I would have liked to provide a more in-depth review of my recent stay at Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo but alas my visit was just a very brief one, prior to attending the ILTM Cannes luxury travel conference. But here goes… established in the early 1900s, this Belle Époque style hotel was designed by architect Nicolas Marquet, with contributions from Gustave Eiffel (creator of the Eiffel Tower). It enjoys a prestigious history and has hosted a wealth of discerning guests over the years, from celebrities to royalty.
The hotel is part of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), a prestigious luxury hospitality and entertainment group based in Monaco that owns and operates a number of hotels and other entertainment facilities, including Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, Casino de Monte-Carlo and Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo.
The welcome
I was greeted at Nice Côte d’Azur Airport and driven to the hotel before being warmly welcomed by Deni on arrival, whilst a porter took care of my luggage. Check-in was swift and Deni personally showed me to my room.
En route to the room, we passed The Limùn restaurant, which is perfect for a light lunch or afternoon tea.
The corridor was adorned with Christmas trees as we also passed the entrance to Pavyllon, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant.
The room
I stayed in room 739, one of ‘Los Apartamentos’ on the top floor of one of the historic wings of the hotel. It comprises of an entrance hall flanked by Neoclassical half-moon console tables. To the right is a large bedroom with a corniced ceiling and neutral palette. The bed is as wide as it is long and the room, bathed in sunlight upon my arrival, enjoys stunning harbour views of Port Hercules and the Mediterranean Sea, where you can marvel at an array of yachts and superyachts.
A digital intercom system and an iHome clock radio with wireless charging can be found on either side of the bed. In-room reading material comes in the form of a hard-backed Assouline Monte Carlo coffee table book and a copy of the Monte Carlo Society magazine.
There’s a large TV and a minibar within the unit beneath it, as well as a desk area, home to an additional intercom system and an EOH Malongo coffee machine, a separate dressing table, Dyson hair dryer and stool, and additional seating. I noticed there is also a connecting doorway meaning that this room could be interconnected with the neighbouring room to make a larger space still, making it perfect for families.
Ahead of the entrance hall lies a walk-in closet with Hôtel Hermitage-branded robes, an umbrella and yoga mat, as well as safe and laundry bag.
The bathroom
To the left of the entrance is the bathroom, with a luxurious free-standing oval bathtub taking centre stage. There’s also a walk-in rainfall shower with additional jets emanating from the wall, twin basins and a WC and bidet.
There’s a simple but striking Vriesea houseplant on display and a plentiful supply of Acqua di Parma toiletries.
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The facilities
Sadly my stay was too fleeting to do justice to the hotel’s many facilities, which include five restaurants and of course access to the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo wellness centre.
We dined at nearby La Môme Monte Carlo, the latest addition to the La Môme Group that was started by twin brothers Ugo and Antoine Lecorché. A few months earlier, it had been the restaurant of choice for Cristiano Ronaldo – and partner Georgina Rodríguez – when he was visiting Monaco to attend the draw for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League.
This lively restaurant serves Mediterranean-inspired dishes prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients that highlight regional flavours, and has a bar area serving expertly crafted signature cocktails.
As part of our media dinner, we indulged in a delectable array of starters – creamy houmous piquillos, a perfectly balanced tuna tartare with vegetables, truffled arancini, beef tartare and stracciatella cream, and a vibrant sucrine salad topped with a mustard vinaigrette, truffle and parmesan. The mains consisted of black Angus tagliata served with a peppery roquette salad, an exceptionally flavourful seared tuna a la plancha, gnocchis with tomatoes and basil (pictured) and a tempting assortment of side dishes.
For dessert, there was a choice of waffles with toppings, tiramisu and irresistibly delicious cookies that were absolutely to die for!
The location
Hôtel Hermitage is approximately 25 kilometres (30 minutes) from Nice International Airport, enjoys a central location in the heart of Monte Carlo, and overlooks Port Hercules and the Mediterranean.
It is just steps away from the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo where Christmas is celebrated with unparalleled grandeur and extravagance!
Other nice touches
They really know how to make you feel special at the hotel. In addition to there being fresh flowers in the room, there was a gift from Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer upon arrival – a lovely Hôtel Hermitage candle and a wine bottle stopper. Cakes and mandarins were delivered to my room an hour or so after I arrived and there was also a turndown service.
The cost
Superior Queen rooms start from 525 euros per night.
The Princely Diamond Suite starts from 22,000 euros per night.
The best bit
I sadly didn’t have long enough to get to know the hotel well so it is difficult to choose what I liked best, but the majestic architecture, the décor, and the quality of the fixtures and the fittings really stood out. My room was immaculate, spacious and enjoyed a fabulous view of the harbour and the Prince’s Palace of Monaco beyond.
The final verdict
Hôtel Hermitage is a superb example of luxury done well. Everything is finished with meticulous attention to detail. The staff’s attitude and attentiveness is remarkable – every team member I encountered in the corridors, regardless of their role, made eye contact and smiled. This level of care highlights the hotel’s commitment to excellence and the importance it places on impeccable training.
Dislcosure: Our stay was sponsored by Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.
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