The fear of losing outweighed the desire to win as Champions League-chasing AS Monaco and Strasbourg saw out a tepid 0-0 draw at the Stade Louis II on Saturday.
Monaco, off the back of home victories against OGC Nice and Marseille at home, were looking to extend their winning run at home to seven matches. However, this was a much more closed affair than those that preceded it. There wasn’t a lack of ambition from Strasbourg, simply a different game plan, and one based on exploiting the Principality club in transitions. It is a play style that has them well in the race for Champions League football.
Chances limited at Stade Louis II
It was the visitors who had the first big chance of the match but it was squandered by Emanuel Emegha, whose touch was loose, allowing Christian Mawissa to recover and get in a potentially goal-saving block.
Chelsea loanee Djordje Petrovic, in front of BlueCo’s Behdad Eghbali, then made a big stop for Strasbourg, palming away Maghnes Akliouche’s effort from outside the box. Monaco then thought that they had taken the lead through the prolific Mika Biereth on the stroke of half-time.
However, the Dane was denied a 13th goal in as many Ligue 1 games by the offside flag with Caio Henrique found to have been in an offside position in the build-up.
The game did not open up after the break. “We defended really well as a team to prevent Strasbourg from creating any real chances from the start to the end of the match,” said Adi Hütter post-match. The best chance fell to Valentín Barco midway through the second-half but he could only fire over with his first-time effort from inside the box.
Eliesse Ben Seghir came on in the 70th minute and added a fresh and much-needed impetus. He headed over, whilst amid a push to score a late winner, Folarin Balogun forced a save from Petrovic.
Hütter and Rosenior involved in altercation
However, it was Strasbourg who thought that they had nicked an opportune winner. Emegha popped up at the back post to head into the empty net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Neither side truly did enough to warrant the win and as the full-time whistle went, there was frustration, at least from Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, who was involved in a minor altercation with Hütter at full-time.
Rosenior said that his issue with Hütter began during the first meeting between the pair. “There is a code that I live by: you respect your opposition, you respect the people that you play against. I felt that code was broken. I felt that code was broken in the first game (against Monaco earlier in the season). When I have to wait five minutes to wear the opposition manager’s (Hütter) hand, that says a lot about other people […] I am here to win matches, not to make friends,” said Rosenior in reaction to the minor spat at the full-time whistle.
Hütter, in response, said that he had not seen Rosenior. “It is the first time in my 16 years as a manager that I’ve heard things like this. I have managed in many countries, managed 650 matches. I have been coaching two years in France and no coach has ever said to me that I have disappointed them,” added the Monaco manager.
“Every match is a final” – Hütter
Turning focus back to the match, Hütter said that he was “happy with the point taken”. He added, “It isn’t a negative result. We obviously wanted to win and take the three points but I feel that we had the better chances in the match.”
Monaco have now ceded second place to Marseille, who won later on Saturday evening. As Akliouche highlighted, this point may be important come the end of the season. “Every match is a final,” added Hütter as the race for Champions League football hots up.
Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.
Photo source: AS Monaco
Cédric Grolet to open pastry boutique and tea room at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
World-renowned pastry chef Cédric Grolet is bringing his signature creations to Monaco this summer, as he becomes Executive Pastry Chef at the prestigious Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo.
The celebrated French chef, known for his hyper-realistic fruit desserts and modern approach to patisserie, will launch Cédric Grolet Monte-Carlo, a boutique and all-day tea room located on the hotel’s iconic patio. The venture marks Grolet’s first in the Principality, joining a portfolio that includes Paris, London and Singapore.
Popcorn, fig and peanut creations by Cédric Grolet. Photo source: Monte-Carlo SBM
Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has entrusted Grolet with all pastry offerings at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo — with the exception of Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse. “His artistic approach and creativity are a perfect fit for our ambition to offer world-class experiences,” said Olivier Thomas, Managing Director of the hotel.
