Welcome to โOn The Townโ โ B.H.โs cure for the common city guide. In our signature travel series, we lean on some of the most astute tastemakers in Australia (and occasionally, from abroad). The brief? Fresh and thoroughly road-tested intel on all the destinations, global and domestic, worth trekking to.
Effortlessly animated, endlessly charming, and imbued with the kind of good taste you read about in books, Andrea Parmegiani is the man to listen to if youโre looking to spend your time well โ especially in Monaco. Having lived in the principality for the last seven years, Andrea knows his way around Monaco better than most, making him the perfect travel guide for any discerning visitors.
Andrea originally moved to Monaco to work alongside his father, Davide Parmegiani, at the auction house Monaco Legend Group, where his father is co-chairman. As a result, he spends his days meeting with the worldโs most important car and watch collectors, travelling the world to showcase the treasures consigned to MLG, and enjoying la dolce vita in the truest sense of the phrase.
โ[Monaco] is a very small city, but at the same time, itโs packed with so many places that you still need to know where to go,โ he laughs.
โItโs not so easy to find the best places, which is why most people are drawn to the Casino Square, where the most touristy bars and restaurants are.โ
To avoid the tourist traps and have a truly unforgettable stay in the billionaireโs playground that is Monaco, read on.
Stay
Hรดtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
โThe best hotel, if youโre looking to have the best time, though itโs the most expensive, is the Hรดtel de Paris Monte-Carlo right in the centre of Casino Square.โ
โThe hotel was renovated not so long ago, and inside is Le Bar Amรฉricain, one of the coolest bars in Monaco. They have very good live music, incredible singers, and a fantastic atmosphere if you want to have a nice evening.โ
Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort
But if youโre after more spectacle and drama, Andrea suggests the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort:
โAnother hotel that I really like is Monte-Carlo Bay, which is a four-star hotel located right on the sea, about a 20-minute walk from the Casino Square. Itโs really nice because itโs got a classic vacation vibe, like a big Las Vegas-style hotel, and thereโs a casino insideโฆ You really get a sense of what holidaying in Monaco is like.โ
Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel
โOne hotel Iโve never stayed at but have heard is really cool is the Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel, which is a little bit further away, but is really nice if you want to have a relaxing time.โ
With a private beach, Olympic-sized swimming pool, and just 40 rooms and suites, the Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel is indeed a secluded oasis not far from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.
โItโs quite romantic, cosy, and also located directly on the water.โ
Eat
Chez Pierre
Service should matter when youโre spending your hard-earned money at a restaurant, which is why Chez Pierre is Andreaโs favourite venue in Monaco.
โChez Pierre is a French brasserie restaurant opened by Chef Pierre, who, for 30 years, was the manager of the Cipriani in Monte Carlo.โ
โI heard about Pierre when he worked at Cipriani, and he was the most incredible manager during the 80s and 90s. He would remember everyoneโs names even without writing them down โ if you hadnโt been to Ciprianiโs in a year, he would remember your name.โ
โNow, the level of service at Chez Pierre is truly at a top level; heโs a true professional at what he does. They do French cuisine at the highest level you can imagine, but at the same time, itโs quite an easy, elegant place to enjoy. Itโs quite difficult to find for some tourists, but if you can find it, I promise youโll eat very well.โ
Great service and great food โ it doesnโt get much better than that.
Cantinetta Antinori
Another of the best dining venues in Monaco is Cantinetta Antinori, a string of restaurants that first opened in Florence in 1957.
โTheyโve got a great area to sit outside, and I think itโs a good restaurant for lunches and dinners because itโs got a very nice atmosphere. They always have live music in the evening, itโs totally Italian style food, which is really good, and I go there quite often.โ
Drink
Hรดtel Mรฉtropole Monte-Carlo Lobby Bar
While Andrea adores Le Bar Amรฉricain in the Hรดtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, another of his favourite venues to enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail is the lobby bar inside the Hรดtel Mรฉtropole Monte-Carlo.
โItโs the best bar as far as location in Monaco โ itโs so cool how the structure inside looks. I donโt recommend my friends to stay at the hotel, because itโs really old and the price is expensive, but the lobby bar is beautiful for a drink in a relaxed atmosphere.โ
The bar is also home to a serious art collection, including two works by Pablo Picasso, one by Andy Warhol, and another by Francis Bacon.
Shop
Andrea admits he isnโt much of a shopper. On the odd occasion when heโs after decent clothing, however, he visits Jean Jacques โ a multi-brand retailer of fine menswear thatโs home to names like Kiton, Canali, John Lobb, and more.
โItโs good because you can find things at all different prices. Kiton can be pretty expensive, but Jean Jacques has their own label too, which is still very nice and less expensive.โ
While Jean Jacques isnโt located in the heart of Monacoโs shopping district, itโs a city that obviously has every luxury brand you can think of, so if youโre hunting a specific label, head to the Carrรฉ dโOr district for all the bigger brands.
As far as watches? When Andrea wants to go looking for rare vintage timepieces, jewellery, or furniture, he heads for a walk down Boulevard des Moulins, home to everything from art galleries to coffee shops.
Play
Monte-Carlo Beach Club
The Monte-Carlo Beach Club, adjoining the Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel, is a private beach area that gives guests access to its pool, watersports activities, and restaurants. Access is complimentary for guests of the hotel, though visitors can pay a single-day fee for access too.
โItโs a place that people who live in Monaco will spend their days at during the summer. I definitely recommend it if you want something to do during the days.โ
NYX Monte-Carlo
Once youโve spent the day lounging by the pool, Monaco is also home to more than a few world-class nightclubs, with one of Andreasโ picks being NYX Monte-Carlo.
โI think itโs been open for two years now, and itโs a really cool club. In theory, itโs a private membersโ club, but if you go there nicely dressed with some friends, itโs not strictly restricted to members only.โ
If youโve enjoyed this Monaco-focused edition of โOn The Townโ with Andrea Parmegiani, here are a few more of our favourite travel stories to keep you reading:
