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Hermitage.
$$$$ | HOTEL | They’ve all been here—kings, queens, Pavarotti in jeans—among the riot of frescoes and plaster flourishes embellished with gleaming brass in this landmark yet relatively low-profile 1900 hotel set back a block from the casino scene. This is where the mink-and-Vuarnets set comes not to be seen. Even if you’re not staying here, walk through the lobby to admire the glass-dome Art Nouveau vestibule, designed by Gustav Eiffel. The best rooms face the sea or angle toward the port. At the formal and sophisticated Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Vistamar, chef Joël Garault buys his seafood from a local Monégasque fisherman. Its broad terrace offers one of the most glamorous dining settings in Monaco. Ask about the VIK program for kids, which includes in-room lollipops and coloring books or the Romantic Moments package for adults with its 36 red roses and White Tattinger champagne. Pros: unrivaled meals and views at La Vistamar, a Michelin-starred restaurant; gorgeous interiors. Cons: can be noisy due to ongoing renovations nearby; no free Wi-Fi in rooms (only in public areas). | Rooms from: €715 | Sq. Beaumarchais | 377/98–06–40–00 | www.hotelhermitagemontecarlo.com | 190 rooms, 88 suites | No meals.
Fodor’s Choice | Hôtel Métropole.
$$$$ | HOTEL | This Belle Époque hotel, set on land that once belonged to Pope Leon XIII, has pulled out all the stops in its decor—famed Paris designer Jacques Garcia has given the rooms his signature hyper-aristocratic look and Karl Lagerfield is the architect behind The Odyssey pool and lounge; it also has the unique distinction of housing two Michelin-starred restaurants. Christophe Cussac runs the open kitchen day to day at the impeccable two-star Joël Robuchon Monte-Carlo and Yoshi, his one-star sushi eatery. If you don’t want a full-blown meal, lighter food is served all day in the super-hip bar. At Espa you can indulge in an age-defying facial or one of the other signature treatments. Pros: flawless and attentive service; free newspapers and Hermès products; impeccable design. Cons: food is so superb you won’t want to eat anywhere else. | Rooms from: €640 | 4 av. de la Madone | 377/93–15–15–15 | www.metropole.com | 62 rooms, 64 suites | Some meals.
Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel.
$$$$ | HOTEL | Perched on a 10-acre peninsula, with 75% of its rooms offering sea views, this highly acclaimed luxury resort—which immodestly bills itself as “a natural Eden reinvented”—seeks to evoke the Côte d’Azur’s 1920s heyday with its neoclassical columns and arches, exotic gardens, lagoon swimming pool, casino, and concert hall. It might all seem just a little over the top, but there is no denying the spaciousness and comfort of the rooms, nor the appeal of the sandy-bottomed lagoon stretching out toward the sea. If the helipad and yacht mooring seem superfluous, then you probably don’t belong here. There are four restaurants to choose from, the best of which is the Michelin-starred Blue Bay, where chef Marcel Ravin serves world cuisine in a hip contemporary setting. Massages are available at the award-winning Cinq Mondes spa. Pros: ultraluxurious rooms, including sofas on balconies; tea, coffee, and magazines offered in rooms; never need to leave the hotel. Cons: late check-in time of 4 pm; Wi-Fi in rooms costs extra. | Rooms from: €670 | 40 av. Princesse Grace | 377/98–06–20–00 | www.montecarlobay.com | 293 rooms, 41 suites | No meals.