From breakfast to afternoon tea, the new tea room will feature a wide selection of savoury and sweet dishes, alongside the chef’s famed pastries such as the Lemon Flower, Vanilla Flower, and signature trompe-l’œil fruits. A boutique will also offer cakes and seasonal creations to take away.
In honour of his arrival in the Principality, Grolet has created an exclusive pastry dedicated to H.S.H. Prince Albert II, which will be unveiled at the boutique’s opening later this summer.
Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.
Main photo source Monte-Carlo SBM
You Cannes do it: How to stay sane, smiling, and slightly sparkly at the Film Festival frenzy
Ah, Cannes. That glittering stretch of cinematic madness where A-listers descend like beautifully dressed migrating birds, cocktails flow as freely as questionable promises, and even the yachts need their own PR teams. The Cannes Film Festival in May is less of an event and more of an endurance sport. Think of it as a glamorous ultra marathon with less Lycra and more Louboutins.
But here’s the thing. To really enjoy it (and avoid looking like a deflated soufflé on day three), you need something far more important than a VIP pass — a routine. Yes, I know. “Routine” doesn’t sound very Cannes, does it? But stick with me.
Why you need a routine (even if you’re on a yacht)
In the madness of red carpets, Rosé-fuelled yacht soirees, and 4am dance floor diplomacy, it’s easy to forget that your body is not, in fact, an indestructible party bot. It’s more like a golden retriever. It needs rest, hydration, sunlight, and ideally, some kind of schedule. Without it, you’ll start unravelling faster than a badly wrapped croissant.
Having a daily anchor — whether that’s a morning walk along the Croisette, a short meditation before your espresso, or a 20-minute bodyweight workout in your hotel room that’s just slightly too small for downward dog — can work wonders. These micro habits create a sense of grounding amid the glitter. They keep your energy stable, your mind sharp, and your smile ready for when someone points a camera in your general direction (which, in Cannes, is always).
The balance bit (yes, you can have champagne and chlorophyll)
Now before you throw your Evian bottle at me, this isn’t about saying no to the fun stuff. You should go to that party on the yacht with the hologram DJ and the weird art installation involving a live flamingo. Just remember that the party will be 10 times more fun if you’ve eaten something green that day, taken your vitamins, and maybe thrown in a cold plunge or at least an aggressive face splash.
Balance doesn’t mean being boring. It just means giving your body what it needs so it doesn’t give up on you midway through Nicole Kidman’s Q&A.
Flexible discipline: be the palm tree, not the plank
Here’s the plot twist. You’re going to stray from your routine. That’s part of the magic. There will be nights where you say “just one drink” and wake up at sunrise in a pool float shaped like a unicorn. That’s fine. Cannes happens. But the trick is not to spiral. Think of your routine not as a rigid checklist, but as a home base you can return to. Like a wellness-flavoured hug.
Start your day with breathwork, hit your supplement stack (magnesium, B12, vitamin C, and a good probiotic never go out of style), and get some Côte d’Azur vitamin D on your face. Honestly, 15 minutes in the sun with your shoes off and a coffee in hand can reset your entire nervous system. Even better if that coffee is on the rooftop of Hôtel Martinez with Chopard, where the view (and jewellery) can fix just about anything.
Pro tips from the trenches
Hydration is your best friend. Drink water like you’re prepping for a camel ride across the Sahara. Add electrolytes. Bonus points for coconut water that doesn’t taste like regret.
Move your body daily. Even if it’s just a stretch or a power pose on a balcony. (Yes, that counts.)
Say no sometimes. FOMO is real, but so is burnout. Choose the parties that spark joy, not the ones that just look good on Instagram.
Sleep when you can. Cannes doesn’t stop, but you should. Power naps are basically performance-enhancing drugs in this environment.
Sneak in recovery. Ice baths, IV drips, lymphatic drainage, or just a solid 10 minutes with your legs up the wall. Your body will thank you. Your Instagram followers will pretend they don’t notice.
Smile like you mean it
In the end, the whole point of Cannes is to show up as the best version of yourself. Whether that’s networking on a sun-drenched yacht, dancing barefoot at an afterparty, or giving the kind of smile on the red carpet that says, “I have my life together” (even if you’ve lost your sunglasses and half your dignity).
So build your routine, bend it when you need to, pop your vitamins like a health-conscious Bond villain, and remember. This isn’t survival of the fittest, it’s survival of the best prepared.
And ideally, the best dressed.
Join us throughout Cannes for Peak State activations, designed to keep you calm, focused, and feeling unstoppable, all week long — brought to you by Monaco Life.
One of the rarest Rolex Cosmograph Daytona wristwatches ever produced will be offered by Sotheby’s this May in Geneva, marking the final chapter in a series of extraordinary timepieces previously believed to be little more than myth.
The 1999 Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, reference 16516, crafted in platinum with a diamond-set mother-of-pearl dial, is expected to fetch between 700,000 CHF and 1,400,000 CHF when it goes under the hammer at Sotheby’s Important Watches Sale. It is the last known piece in a unique quartet of Daytonas privately commissioned from Rolex by a single collector in the late 1990s – a significant exception for a brand renowned for rarely entertaining custom orders.
Each of the four watches in the collection carries the same reference, with the final digit — “6” — signifying the unprecedented use of platinum for a Daytona model. Until then, automatic Daytonas had only ever been produced in stainless steel, two-tone, and gold variants. The platinum series would not appear officially until 2013, making this commission all the more significant. Adding to its lore is the longstanding rumour linking one of the early examples to Rolex’s former CEO, Patrick Heiniger, who was thought to have worn a platinum Daytona years before the material was officially introduced to the collection.
Sotheby’s first brought one of the platinum Zenith-powered Daytonas to light in 2018, putting to rest long-standing speculation about their existence. Each of the four pieces features a unique dial: lapis lazuli, turquoise, dark mother-of-pearl, and, in the case of the upcoming sale, a mother-of-pearl dial adorned with ten diamonds — the only example set with precious stones. The others have all exceeded expectations at auction, with the lapis lazuli variant achieving a record-breaking $3.2 million in Hong Kong in 2020.
The watch, powered by the renowned Zenith El Primero calibre 400, is offered with its original certificate and accessories. This mechanism, first introduced in 1969, was chosen by Rolex when it launched the automatic Daytona in 1988 — a game-changing move for the brand and a model that quickly became one of the most desirable in the world. Rolex introduced its own in-house movement only in 2000, adding further significance to the early automatic models.
“This remarkable wristwatch is a milestone in the history of the Cosmograph Daytona,” said Benoît Colson, Head of Watches at Sotheby’s Geneva. “Its rarity, provenance and superlative craftsmanship make it one of the most important examples ever to be presented at auction. It is also an exceptional bookending to the sale of this extraordinary commission of four masterpieces.”
Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.
Special Olympics Monaco athletes honoured after medal success in Turin
Athletes from Special Olympics Monaco were welcomed to the Residence of the Minister of State following their successful return from the Winter World Games in Turin, where they proudly represented the Principality and earned a total of 12 medals.
The delegation, joined by their coaches, was received on Wednesday 16th April by Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, who is currently serving as Acting Minister of State. During the reception, she congratulated the athletes for their remarkable efforts on and off the slopes.
“You did far more than compete,” said Minister Berro-Amadeï. “You carried with you the values of courage, perseverance, and team spirit. You proved that determination knows no limits, and that heart and passion can truly move mountains. Through every effort, every smile, and every stride, you showed us the true meaning of inclusion, inner strength, and the joy of sport.”
The Minister also commended the dedication of the Special Olympics Monaco team, including its President Pierre Van Klaveren, Director Marc Muratori, and all the staff and volunteers whose tireless work helped guide the delegation to success.
