Majestic; having or showing impressive beauty or scale…and Monaco sure was that in every way!
From the grand beauty of the famous Monte-Carlo Casino Square, to the magnificent Prince’s Palace overlooking the stunning harbour filled with millionaire’s super yachts, every corner of the city is a spotless, picture perfect moment.
So here is a completion of those cinematic scenes from our holiday to Monaco, complete with slow motion clips to fully channel my inner Bond Girl starring in her own music video.
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 ❤
During our time in Monaco we dived into the Monegasque way of life and indulged in a spot of luxury shopping around the Avenue Des Beaux-Arts area.
It was in Dior that my boyfriend made his special purchase of the trip and treated himself to an awesome pair of Dior trainers.
I found myself also tempted by the glamorous boutique of Christian Dior and before I knew it, I was trying on the classic Dior printed slides I’ve always lusted after.
With our two months in Bali coming up in the new year, it seemed the perfect excuse to invest in a beautiful pair of statement shoes for the evenings.
The benefit of designer shopping abroad is you get the tax back on your purchases at the airport, which in France is 12%. I paid 690 euros for my Dior Slides which came to about £580, then I received £63 tax back when I returned to the UK.
It’s very easy to process the refund as the shop fills out all of the forms which you then validate by simply scanning at the machine in the airport, you just have to have your passport on you when you make the purchase in store.
I couldn’t wait to wear my new Diors and they matched my outfit perfectly, so changed into them straight away for a photo in Monte-Carlo Casino Square.
On our first day in Monaco, we needed some supplies and snacks to have at our Airbnb so we went to the local supermarket.
To our delight, the local Le Marche U was a brilliant store much like a Wholefoods market with numerous fresh food counters and wonderful organic fruits and vegetables.
We got plenty of goodies including a generous portion of homemade lasagne for my boyfriend and a pot of Greek salad which we had for lunch on our balcony at the Airbnb.
I also couldn’t resist some French cheese from the gloriously large cheese counter. A jar of fig chutney, rustic sourdough crackers and a pot of olives was the perfect pairing for our cheese.
I had to have a photo back at the Dior shop in my evening dress as they had a cute seating area just outside, complete with palms and statement Dior printed cushions.
I did browse a few vintage shops around Monte-Carlo too and there were some great, unique designer pieces, but I still couldn’t justify a Chanel handbag for 8,000 euros…!
We were chuffed with our designer shoes from Christian Dior and I can’t wait to match with my boyfriend on evenings out in Bali.
Cheers to experiencing the ultra luxurious and lavish Monegasque way of life ❤
As a haven for the super rich and a playground for tourists, Monaco is a truly unique country located on the picturesque Cote d’Azur.
Visiting in late September, the weather was mild but still warm making it the perfect temperature for walking around and exploring the city on foot.
We stayed in an Air BnB on the boarder in Beausoleil, just a 10 minute walk to the central square of Monte Carlo and equally close to Monaco Beach.
On our first evening we strolled to the famous Monte Carlo Casino Square where there was a line-up of supercars including a Rolls Royce and a classic red Ferrari.
We then made our way down to the harbour to spot those mega yachts as the sunset over the mountains.
My all white fit with a touch of blue stripes was giving nautical vibes, very fitting for our first evening in Monaco harbour.
On our second day we took an open top bus tour to explore the entire country and see the most iconic tourist attractions.
Whenever we visit a new city we always try to take a hop-on hop-off tour, as they are the best way to discover the best spots and helps get our bearings.
It was amazing to see Monte Carlo from above when walking around the palace grounds.
We wandered around the Prince’s palace and surrounding area where we also stumbled upon the Cathedral and Monaco Museum.
Continuing on the bus tour, we saw the second harbour with yet more incredible super yachts and epic boats.
We completed the tour back towards the centre of Monte Carlo where we found the famed hair pin corner on the route of the F1 track.
People gather on this corner to spot the many supercars casually driving around Monaco; I’ve never seen so many Lamborghinis and Ferraris in one place!
Despite it being a built up city, Monaco has many stunning gardens providing a peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds.
There is even a beautiful Japanese Garden complete with serene seating areas overlooking the ponds and waterfalls.
I felt very European, French Riviera in my striped shorts, white babydoll crop top, silk neck scarf and basket bag.
The streets of Monaco are so clean and pristine, there’s not an inch out of place.
On the Saturday night we went down to the beach front for golden hour drinks and date night dinner.
I wore this figure hugging floor length floral dress paired with my Senso heeled mules, By Alona pearl necklace, oversized floral earrings and crochet clutch bag.
Feeling very sophisticated, very demure ❤
We were told that the French village of Eze was a must to visit during our time in Monaco too.
Just a 15 minute bus ride out of Monaco, Eze was easy to get to and a lovely day trip out of the city.
We walked around the historic streets of the small village built upon a hill above Monaco and visited Le Jardin Exotique with sweeping views of the South coast.
We concluded our day trip to Eze with lunch at a traditional brasserie complete with gorgeous wine and sunshine of course.
There’s no denying it, Monaco is literally an adult’s playground for the rich and wealthy.
Everywhere you turn there’s another supercar and the price to eat and drink out certainly matched the calibre of guests!
On our final night we browsed the car dealership windows lusting after the awesome new models gleaming back at us.
I wore my C’est Normal forever pants paired with a backless halter neck top, my Abbott Lyon gold chain necklace, square toe nude mule heels and Sandro green velvet handbag.
We had to take a final stroll to Monte Carlo Casino Square on our last night and see what supercars were in the lineup.
And with that I strutted out of Monte Carlo Square in style marking the end to an amazing long weekend in Monaco.
We loved our short but sweet time in the unique principality of Monaco. Perhaps next time we’ll drive from the UK to the South of France in our very own supercar… that would be the dream ❤
Next week we are flying to Nice to spend a short week in the Principality of Monaco. Nestled between the sea and the mountains this unique country has so much to offer in its two square kilometres, from historic establishments and stunning coastline, to exceptional food and luxury shopping.
As one of the wealthiest countries in the world and home to many millionaires, I’m expecting to see glamorous residents cruising around in their super cars and hanging out on their mega yachts in the harbour.
I’m excited to explore the city on foot whilst browsing the shops and sipping cocktails at a chic harbour bar overlooking the French Riviera.
We don’t have a specific plan for our time in Monaco, however I’ve done some initial research to get recommendations on the top places to visit on https://www.visitmonaco.com/en
So stay tuned to hear all about our late summer holiday in my Monaco Diaries ❤
Dani Aneka 