Day: 14 October 2026

Monaco has a welcome new addition to its Sunday dining scene. Since 13th September, Azzurra Kitchen at the Novotel Monte-Carlo has been serving ‘Le Rendez-vous du dimanche’, a Mediterranean buffet lunch that delivers surprisingly impressive food in a relaxed setting, with the added pleasure of going back for as much as you like.

I went along with my two daughters, and from the generous selection of starters to the beautifully cooked main courses and irresistible desserts, all three of us left thoroughly impressed.

Not brunch, but proper lunch

The first thing to know is that this is not a brunch. It is a full Sunday lunch served buffet-style, running from midday until 2.30pm, and the spread is substantial.

The starters alone could make a meal. A proper Caesar salad comes with a generous choice of toppings, alongside seasonal crudités, a creamy basil-tomato dish with mozzarella, a pinsa topped with tomato, cheese and chorizo, a potato and mortadella salad with fresh herbs, and a board of cured meats. On the day we visited, there were several dishes beyond the printed menu too, as well as a good selection of breads.

The mains steal the show

It was the main courses, though, that really impressed, particularly given the buffet format. Too often, hot food left to wait under lamps disappoints. Here, everything was cooked perfectly.

The standout for me was the octopus. Served with swordfish cooked on the plancha, it was tender and beautifully done, the kind of dish you would happily order à la carte. My 10-year-old daughter, meanwhile, made a beeline for the chicken fricassée with cream and fresh girolles, and went back for more. A Parmigiano risotto and lasagne completed the hot dishes.

Guests can return to the buffet as many times as they like, but a word of advice: pace yourself.

Leave room for dessert

For my daughters, the desserts were the undoubted highlight. Big bowls of rich chocolate mousse came topped with crunchy caramel pieces, alongside fruit coulis, delicate heart-shaped macarons, fig tarts and a traditional flan pâtissier, all freshly prepared. The children were also delighted to discover popping candy hidden throughout, a playful surprise that had them hunting for more.

For those who prefer to finish on something savoury, there is a board of fresh goat’s cheese from Peymenade and aged cheeses, as well as a basket of fresh fruit.

Relaxed, not stuffy

The atmosphere strikes a pleasant balance: sophisticated without ever feeling stuffy. On a warm day, the tables beside the pool are the place to be, while the dining room inside offers a cosier setting as the weather turns. Service throughout was warm and attentive.

The menu is the work of chef Frédéric Ramos, who draws on the cuisines of the world’s Rivieras, with live cooking adding a little theatre to the experience.

Good value for Monaco

Lunch costs €65 per adult, including a glass of Prosecco or an aperitif and coffee, and €30 for children up to 12. Monegasques and Monaco residents pay a reduced €59 per adult and €27 per child on presentation of the hotel’s loyalty card.

Given the range and quality on offer, and the freedom to go back as often as you wish, it represents good value by Monaco standards, and a welcome new addition to the Principality’s weekend dining scene, particularly for families.

‘Le Rendez-vous du dimanche’ runs every Sunday from 12pm to 2.30pm at Azzurra Kitchen, Novotel Monte-Carlo, 16 boulevard Princesse Charlotte. Reservations are required on +377 99 99 83 20.

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