Monaco is the epitome of sophistication and class when it comes to wining and dining and we were keen to experience some of the most famous and highly rated hotspots. Here is a brief review of the restaurants and bars we had the pleasure of trying during our long weekend in Monte-Carlo.

*Cafe De Paris

For 150 years, it has been the beating heart of Monaco. Standing proudly on the Place du Casino, the Café De Paris Monte-Carlo is one of the legends of the Principality. An iconic brasserie where celebrities and artists, locals and visitors alike enjoy meeting up at any time of the day, whatever the occasion, to enjoy the art of living, a coffee, something sweet, or a meal to share.

We enjoyed an aperitif at the spectacular feature bar before being seated at our cosy booth table for dinner.

The opulent interiors give art deco vibes and the rich red and gold tones add to the grandeur of the main dining room.

I had a classic Caesar salad with prawns and a side of mixed vegetables; simple yet delicious.

My boyfriend had the roast farmhouse chicken served with vegetables and baby new potatoes.

Everything was exquisite and the service impeccable as you’d expect, a 10/10 fabulous experience at the famous Cafe De Paris Monte-Carlo.

We also went back for a coffee and cake overlooking the Monte-Carlo square on a sunny Sunday afternoon and it was delightful.

*Neptune

Located on Monaco’s Larvotto Beach in a chic and relaxed atmosphere, Neptune offers a creative menu of Mediterranean flavours.

We dined al fresco on the Saturday evening surrounded by palm trees and fairy lights with a live DJ too, making for the perfect date night vibes.

To start we shared the ham and cheese croquettes which were just divine.

For main course I opted for the grilled octopus in a rich marinara sauce served on top of a crisp potato rosti, a deliciously different and tasty dish.

It was an old favourite for my boyfriend, the margarita pizza topped with sun-dried tomatoes, burrata and basil. Service was superb and the chilled al fresco atmosphere made for ideal date night scenes.

*Song Qi

On our final night we were craving a different cuisine, so we found Song Qi Chinese which looked luxurious with it’s beautiful interiors featuring silky green banquettes and flower walls.

Opening in 2014 and born from the gastronomic passion of Riccardo Giraudi, the goal of Song Qi is to provide Monte-Carlo a modern fine dining Chinese restaurant.

For entrées we shared the duck lettuce wraps and a smoked chicken hot and sour soup.

The stir-fried shiitake mushrooms and vegetables in a Piri Piri sauce was my choice for main, whilst my boyfriend had the chicken Kung Po with cashew nut and chillis and we shared a portion of jasmine rice.

Despite the spicy heat of our dishes, it was all exquisite and by far the best Chinese food we’ve had for a long time.

*Amazonica

Moving onto bars, we went to Amazonica upon recommendation from a friend as well as lots of hype about it online.

On a Friday night it was very busy, but we managed to get a table for drinks on the rooftop with a view of the Monte-Carlo skyline.

We ordered three fun cocktails including a smokey mojito, a classic espresso martini and the star of the show, a sweet concoction served in this awesome jaguar head.

Whilst the cocktails were tasty and the vibes on point for a Friday night, unfortunately we had to vacate our table after an hour and just to stand at the bar. I would recommend making a reservation beforehand to avoid this situation, but otherwise it’s a very cool and trendy place with aesthetic interiors.

*Buddah Bar

An exotic and chic venue at the heart of Monte Carlo, Buddha Bar is the trendiest restaurant-bar-lounge in the heart of Monaco. This establishment offers a decor inspired by the Garnier Opera House in Paris, with a subtle mixture of gilded mouldings, ancient sculptures and a colonial Asian setting.

We found ourselves here on the Saturday night following our dinner at Neptune for night cap cocktails. I went super spicy whilst my boyfriend chose a sweet cocktail.

Sat at the main bar area with the giant buddha statue overlooking us, this is another fabulous spot for drinks which echoes that old school money sophistication and glamour of Monaco.

*Le Note Bleue

During our first stroll down to the beach front, we stopped at Le Note Bleue for an afternoon drink in the glorious sunshine. I’d seen online this was a highly rated spot and we got talking to a local couple there with their dog who said it’s their favourite restaurant in the area.

With the French Riviera style white umbrellas and palms decorating the terrace seating, it’s the most picturesque setting for an afternoon lunch or drink on the beach.

So that’s my roundup of the best restaurants and bars we tried whilst in Monaco and there’s no denying the excellent standard of gastronomy; what else would you expect from the land of the rich and wealthy!?

Cheers to a weekend of the chicest wining and dining experiences in Monaco ❤