At the Turin Games, the athletes competed in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Their efforts brought home a total of 12 medals, including two golds, marking a proud moment for the Principality on the international stage.
Looking ahead, the next major event for the team will be the Summer World Games in Chile, scheduled for 2027, as they continue to embody the values of sportsmanship and inclusion.
Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.
Stéphane Danna – Direction de la Communication
Interview: Jean Valfort on the quiet revolution transforming Nice’s restaurant scene
For too long, the restaurant scene in Nice has coasted on its good looks – sun-drenched terraces, postcard views, and menus that rarely strayed from the expected. Charm? Always. Vision? Rarely. In a city as culturally rich and cosmopolitan as Nice, the absence of daring design, standout service, and culinary imagination has long felt like a missed opportunity. That’s why Jean Valfort’s arrival feels like a jolt of electricity. A restaurateur with roots in Nice but a mindset shaped by New York and Paris, Valfort isn’t just opening restaurants – he’s rewriting the rules of what hospitality on the French Riviera can look and feel like.
“If you’re from Nice and you’ve lived here all your life, it’s easy for a restaurateur to think this is enough,” Jean Valfort tells Monaco Life. “But people now have a window on the world, and it’s called Instagram. They’re seeing restaurants in Paris, London, New York, Tokyo – and they want that here too.”
Born in Nice, Valfort moved to Paris nearly two decades ago, where he opened Farago, a lively tapas bar in the 11th arrondissement. In 2018, he was invited to collaborate on a rooftop restaurant at the AC Marriott Hotel on the Promenade des Anglais. He jumped at the opportunity. With just €100,000, they launched Farago on the Roof, and the response was immediate.
“The first season was crazy,” he says. “We multiplied the turnover by four. It was clear that Nice had really been waiting for something new.”
When the pandemic hit, it disrupted operations in Paris – and confirmed what Valfort had already begun to feel: that the real opportunity wasn’t in the capital, but in the Riviera. Alongside business partner Jean-François Montfort, he began building Panorama Group, a collection of restaurants that would challenge the status quo and bring something far more ambitious to the local scene.
The rooftop terrace of Bocca Nissa
Restaurants that reflect the world
Valfort’s restaurants are built with a global audience in mind, and that’s no accident. He spent years living in Manhattan and says that experience opened his eyes to how dining could become something far beyond a plate of food. “When I moved to Paris from New York 11 years ago, Paris was just starting to open up to the idea of change. Now I see Nice going through the same thing.”
Social media has played a big role in that evolution. “People used to go to whatever was convenient. Now they scroll. They see what’s happening in the world – and if your restaurant doesn’t offer something on that level, they’re not coming,” he says. “You can’t fake it anymore.”
That commitment to crafting a complete experience guides every move Jean Valfort and Jean-François Montfort make. From the lively rooftop of Bocca Nissa, which opened in 2020 just after the first Covid lockdown, to the high-energy, DJ-fuelled vibe of Bocca Mar by the sea, their goal has always been the same: to create places that feel electric, immersive, and unforgettable.
“Nice isn’t just a destination for retirees anymore – it’s full of young, vibrant people,” says Valfort. “We’re not just serving food. We’re designing memories.”
Felix – the new place to be in Nice. Photo credit: Romain Ricard
Felix – the new place to be
The opening of Felix is Valfort’s most daring and refined concept to date. This historic venue in Nice was once a city institution but had lost its appeal. Valfort brought it back to life in November 2024 with the help of London-based B3 Designers, reimagining the space as a riot of colour, texture and intention. From the moment you step inside, it’s clear that Felix is unlike anything else in Nice – a concept the city has long craved but never quite dared to create.
The result is a stunningly eclectic venue with five immersive dining spaces – each with its own personality, from the Secret Garden to the Cabinet of Curiosities, Circus and Carnival, and a newly unveiled speakeasy. “Our biggest competitor in Nice is the sun,” says Valfort. “People want to sit outside. So if you want to get them inside, you have to make it worth it.”
