Published 22 June 2021
Monaco is spoilt for choice when it comes to destination venues, from the inner sanctums of cosy night clubs to the sun-kissed elegance of rooftop terrace bars. Catering for year-round clientele who expect nothing but the best, Monaco’s finest bars more than deliver on beach bar jazz vibes, Mediterranean sea views and dancing the night away to the sound of international DJs.
The Casino de Monte-Carlo is a bastion of the Monaco nightlife. Located in the emblematic Place du Casino, its stunning Belle Époque architecture was designed by Charles Garnier. It’s one of the most exclusive gambling houses in the world and is so befitting of a James Bond visit that Never Say Never Again and Golden Eye were both filmed here. Just a short stroll from Port Hercules, it’s the perfect location to sit back and drink in your surroundings with a dry vodkatini to hand.
Wall-to-wall with chandeliers and frescoes, Casino de Monte-Carlo houses three of Monaco’s best-kept secrets. The Café de la Rotonde is a peaceful haven ideal for sipping on exquisite cocktails. The Salle Europe Bar is where the action happens.
Dripping in gilding and bas-reliefs, its majestic proportions are filled with live music and the patter of chips on felt. But for those who hold a My Monte-Carlo Gold, Platinum and Privé card, the exclusive Salle Blanche Bar with its hand-crafted mosaics and terrace gaming tables overlooking the Mediterranean is the embodiment of luxury itself.
Open every day from 2pm to midnight, there is no official dress code though proper attire is expected. This rules out flip flops, shorts and sport shoes and looks kindly upon gentlemen in a blazer. The law enforces a strict Monte Carlo casino age limit of over 18, and Photo ID is required to enter.
The casino once generated over 95 percent of the Principality’s revenue, but today only visitors can wager under its roof after a 1987 law prohibited any Monégasque citizens from entering or playing, including the Princely family.
For the past 25 years, Sass Café has served as the heart of Monaco’s fine dining, live music and resident DJ scene. The venue begins each night as a cosy, elegant restaurant with indoor seating and terrace service. Serving indulgent gastronomy paired with a wine flight selected by the in-house sommelier, it later transforms into a flamboyant night club where glitterati from around the world dance the night away.
Guests dine in comfort while enjoying live vocal and instrumental performances. When the tables are cleared, the beats drop, and the dancefloor comes alive.
For those keen on experiencing the thrill of Sass Café in a more discreet setting, a private lounge located to the rear of the venue is available for hire.
The club gets going around 1am every evening and winds up at 4am. Embracing a home from home vibe, the Sass Café dress code is chic casual, excluding shorts for men.
As the rooftop bar at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel in Monaco’s Larvotto neighbourhood, Le Blue Gin is where you head for sprawling Mediterranean vistas. Nicknamed the ‘waterfront’ by those in the know, the cocktail lounge occupies exclusive beachfront real estate with a heated outdoor terrace for year-round enjoyment.
Le Blue Gin is only set two floors up, but it affords some of the best rooftop views in town. Also known for being one of the best restaurants in Monaco with a view, it serves a menu of delicious bar bites curated by Chef Marcel Ravin to enjoy against a glowing Monaco sunset.
For those who enjoy smoking a shisha, Blue Gin’s dedicated hookah terrace is just the ticket.
Le Blue Gin is the ideal venue for a quiet apéritif. Later into the night, especially during weekends, the atmosphere livens up as resident DJ Nicolas Saad spins his vibrant disco funk tunes on the decks.
This venue is set a little further away from the main attractions, but it’s worth the effort.
Few establishments shine like Twiga Monte-Carlo. The place to be seen when in town, it pairs a destination restaurant serving mouth-watering dishes with a raft of carefully crafted cocktails. Once the sun has set, Twiga’s African-themed nightclub takes over.
Not long after being founded by Flavio Briatore, Twiga earned a reputation for being the best club in Monaco. Sports stars, fashion models and the world’s elite flock here each night to enjoy pre-dinner drinks with sea views before diving head-first into the pan-Asian menu with an Italian twist.
Bringing international flavour and the spice of life, here is where you come to be seen.
In 2018, Twiga moved to its current location on the second floor of the Grimaldi Forum. There is no strict dress code, which suits the laidback and relaxed ambience.
But if you fancy dressing up in your finest glad rags you won’t look or feel out of place.
Hôtel de Paris’ American Bar is a must-see when visiting the Principality. Situated in one of the most iconic hotels in the world alongside the dizzy heights of three Michelin-starred restaurant Louis XV, Le Bar Americain is a sleek expensive drinking hole in the classic American bar mould. Featuring dark wood panelling, burnished leather armchairs and large windows that look out onto the salty sea, it’s a hideaway to head for.
Oozing 1920s sex appeal, American Bar matches its gentlemen’s club décor with a signature cocktail menu that dazzles. Defined by its seasonal selection of drinks, guests are delighted anew with each visit.
Sample the fresh mandarin orange flavours of Pulcinella, sup on a Pira Villosum with a refreshing pear and cardamom combo and indulge in a Nutcracker with Grey Goose vodka by Alain Ducasse and hazelnut syrup.
The cosy bar indoors will proffer live jazz from the grand piano and Champagne at every turn, but some of the best entertainment takes place on the terrace, a people watcher’s paradise overlooking Place du Casino.
It's a very special destination, famed across the world, so reservations are recommended.
La Note Bleue provides the best of both worlds; an exclusive private beach bar by day with daybed loungers positioned on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea and a destination jazz bar by night from where soulful blues ring out across the port
Taking beach club living to a whole new level, the canopied space is calved into dedicated socialising spaces for relaxing and dining.
World fusion cuisine is served from midday with daily specials changing with the season, and a tasting menu available to those keen to sample the very best of Chef Laurent Paya’s enchanting cuisine.
Open between April and October, La Note Bleue is a celebrated evening jazz lounge where world famous artists flock to perform.
Live concerts take place from Wednesday to Saturday, with three-hour performances commencing at 9pm. Throughout June, July and August its jazz festival programme is a must.
To find out more about Burgess’ yachts for sale and yachts for charter, please contact a Burgess broker. Alternatively, get in touch with one of our offices directly: London, Monaco, New York, Miami, Singapore or all other locations.
- Yachts, prices and availability are correct at the time of publication.
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