Elite Traveler Summer 2023

113 elite traveler SUMMER 2023

Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo MONTE-CARLO, MONACO

If ever a hotel were to capture the essence of La Belle Époque, it would be Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. Monaco’s grand dame has elegantly stood in what is now Place du Casino since 1864; with its arrival, Monte-Carlo was born. As 21st-century supercars cruise towards the elegant porte-cochère, underneath the paved roadway lies a 19th-century treasure trove: the Hôtel de Paris wine cellars. The brainchild of hotel creator François Blanc, they were completed by his widow Marie Blanc in 1874 to keep up with the growing demands of the elite clientele. It remains the world’s biggest hotel wine cellar with around 350,000 bottles. Access to the wine cellars is reserved for guests staying in the hotel’s Diamond Suites, a handful of the most exclusive residences. The light- fi lled Prince Rainier III suite is the largest at 8,934 sq ft; its crowning glory is a rooftop terrace with pool o ff ering a one-of-a-kind vantage point over Place du Casino. The hotel is also host to the principality’s only three-Michelin-star restaurant, with Alain Ducasse’s legendary Le Louis XV occupying theground fl oor of Hôtel de Paris for over three decades. For front-row access to one of the planet’s most in fl uential kitchens, reserve the intimate chef’s table, which the restaurant refers to as the ‘aquarium.’ Epicurean adventure The wine cellar has welcomed some of the hotel’s most illustrious visitors, and Diamond Suite guests can follow in their footsteps with both wine tastings and dinner within its hallowed walls. Tastings begin with a tour guided by a master sommelier before sampling some of the most important grand crus in the world. Dinner will be hosted in a private dining room and paired with wines selected by the wine cellar master. Diamond Suite - Prince Rainier III from $31,750 per night. Contact Stéphane Bonifassi, deputy director of client services, s.bonifassi@ sbm.mc, +37 798 062 000, montecarlosbm.com

Photos MONTE-CARLO Société des Bains de Mer