La Môme is an oasis in a bustling, hot Monaco, with killer views, refreshing sea breezes, and a Mediterranean menu that hits all the right notes.

Antoine and Ugo Lecorché first opened the chic La Môme restaurant in the Côte d’Azur in 2015, a trendy go-to for fun-loving A-listers, and an international and local clientele. It was followed by the addition of a cocktail bar in 2017 inspired by the legendary New York bars that the pair had enjoyed in their travels. Then, a few feet away on the famous Croisette, La Môme Plage was established with its 1950s French Riviera inspiration. All in the capital of Cinema, Cannes.

Now, the twins are continuing the story in the Principality with La Môme Monte-Carlo, formerly La Marée, on Avenue J.F. Kennedy.

The restaurant is open seven days a week, welcoming up to 220 guests for lunch and dinner, in a dreamy setting on the rooftop terrace of the Port Palace, with a stunning view over the superyachts in the harbour, the blue waters of the Mediterranean, and the Prince’s Palace on the Rock.

At the helm is Managing Director Luigi Visciano who has worked at some of Monaco’s most prestigious establishments including the Hôtel de Paris, the Hôtel Hermitage and the Hôtel Métropole, bringing his professionalism and authentic “Italian-style” charisma to this new venture.

­“We wanted to bring that international-style service and welcome, but in a more relaxed way,” Antoine Lecorché told Monaco Life. “The temperature, the music, the timing of the food, everything has to be perfect, so that when people leave the restaurant, they feel great, even if they don’t know why.”

Two interior designers were recruited for the décor: Soraya Djemmi-Wagner and Maxime Liautard from Liautard and the Queen design agency. In keeping with the Cannes legend, their vision for the space was a movie scene, in particular the film To Catch a Thief with its Hollywood star and Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly.

The décor is therefore quite feminine, with the use of blue and light tones on the terrace; soft furnishings, warm wooden textures and rounded finishes inside. This is contrasted with bold patterns and zebra fabrics, giving the restaurant a playful edginess.

The menu was created by La Môme Plage Executive Chef Alexandre Elia and executed with the help of new recruit Chef de partie Benjamin Zannier. The theme: Mediterranean with Provençal, Italian and Greek influences. Think flame-smoked eggplant dip, creamy burrata with an assortment of tomatoes, shaved artichoke salad, tuna tartare, and a heavily-truffled arancini. In fact, black truffles feature significantly on the menu at the moment, so-much-so the precious aroma fills the restaurant, and your heart, with luxurious goodness.

“Some of the dishes you can find in Cannes,” revealed Lecorché. “Most appetizers are designed to be shared, as people love to do now. We also have whole fish, lobster, and chargrilled meat dishes, served with fresh seasonal ingredients.”

For mains we were treated to a tuna tataki topped with rich caviar, deliciously seasoned mushroom tops, bright broccolini finished with salty black olives, creamy truffle mash, beautifully seared and tender beef loin with shaved truffles, and truffled rigatoni pasta.

Just when you think you can’t possibly fit another thing in, they present to you their “legendary” giant chocolate chip cookie; waffle with a trio of whipped cream, chocolate sauce and jam; and beautiful fresh fruit platter. Somehow, deep down, you find the space you need to finish the meal.

So, my first impression of Monaco’s newest restaurant? If you don’t come for the view, come for the food; come with a lot of friends and order everything on the menu; then sit back with a cocktail and watch the sun go down over Monaco. Life doesn’t get much better than this.

Visit Monaco Life’s Instagram page for videos of La Môme.