Monte Carlo Beach

Monaco

Monaco has its own special art de vivre and its own vision of luxury. As a favorite vacation destination for international VIPs and jet setters, the Principality is more than just celebrities and glamour as those who venture through the picturesque streets of the old quarter soon learn. They discover a mixed city with Italian influences and the true spirit of the Mediterranean.

Above the famous Monaco Rock, one can observe the solemn and centuries old changing of the guard, a ceremony that perpetuates an omnipresent tradition of which the citizens of Monaco are proud. Sometimes, visitors fortunate enough to see Prince Albert II leaving the palace,t ake advantage of the moment to demonstrate their enthusiasm for the Grimaldi family. Monaco is a dream site for most people, and the Principality enhances this sensation by keeping its heritage intact. Far from the magazines and scandal reporting of the tabloids, Monaco is an extraordinary destination which should be discovered without any preconceived notions.

A private five star club

Located just a few meters outside of the Principality, Monte Carlo Beach is technically part of the commune of Roquebrune-sur-Mer, although it remains one of the jewels of Monaco’s luxury hotel industry.

Opened and inspired by Réné Léon, the administrator of the Société des Bains de Mer, for the purpose of offering its clients a “feet in the water” hotel, the Beach possesses a stunning location. Built with a curved shape on a rocky promontory it stands out in a truly distinctive manner. With its pine forest that concludes the hotel’s passage to the Mediterranean, it’s a universe of its own designed to dazzle the eyes and fulfil the desires of its guests. The hotel was built in the very 1920s Art Deco style reminiscent of California villas. As a destination for vacations and sheer pleasure, the Beach immediately became “the place to be” for the rich and famous of the period.

This success was due in large part to Elsa Maxwell, a columnist and organizer of trendy soirees, who transformed the opening of the Beach into a veritable happening. The hotel became known to everyone and was a popular topic of conversation resulting in an influx of the era’s intellectual and cultural elite. Today, the Beach maintains this special Roaring Twenties aura which has simply never ended here.

In 2008, the hotel was renovated, and decorator India Madhavi was commissioned to reaffirm its identity as an emblematic venue. Thanks to her artistry, the Beach became an “ode to the Mediterranean”, and it was also she who gave the pine forest the splendor it possesses today. Since she was unable to build higher to create more rooms as the site is protected, it was necessary to dig into the rock. 40 rooms and suites are now available to tourists who wish to enjoy the spirit of days gone by without giving up contemporary standards of luxury.

The Olympic size swimming pool, a symbol of the Beach, is as popular as ever. Old photographs displayed throughout the hotel demonstrate its popularity and especially the nonchalant atmosphere and the feeling of well being that inspired it from the outset. Relaxation and serenity are also found in the spa equipped with two treatment rooms, just a few steps from the pool.

Dining at the Beach is a gastronomic experience. The Elsa in fact was one of the first entirely organic restaurants to receive a star in the prestigious Michelin Guide. The original chef, Italian born Paolo Sari, proposes a light and creative cuisine in harmony with the seasons, and it is he personally who selects the products from local farmers.

The timeless, elegant, classic and extremely warm Monte Carlo Beach has succeeded in remaining young and carefree to the point of being almost as insolent as it was when it first opened, and it hopes to inspire its guests to maintain this same youthful spirit.

When Elsa Maxwell took over the promotion of the Beach, she put all of her energy into its creation, and her main idea was to build a veritable sand beach at the foot of the hotel! Although her dream could not be realized, the Beach today possesses an area filled with deck chairs as a passing reference to her ambitions.