Elite Traveler May-June 2015

elite traveler MAY/JUNE 2015 ISSUE 3 115

In its glory days Cap Estel, which sits on a secluded five-acre mini-peninsula of subtropical gardens near the border with Monaco, was the Riviera’s swankiest celebrity hangout, frequented by the likes of the Kennedys, Winston Churchill and The Beatles. Still popular with filmstars and popstars, this wedding-cake-white, stucco palace, built in 1899 by a Russian prince, has a private-estate feel. The sumptuous 18 suites in the mansion (the largest four-bedroom apartment is over 5,000 sq ft), are geared for every taste. All have sprawling sea-view terraces and professional kitchens, should you fancy a private chef rather than dining out. If you can tear yourself away from the infinity pool, there’s a personal trainer on hand at the state-of-the-art gym, plus a spa, indoor pool, and a small beach. Expect attentive, 24-hour concierge service for your every need. Right at the heart of the action, the 1920s-style Monte Carlo Beach Hotel on the border of France andMonaco is a must for the local, Hermès towel-toting crowd who swan around the Olympic- sized, heated seawater pool. The Beach Club, which offers everything from jet skiing to wakeboarding, has private canvas cabanas, but you can also lounge in bungalows hidden away in the pine forest. The hotel’s airy suites, designed by India Mahdavi, are decked out in Mediterranean-inspired colors, stripes and motifs that evoke Matisse and Cocteau. Order a rosemary bellini and watch the sunset from the Sea Lounge. After dark, the SportingMonte Carlo complex – home of the legendary nightclub Jimmy’z and the glittery Salle des Etoiles, where summer concerts are held – is only a five-minute stroll away. The Riviera culinary scene is awash with healthy market produce and the best locally sourced meat, fish and cheeses. Begin at the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel’s restaurant Elsa, the first all-organic establishment to earn a Michelin star. Italian chef Paolo Sari serves starters such as carpaccio of San Remo shrimp with pink grapefruit, fennel and a Weekend Eze, Monaco, Menton

Sun, sea, beach Settle back to watch the sunset

from the Sea Lounge at the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel