Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo

A mannered garden serves as a buffer between the Hotel Metropole and the posh street it's located on. Its facade, moreover, avoids the flamboyance of many Belle Époque buildings by demonstrating some neo-classical restraint. (Pediments, porticos, and Grecian-style sculptures, for instance, make it look more like an ancient temple and less like a wedding cake.) As a result, the exterior whispers “Old Money,” but inside it's a name-dropper’s delight -- and not only because of the glittering guest list. Renowned designer Jacques Garcia was responsible for much of the decor, while Joël Robuchon (beloved by both Michelin and Gault Millau) runs the restaurants. When you add in an "Odyssey"-inspired pool area conceptualized by Karl Lagerfeld plus a Givenchy spa, Hotel Metropole is clearly a place to see and be seen.

Built on land once owned by Pope Leo XIII, this hotel occupies a privileged position in the heart of the city. Some top attractions, like Casino de Monte-Carlo and Carré d'Or shops, are within a five-minute walk, while others -- including the Prince’s Palace and Oceanographic Museum -- can be reached by car in about 10. Exclusive walking tours, boat trips and other outings can be organized on-site, as can transfers to the airport in Nice, which is a 40-minute drive southwest. If you’re driving yourself, on-site parking is available.

• Five-minute walk to Casino de Monte-Carlo
• Five-minute walk to Carré d'Or shops
• Seven-minute drive to Monaco/Monte Carlo Train Station
• Nine-minute drive to Oceanographic Museum
• 10-minute drive to Monaco Cathedral
• 11-minute drive to Prince's Palace
• 22-minute drive to Beaulieu-sur-mer or Eze
• 26-minute drive to Menton
• 31-minute drive to Cap-Ferrat
• 36-minute drive to Nice
• 40-minute drive to the Nice-Côte d'Azur International Airport

There’s a broad variety of rooms here, with sizes ranging from 270-square-foot Superior Rooms to the top-floor (and top-notch) Carre d’Or Suite, which has 1,400-square feet of interior space plus an 1,185-square-foot terrace. Like the hotel as a whole, all deliver on the traditional elegance of a bygone era (designer Jacques Garcia’s hallmark). Furnishings with a rich mahogany finish serve as the base note for a creamy composition that mixes delicate French Provincial side chairs with deep, sink-into sofas. Beds typically feature delicately patterned, classically curved upholstered headboards, and premium linens, while windows are adorned with decadent draperies. The overall look is lavish and exceedingly polished, but it could feel stuffy or old fashioned to travelers used to a more modern interpretation of luxury. The marble bathrooms are equally opulent, many with double vanities, jetted showers, and/or generously proportioned tubs, plus Hermes toiletries and monogrammed robes. It's worth noting, despite all this elegance, that some basic amenities are missing (tea/coffee-making equipment being the most noticeable). In fact, air-conditioning, minibars, large LED TVs and free Wi-Fi are about the only standard-issue amenities.

Reflecting its "grande dame" status and its posh atmosphere, Hotel Metropole's features provide another major draw, particularly for discerning foodies. The property is a gastronomic tour de force with three Joël Robuchon restaurants -- a Michelin-starred main one with refined yet innovative Mediterranean fare; a chic Japanese alternative (Yoshi) that's Michelin-starred as well; and Odyssey, which offers alfresco dining at lunch in a black-and-white, mural-bedecked space inspired by Homer’s epic and designed by Karl Lagerfeld. The Odyssey is also centered on the hotel's pool: a sleek, sea-water number that’s covered in winter and open to the sun in warmer months.   

Wellness is a priority, too, and the Metropole houses an extravagant Givenchy spa complete with sauna, hammam, caldarium, chromotherapy tubs, and an extensive treatment menu. The modern fitness facility also covers all the bases with the usual cardio machines (treadmills, steppers, bikes) along with weight-lifting equipment and free weights. Business travelers aren't forgotten with a business center and six stylish meeting rooms, three of which bump up the style factor with interiors by Lagerfeld. 

This top-shelf approach extends to the activities the hotel offers like chef-led cooking classes to private museum tours, F1 racing experiences, and outings for oenophiles. The property also offers the little extras luxury guests expect (think valet service, concierge service, turndown service, and the like).