by grand cruise ships, is light, airy, and comfortable. Shades of white, cream, and pale shades of blue and yellow are complimented by smart upholstered furniture and large squashy beds.
Bathrooms are spotlessly clean with pleasant toiletries, many also have proper soaking tubs.
RELAX
Facilities at Fairmont have all the necessary bells and whistles you would expect and then some. The hotel’s principal point of relaxation is its 7th floor rooftop pool, seasonally operated by internationally recognised beach club gurus Nikki Beach. Sun loungers are free for guests of the hotel to use, but the stylish white divans and Bali beds around the pool come at an additional charge. There is a full food, drinks, and cocktail menu, including Nikki Beach classics such as the fresh fruit platter with magnum ice creams. Regular themed pool parties are held that attract patrons from all over Monaco, out to show off their perfectly tanned and trim summer bodies.
Also on the 7th floor is the hotel’s spa. Complete with eight treatment rooms, manicure and pedicure salon, spa relaxation lounges, and both a hammam and sauna, the spa is well equipped to cater to guests many beauty demands. Adjacent to the spa is the fitness centre, a state of the art gym with an array of cardio and weight training facilities.
EAT
The three restaurants on site are all fairly casual and serve as an alternative to the many fine dining spots across the city. The hotel’s flagship is its rooftop restaurant and champagne bar Horizon, which capitalises on panoramic views across Monte Carlo, the Riviera coastline, and the Med. Food as Horizon is typical hotel cuisine with flourishes. Classic French dishes including Bouillabaisse, roasted veal, and salmon tartare are on offer alongside more international options such as paella, Iberico pork, and a superb tiramisu. On balmy summer nights the bar is a popular choice among locals, who come to luxuriate in the warm evening sun and sip on champagnes from the hotel’s extensive menu.
The hotels second and more high-profile restaurant is the Riviera’s only outpost of enduringly popular Japanese chain Nobu. The opening in 2013 was a glamorous affair attended by the Prince and Princess, and the restaurant continues to attract much of Monaco’s elite who come to dine on the famous yellowtail jalapeño, rock shrimp tempura, fish tartare tacos, and the infamous black cod miso.
Finally, Saphir 24 Bistro & Lounge Bar is the hotel’s all day dining venue just off the lobby. Open 24 hours a day, it offers everything from continental breakfast to the hotel’s afternoon tea. A full buffet breakfast is served every morning up on the 7th floor in Horizon, complete with complimentary champagne that goes down very nicely indeed.
Rooms from approximately £250 per night. Most international airports fly to Nice, and from there Monaco is a short train ride or a half hour taxi journey costing around £60.