One of the many ambiances of Felix. Photo credit: Romain Ricard
That philosophy is evident in every corner of Felix. The interiors invite exploration, and the culinary concept is designed not just for flavour, but for impact. The menu gives a contemporary twist to brasserie classics: burrata salad, foie gras, salmon gravlax, and baby squid are just some of the starters that pair effortlessly with the restaurant’s premium wines conveniently served also by the glass. Mains include Milanese, beef tartare, beef daube à la Niçoise and Italian porchetta, while fresh salads and pastas round out a menu that manages to be indulgent yet accessibly priced.
The showstopper, however, is the signature dessert: a Maison Duplanteur chocolate tablet layered with mascarpone cream, salted butter caramel and roasted peanuts. “People love taking photos of it,” Valfort says with a smile. “That’s not by accident. If you want to be seen, you have to create moments people want to share.”
And share they do – Felix is now tagged in dozens of Instagram and TikTok posts daily, a kind of organic visibility that Valfort believes no traditional campaign could replicate.
The ‘speakeasy’ cocktail bar at Felix continues the restaurant’s eclectic vibe. Photo credit: Loic Thebaud
As for the service, it sets a new standard for hospitality in the city. The team is warm, multilingual, and genuinely accommodating – a rarity in Nice, where customer service can often feel like an afterthought.
“In France, it’s hard to find people who want to work in restaurants – you’re working while everyone else is having fun,” says Valfort. “So we invest in our staff. They’re not just here for the summer.” Panorama Group provides housing in Vieux Nice, builds tips into salaries, and aims to keep employees for up to five years. “The best staff care,” he adds, “but only if you care about them.”
Bringing back institutions – and building new ones
Before moving into hotels, Valfort is doubling down on what he does best: breathing new life into old institutions. His next project is on Cours Saleya, where Panorama Group has snapped up two neighbouring restaurants to resurrect an icon: Café des Fleurs.
Once a landmark meeting place that slowly faded into obscurity, it’s now being completely reinvented — walls knocked down, spaces merged, and an entirely new identity imagined — yet with a clear nod to its historic soul.
“We want it to be the café everyone thinks of when they’re in Nice, morning to night,” says Valfort. “Classic, but on a whole new level.”
Felix brings a new energy to Nice. Photo credit: Loic Thebaud
A new kind of stay
Valfort’s vision for reshaping hospitality in Nice is moving beyond restaurants. Together with long-time business partner Georges Sayer, he has acquired the Hotel Victoria on Boulevard Victor Hugo, with plans to completely reimagine the property from the ground up.
“There are over a hundred four-star hotels in Nice, but how many actually have a personality?” he asks. “Too many rely on the fact that people need a place to sleep. That’s no longer enough.”
His aim is to create a space that feels as considered and characterful as his restaurants – a destination in its own right. Drawing inspiration from cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam, where hotels blend style, comfort and social connection, the new Hotel Victoria will offer far more than just a bed for the night.
“Guests want atmosphere. They want to feel something the moment they walk through the door. They want to eat well, relax well, and remember where they stayed,” says Valfort.
Felix, photo credit: Romain Ricard
Reimagining what’s possible
There’s a quiet revolution happening in Nice – not loud, not forced, but undeniable. It’s in the corners of restaurants where strangers linger longer than planned, in the buzz of terraces that hum with a new kind of energy, and in spaces that feel like they’ve always belonged, even though they’re brand new.
Jean Valfort isn’t following a trend. He’s responding to a feeling – the sense that this city, with all its beauty, deserves more than the expected. And he’s answering with places that surprise, welcome, and resonate.
Not everything he builds is about spectacle. It’s about detail, about rhythm, about creating something that lingers long after the table is cleared.
What he’s really doing is simple: inviting Nice to see itself differently. And so far, the city is saying yes.
Monaco Life is produced by a team of real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.
Main photo of Jean Valfort credit Lois Thebaut
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