If you’re in the French or Italian Rivieras this summer and fancy soaking up the sun in a laid-back but luxurious setting where you may see a celebrity or two, it’s well worth heading to a Monaco beach club.
But first, a word about what you missed…
The glamorous Principality is in the throes of dismantling the grandstands after the annual descent of VIPs and jetsetters for the FIA Formula One Grand Prix at the end of May. As every year, the whole city-state partied and an A-list of royalty and stars added to the sparkle of the famous Amber Lounge events. The three days of Amber Lounge festivities started with the traditional fashion show, where F1 drivers were once again among the models showing off the creations of famous designers. Amber Lounge yachts were the place to be for luxury race viewing, while the exuberant after parties demonstrated that the event organisers are still as creative as they were when the first Amber Lounge events took place back in 2003.
These pop-up Grand Prix events attracted a very long list of celebrities and royalty, including HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, Lady Victoria Hervey, Olivia Culpo, Pamela Anderson and Mike Tindall. If you missed out on these, you can at least find a great beach club or beach restaurant. Monaco has many and knows how to make you feel special. Here’s our pick.
Nikki Beach, Fairmont Hotel
VIPs and fashionistas make a beeline for the dizzy heights of Nikki Beach, which isn’t actually on the beach. The Monaco iteration of the popular beach franchise sets up on the seventh floor of the Fairmont Hotel from early April until 29th September. The poolside beach experience makes up for any lack of saltwater and sand with views of the Principality overlooking the Grand Prix track and the sea.
This Monaco beach club is open from 9am to 2am allowing plenty of opportunity for sunning and socialising. The vibe is distinctly stylish and relaxed as jet setters and celebrities bask on luxurious loungers under golden rays by day and party under the stars by night. The restaurant serves up an international menu including sushi, seafood and salads, accompanied by champagne and cocktails.
La Rose des Vents Restaurant, Monte Carlo
A sea of red parasols and loungers welcome you when you enter La Rose des Vents on Larvotto Beach. This is Monaco’s classic beach club, set in its own sandy corner right at the water’s edge and backed by greenery close to the Grimaldi Forum. The sea views are magnificent and it’s worth booking a lounger for a day. You can eat in the restaurant or outside on the beach until 10.30 every night. It’s a calm and refined setting for one of the best-known beach restaurants in Monaco. The attentive staff serve customers a variety of steak, pizza, risotto and fresh seafood dishes prepared by chef Driss Jadir. The cool vibe of this seaside area prompts some visitors to look for a Larvotto property for sale.
Le Tigre Monte-Carlo
Although it is located in the diminutive city-state, Le Tigre Monte-Carlo couldn’t be further from the hustle and bustle of Monaco’s commercial district. This is the Monaco beach club to visit when you crave nature and balance. The location in the grounds of the Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel certainly sets the scene with lush pine forests to one side and the Mediterranean Sea to the other. The hotel has a Green Globe certification in recognition of its commitment to sustainable development.
The focus is less on hedonism and more on reconnecting with the elements. It is all about pure living and relaxation. The 80-square-metre spa has three treatment and massage cabanas. For those who want to improve their bodies and minds, meditation, pilates and yoga classes take place in nature on the hotel’s pontoon or dock. Replenish yourself with 100% organic food at Elsa or sample Le Tigre house recipes at the juice bar.
La Note Bleue Beach Club
La Note Bleue is Monaco’s “casual chic” beach club, and it has arguably the best seaside location right on Larvotto Beach. Dine on quality pasta and salads with the sea mere metres away at one of the most popular beach restaurants in Monaco. White cotton lounge furniture creates a sophisticated and elegant ambience from April to October. The beach and garden setting of La Note Bleue is a relaxing place to while away the hours as day turns into night and the jazz bands begin to play. The modern restaurant has a terrace with white shades that stretch above like yacht sails, shading the area by day and basking in warm candlelight by night. This year, a machine called ‘The Mist’ has been introduced to envelop you in a cool refreshing mist to counteract the heat of the Monaco sun.
