BestBeds
I sleep around so you don't have to
If the Hôtel de Paris is Monaco’s grande dame who wants everyone to notice when she enters the room, the Hôtel Hermitage is her rather more discreet sister... equally well connected, beautifully dressed and possibly more interesting once you get to know her.
The Hermitage began life in the late 19th century as a much more modest establishment before being transformed around 1900 into the Belle Époque palace we know today. Its architecture is wonderfully theatrical without being quite as showy as its neighbour. The magnificent Salle Belle Époque was decorated by Gabriel Ferrier, winner of the Prix de Rome, while the Winter Garden is crowned by an extraordinary glass-and-iron cupola created by the workshops of Gustave Eiffel. Yes, that Eiffel.
Over the years, the Hermitage has attracted an appropriately glamorous cast. Maria Callas, Josephine Baker and Francis Bacon are among the famous names associated with the hotel. Yet despite being only steps from Casino Square, it has always felt slightly removed from Monaco’s see-and-be-seen circus. Think old money rather than new superyacht.
She has recently had some work done. Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer began a major renovation programme in 2024, with Pierre-Yves Rochon involved in refreshing rooms and suites while preserving the hotel’s Belle Époque character. New Diamond Suites and the reimagined bar beneath the Eiffel cupola were unveiled in 2026... proof that historic need not mean stuck in the past.
If views matter... and in Monaco they generally should... choose carefully. Sea and harbour-facing rooms are worth the upgrade.
The Winter Garden. You can have all the yachts, Ferraris and diamonds Monaco can throw at you, but sitting beneath that magnificent Eiffel cupola is still one of the loveliest experiences in Monte-Carlo. The intricate ironwork and glass turn the space into a glorious Belle Époque conservatory, and the newly created Gustave bar gives you an excellent excuse to linger beneath it with a cocktail.
The Diamond Suites are where things become seriously Monégasque. For something particularly special, look at the newly redesigned Appartements de l’Hermitage, part of the hotel’s latest renovation. Generous terraces, Mediterranean views and proper residential proportions make these feel more like an exceedingly glamorous Monaco apartment than a hotel suite.
The location is superb. Casino Square, the Casino de Monte-Carlo, Opéra Garnier and the boutiques of One Monte-Carlo are just outside the door. Walk downhill and you reach Port Hercule and its collection of increasingly improbable yachts. Monaco-Ville, the Prince’s Palace and Oceanographic Museum are farther away, although nothing in Monaco is truly far... it is usually the hills that have other ideas.
24-hour room service, concierge and valet service, complimentary Wi-Fi, air conditioning, pet-friendly rooms, and family services. Guests have direct complimentary access to the 6,600-square-metre Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo, with a heated seawater swimming pool, excellent gym, sauna, hammam, Jacuzzi and solarium, as well as spa and beauty treatments.
Dining includes Pavyllon Monte-Carlo by Yannick Alléno, L’Abysse Monte-Carlo and the new Gustave bar beneath the Winter Garden’s Eiffel cupola. Guests also enjoy access to various Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer resort facilities and seasonal privileges.
