Hotel of the Week: Hotel Métropole, Monte-Carlo

Crossing the border from the edge of Nice into Monaco feels like a fated rite of passage. Swirling around the hills, envisioning yourself in the passenger seat of a cherry-red convertible rather than whatever transfer you've landed with, winding closer towards the glistening hub of F1 drivers and superyacht soirées.

Sitting on the Carré d'Or – Monte-Carlo's Golden Square – Hotel Métropole could not be more centrally placed, just moments from the Opera House and Casino de Monte-Carlo and, for those stepping off the deck of a yacht, a short walk from the berthing spots of Port Hercule. Dating from 1886, the Belle Époque-style hotel has been granted two Michelin Keys, layering up its luxe accreditation on top of the existing two Michelin-starred restaurant on-site.

Despite its aristocratic heritage, Hotel Métropole hasn’t failed to keep things modern and fresh in both outlook and amenities: from partnering with legendary French perfume house, Guerlain, for the state-of-the-art spa to bringing in the monochrome design philosophy of Karl Lagerfeld for the Odyssey Pool.  Arriving at the entrance through a secret garden of palm and cypress trees, you are greeted with chiselled Grecian-style statues and a Renaissance courtyard draped in vibrant ivy. A pristine, almost untouchable façade that softens the moment you step through the doors.

The Rooms

I was pleased to spend the night in a Deluxe Premium Junior Suite, one of 45 refreshed rooms designed by Jacques Garcia as part of the first phase of Hotel Métropole's expansive renovation. A capsule of happy yellow hues with Acqua di Parma products to match, the suite's statement wall is delicately embroidered with vines of blossoming florals – a motif that continues across the room's upholstery, layered upon a striped yellow base reminiscent of Amalfi Coast beach towels.

The bathroom is a sure highlight, paved with antiqued mirror walls and centred around a cast-iron bathtub that reflects the harlequin-tiled floor into an endless geometric pattern. And then there is what one always hopes for in a suite: an enormous bed that envelops you in a cloud of fluffy down and crisp sheets, inviting you to sprawl, stretch and starfish to your heart's content.

Wellness

What was once the Givenchy Spa at Hotel Métropole has been transformed into Spa Métropole by Guerlain, another key stage in the hotel’s renovations. A serene, gilded space of bedazzled honeybees, lined with elegant bottles of Guerlain fragrance, every element across the spa embraces the craft and heritage of the French perfume house. Though Guerlain spas exist in other luxury hotels across the globe, from the Waldorf Astoria in New York to Raffles London at The OWO, the Spa Métropole has striven for originality with select treatments that can only be experienced in Monte-Carlo. One to note is the Monaco Glow Facial. Using expert techniques with white quartz tools and cotton veils to leave you with lit-from-within skin, and finished with a touch of makeup (if you wish), it presents itself as the perfect pre-event facial that’ll have you gleaming.

The tailor-made facial I experienced was truly immersive. The therapist places a focus on scent within the space – all Guerlain, of course – tailored for you, and it was one of the most attentive facials I have experienced, from consultation through to completion, accurately identifying your skin's needs and ensuring the right products were used from the portfolio on hand. In a state of sublime relaxation, with skin left fresh and dewy, you are then led into a calm, dim-lit room, still alive with Guerlain scent, to enjoy Métropole-made sweet treats and a steaming cup of herbal tea.

Food and Drink

Sometimes restaurants that are highly accredited have a habit of feeling a little uptight or overly serious. Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac, Hotel Métropole's two Michelin-starred restaurant, is among some of the most highly regarded restaurants in the world, but at no stage does it ever feel uptight. It is a place where the food is great and the ambience even greater, thanks to Marco Tognon, who leads the show in the dining room and was awarded the Michelin Service Award 2026 for his vigour in doing so. The team are energetic and warm, as is the setting, where a lengthy tasting menu rolled out before us. A standout dish for me was the sea bream tartare, stuffed inside caviar cannelloni – a delicate tube entirely encased in the perfectly salty black pearls.

Then there's the famous lobster lasagne, which is more abstractly put together than the uniform layers of a traditional lasagne. Fine, fresh ribbons of pasta flow over the plate, tucking away supple tails of lobster and leaves of spinach and tarragon that balance out the dish's richness.

Be sure to try and save some space for the sweet trolley. A dessert lover's dream on wheels, stacked with pies, tarts and gâteau galore, it is tough to know where to start, but Marco will guide you to whatever treat you didn't know you were craving. The cinnamon tart is a surprisingly light and warming way to bring your meal to a close, before heading to the hotel's lobby bar for a cheeky nightcap. This is a space where the regal décor of the Belle Époque era has been retained, with candlesticks wherever you look, deep burgundy tones and glistening gold detailing all around. Look to the walls and there are framed artworks from the likes of Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, a sumptuous setting in which to sip the night away.

Find out more about Hotel Métropole Monte-Carlo and book your stay via metropole.com