The Principality of Monaco is one of those mythical places that has featured as a necessary stopover in the summer months for movie stars, captains of industry and royalty alike. It is a place to be seen, to wear your best outfits and to put it all on black at the casino.
Although Monaco's busiest times and biggest parties take place on the weekend of the Grand Prix in May, my visit the following week did not reveal a city with a collective hangover, but rather a place of beauty not overrun by tourists and exuding a more subtle glamour that previously popularised the Riviera.
While in Monaco, I stayed at the iconic Hotel Metropole located right on the main gardens of Monte Carlo, close to the casino and the main square, yet sufficiently set back at the end of a long narrow driveway to keep the throngs of day tripping tourists from getting too close.
The ornate exterior of the hotel dates back to the Belle Epoque period and is in stylist harmony with the other grand buildings surrounding the main square, which gives the impression of an exclusive urban destination in the middle of a chic and vibrant area.
The interior holds a world of decadence in plush velvets set to a background of cool lounge music, all bearing the signature touch of world renowned designer Jacques Garcia.
Our junior suite was spacious with floral prints and rich fabrics, which was more sedate and classic than the vibe that the communal areas create of the hotel. The large bathroom featured an enormous shower with Hermes beauty products, and the bedroom windows opened to beautiful views of Monaco.
The pool was unfortunately closed for renovations during our stay, but the grand re-design by Karl Lagerfeld is currently being implemented, which is due to be unveiled at the end of summer. The second phase of the renovations will finish in early 2013 with a third Joel Robuchon restaurant designed by Karl Lagerfeld, adding to his eponymous two Michelin-starred restaurant, the hotel's main restaurant, and YOSHI, the hotel's Japanese offering.
Service was impeccable throughout our stay at every level, striking the ideal balance between being formal, efficient and friendly.
Monaco specialises in formal fine dining and on our first day, we were lucky enough to secure a reservation at one of the best tables in town - Le Louis XV by Alain Ducasse. This is the restaurant where Ducasse, one of the world's most celebrated chefs, initially made a name for himself and earned his first three Michelin stars.
The dining room is ornate with gold gilding and crystal chandeliers; interior doors are marked by antique mirror panels; and one wall of glass doors opens onto the exterior terrace that overlooks the Place de Casino (in the summer, be sure to request one of these prized seats).
We indulged with the 25 anniversary tasting menu, which was a tour de force of Ducasse's finest creations. Our lunch started with a trolley of a variety of champagnes encased in ice, setting the scene for a truly memorable lunch that lingered long into the afternoon.
A mesmerising array of bread was accompanied by an enormous cylinder of butter wheeled out on a cooled piece of marble. A health conscious meal this is not; but the taste sensations are worth the sacrifice.
The seven course tasting menu ranged from one exemplary dish to another, but notable highlights included San Remo Gamberoni with delicate rockfish gelée and caviar; veal with wild mushrooms, potatoes and onions (which they kindly substituted in for us); local 'fraises des bois' with mascarpone sorbet; and warm Piedmond hazelnut soufflé. Le Louis XV was a truly memorable lunch that is a must for any visit to Monte Carlo.
My second meal in Monaco was less elaborate, but no less noteworthy. In a kitchen overseen by another celebrity chef, YOSHI is Joel Robuchon's first venture into pure Japanese cuisine. I ordered a bento box to sample a broad array of dishes, most of which sounded familiar as Westernised Michelin-style Japanese fare, but each was executed to a very high standard, with the seaweed salad and the miso cod being particularly noteworthy.
YOSHI's décor is a breath of fresh air in a city that seems to shy away from modern design. The bijoux restaurant has lime velvets and pink silks as accents in a room of a dark wood base with views directly onto a small zen garden. This is a perfect place to pause and take a break from the hustle and bustle of Monaco, while still enjoying excellent Japanese cuisine.
Monaco has a reputation for refined formality in its restaurants, which was clearly evident in another memorable dining experience at Le Vistamar at l'Hermitage, which had stunning views of the palace to match the quality of the food. However, there seems to be the stirrings of a movement towards more relaxed dining, with locals embracing the gastropub phenomenon with the opening of Explorers in the harbour and with more casual brasseries increasing in popularity.
I believe that Monaco should continue to embrace what it does best and not shy away from its opulence and decadence. You visit Monte Carlo for the haute hotels, fine dining, the casinos and the nightclubs, and on our recent visit, you won't be disappointed.