Talk about the ‘Wow’ factor! The Café de Paris reopened on Tuesday after a two-year, €55 million renovation and the result is nothing short of jaw-dropping.
Located alongside the Casino de Monte-Carlo and opposite the iconic Hôtel de Paris, the Café de Paris is a timeless brasserie in the Place du Casino that has been the beating heart of Monaco for 150 years.
But never has it been as grand and spectacular as this.
After two-years, more than €55 million (the final figure is still being confirmed) and plenty of anticipation, the brasserie swung open its doors on Tuesday 14th November, and the crowds eagerly rolled in.
“What I want to see with the new Café de Paris is all of Monaco coming in,” Eric Gorjux, Director of the Café de Paris, told Monaco Life on the opening day. “If we achieve that, we have reached a huge goal.”
Indeed, the very DNA of the Café de Paris has always been its ability to draw in royalty and celebrities, locals and tourists, all keen to enjoy a coffee, glass of champagne or meal at any time of the day.
“This has been the key to the Café de Paris’ success,” confirms Gorjux. “If you mix up the people, you bring a unique ambiance and atmosphere.”
In classic Parisian brasserie-style
That ambience has been taken to new heights, however, thanks to the talents of David Collins Studio, the interior designer and architect behind some of the world’s most glamourous restaurants.
At the new Café de Paris, bountiful Art Déco lighting intertwines with beautiful brass finishings, marble columns, mosaic flooring, coffered ornamental ceilings, original stained-glass dividers, polished mahogany and the most extravagant lighting centrepiece hanging above a half-oval bar.
Capacity has more than doubled, with extensive seating inside and out, and there’s an entirely new first floor for guests that offers exceptional views over the Place du Casino.
A menu for all tastes
Head Chef Victor Marion, mentored under the Michelin starred Chef Joël Garault at the Hôtel Hermitage, has delivered on his philosophy of “simplicity, to please people”.
His desire to evoke emotions in customers can be seen on the plate, with classics like Bourgogne snails and lobster rolls to pappardelle à la bolognaise and La Belle Milanese.
The menu is very extensive, yet – even on opening day – everything was executed perfectly. Sliced red tuna from the raw bar, jambon Bellota Ibérique, caviar Deviled eggs and Viennoise scallops were among our highlights on the day.
For dessert, the Café’s famous Crêpes Suzette are still theatrically set alight tableside.
Meanwhile, an army of servers ensure that every guest is taken care of.
The final piece of the puzzle
When the entire Café de Paris is complete, including the delivery of the Amazonico restaurant and adjoining luxury boutiques next year, Monte-Carlo SBM will have realised the final dimension of its elaborate vision for Monte-Carlo. It will mark the completion of an eye-wateringly expensive project that began with the building of One Monte-Carlo, continued with the renovation of the Hôtel de Paris, and concludes with the complete transformation of the Café de Paris.
For this Casino operator, it is a gamble that seems inevitable to pay off, as Monaco’s “hot new place to be” re-energises the historic district of Monte-Carlo and the very soul of Monaco itself.
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Main photo by Monte-Carlo SBM