Monaco’s festive season gets under way this Saturday, 14th November, when eight Christmas chalets open on Avenue de Monte-Carlo, a fortnight before a 20-metre tree is lit in Casino Square to launch a programme that runs well into the New Year.
Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer will switch on the Christmas lights at 6pm on Sunday 29th November. The chalets will be open daily from 10.30am to 7pm until 3rd January 2027, selling everything from candles and floral decorations to mulled wine, crêpes, pretzels and panettone.
Among this year’s gifts is a new Monte-Carlo edition of ‘Cluedo’, alongside the resort’s collector’s edition of ‘Monopoly’ and Assouline’s book on the Casino de Monte-Carlo.
A Christmas train comes to Casino Square
From 30th November to 10th January, the Monte-Carlo Express will tell a Christmas story across three train carriages in Casino Square. The first shows Father Christmas reading letters surrounded by woodland animals, the second is a workshop piled high with gifts, and the third depicts his Christmas Eve dinner once the deliveries are done.
A sound-and-light show will play across the Casino façade every half-hour from 6pm to midnight on 4th–6th and 11th–13th December, then nightly from 18th December to 10th January.
Choirs will perform in the square from 1pm to 4.30pm on 19th, 20th, 23rd, 24th and 26th December, and children can meet Father Christmas from 1pm to 5pm on 20th, 21st, 24th and 25th December.
Christmas afternoon tea and Yule logs
The Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo will serve Christmas afternoon tea in the Salle Belle Époque from 3pm to 6pm between 19th and 23rd December. It costs €115 per adult and €60 for children aged six to 11, with children under five admitted free. Marlow in Mareterra will serve its own Christmas afternoon tea on 25th December, with dishes also available à la carte.
Hôtel Hermitage chef de partie Romain Catala won the group’s 15th internal pastry competition with ‘Escale boréale’, a Yule log inspired by Monaco and Iceland that layers a salted speculoos base, milk chocolate and tonka bean cream, pear compote, gingerbread and vanilla mousse. It will be served at the Hermitage and available to take away from Mada One.
Cédric Grolet Monte-Carlo’s Christmas collection, including a chocolate bear and a coconut snowman, will be available from 9th to 31st December, as reported by Monaco Life.
Winter pop-ups and Christmas trees
The carousel by the Jardin des Boulingrins is already open and runs until 15th March 2027, with crêpes, churros and toffee apples. From 17th November to 1st March, the Blue Gin winter pop-up brings an Alpine chalet setting to the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, with winter cocktails from 6.30pm to 1.30am daily and a DJ from Thursday to Saturday.
A Lavazza pop-up will serve coffee, hot chocolate and pumpkin lattes on Square Beaumarchais from 12th December to 3rd January. At the Hôtel de Paris, Chopard’s Christmas tree will be on display from 30th November to 6th January, while the Hôtel Hermitage will have a new tree designed by Chanel Joaillerie.
Seeing in the New Year
At the Salle des Étoiles, ‘This Is Michael’, a Michael Jackson tribute act, will headline a New Year’s Eve dinner show. Tickets cost €665 per person, including half a bottle of champagne.
Amazónico is planning a Tropicalia party with dancers and percussionists, while Selva will host a disco night. Blue Gin starts its celebrations at 5pm, with the main party at 11pm followed by fireworks. Buddha-Bar will host a midnight countdown, and a DJ will play in Casino Square.
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Photo source: MCSBM