The List

Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo

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Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo

Monaco

A Mediterranean mainstay with A-list appeal

In a nutshell: The grandest of grande dames, Hôtel de Paris has reigned supreme over Monaco's Place du Casino since 1864. Facing the hypnotic blue of the Med and flanked by frondescence, this belle époque darling doesn't wear her glitz on her sleeve, she's too classy for that – a discreet white awning is the only marker of her presence... if you ignore the high-rolling line up of supercars out front that is. A 2019 revamp brought the gilded, hallowed halls bang up to date, retaining its palatial feel while adding contemporary edge.

Tell me more: Pierre-Yves Rochon hones a marvellous marriage of heritage architecture and modern design. The sweeping lobby delivers showstopping grandeur while an interior courtyard is sculpted by marble colonnades and leggy palms (plus press for service buttons, so you never have to leave). Elsewhere, 206 rooms epitomise refinement with muted hues, blonde wood and art deco motifs; bathrooms drip with marble and even the smallest rooms come with balconies. A duo of Diamond Suites reveal private pools; there's also a sea-facing chic rooftop pool and wellness club. 

Any notable guests? The hotel's been drawing A-Listers from day one. Little surprise the guestbook reads like a who's who of the last century: Rita Hayworth, Winston Churchill, Stevie Wonder, Nelson Mandela, Frank Sinatra, Princess Grace, Marlene Dietrich, Lady Gaga, Sylvester Stallone and Andy Warhol have all laid their heads here. Its movie-star good looks also earnt it starring roles in two James Bond movies. 

And the food? The reputation of the restaurants here precede them. A lodestar for gourmands, Le Louis XV serves Mediterranean haute cuisine under the watchful gaze of Alain Ducasse and chef Emmanuel Pilon; it was the first-ever hotel restaurant to gain the full trio of Michelin stars 35 years ago. Rooftop Le Grill, with its sliding roof and views across three countries is a more relaxed affair but with no less culinary clout. Then there's Em Sherif, a laid-back Lebanese-leaning experience with stonking views and vibey DJ sets. 

What about the wine cellar? In a word: epic. Secreted in the belly of the hotel, this extraordinary oenophilic domain is helmed by 14 first-rate sommeliers and stands as the world's largest hotel cellar. There are around 6,000 varieties to be found here, with French bins given prominence in the rare collection. Le Pin, Petrus, Romanée Conti are present and accounted for and there's even an 1803 cognac. Overwhelmed? Head to glamourous Le Bar Américain – the stuff of hotel legend – to enjoy a libation and mingle with Monaco's idiosyncratic crowd. 

Sidenote: Guests get first dibs on loungers at the lauded Monte-Carlo Beach Club. Open since 1928, expect a sun-baked Olympic-sized saltwater pool, terracotta diving board and retro parasols, a private beach, water sports facilities, four restaurants and people watching par excellence.

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