Forget delicate finger sandwiches and dainty scones. Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo’s winter offering is all about chocolate. Executive Chef Christophe Cussac, Pastry Chef Patrick Mesiano and Head Bartender Mickaël Bellec have created an afternoon experience that puts the world’s finest cocoa front and centre.
Available through the end of March, ‘Chocolate Time’ transforms the hotel into what can only be described as a true chocolate bar — where the finest cocoa grands crus are revealed in a symphony of textures, aromas and emotions.
This isn’t afternoon tea with a chocolate éclair on the side. This is chocolate as the main event, the star attraction, the reason you clear your calendar on a Tuesday afternoon.
The art of sharing
At the heart of the menu sits the Chocolate Fondue at €52, designed for sharing between at least two people (although four is more realistic). Rich, velvety chocolate bubbles gently over a flame, accompanied by fresh fruit for dipping. It’s the kind of experience that slows time, encouraging conversation and laughter as you compete for the perfect strawberry.
But the fondue is just the beginning. The Chocolate, Caramel and Peanut Bar (€26) is pure indulgence — layers of sweet and salty that somehow manage to be both sophisticated and utterly comforting. It’s the kind of thing you think about days later.
The sharing menu continues with a Cookie and Vanilla Ice Cream (€26) and the intriguing Brioché Crème Brûlée with Chocolate Chips (€26) — because why choose between breakfast pastry and dessert when you can have both?
Pastry perfection
The hotel’s chocolate atelier produces a range of individual pastries at €19 each that showcase Patrick Mesiano’s artistry. The Guanaja Chocolate Finger features premium Valrhona chocolate in an elegant, elongated form. The Crispy Milk Chocolate Tart balances texture with creamy sweetness, while the Dark Chocolate Mousse offers pure, unadulterated cocoa intensity.
For those seeking something special, La Signature awaits at €24: the Soufflé Chocolate Tart with homemade praliné. This show-stopping creation requires 10 minutes to prepare — a small price to pay for something so ethereal it practically floats off the plate.
Gourmet afternoon treats
The Gourmet Delights section (€19) caters to those seeking comfort in cocoa form. The Cacao Marble Cake offers nostalgic swirls of vanilla and chocolate, while the Caraïbe Chocolate Flan delivers silky custard with deep chocolate notes. The Cappuccino Brioche brings coffee and chocolate together in pillowy, buttery layers.
Where cocktails meet cocoa
This is where Mickaël Bellec’s creativity truly shines. The Noir Intense cocktail (€31) is spectacular — Macallan Harmony V whisky infused with Phoenix Honey Orchid tea honey, tonka bean and Angostura bitters. It’s sophisticated, complex, and pairs beautifully with the richer chocolate offerings. One sip and you understand why this has become the signature drink of the experience.
The Cascade Chocolatée (€31) combines vanilla-infused gin with Amaretto, Kahlúa and chocolate for those who prefer their cocoa with a botanical twist. The Choco Milk Punch (€31) features rum infused with star anise and cinnamon, orange, lemon juice, gingerbread syrup and chocolate — warm, spiced, and utterly luxurious.
For non-drinkers, the Choco-Délice mocktail (€25) offers apple juice, spiced cocoa caramel and ginger ale — proof that you don’t need alcohol for sophistication.
The Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Tea Time
At €74, this package elevates chocolate indulgence to an occasion. Choose between a glass of Ruinart Blanc de Blancs champagne or Macallan Harmony V (or the Noir Intense cocktail), add your choice of tea and any pastry from the menu, and you’ve created the perfect afternoon escape.
It’s the kind of experience that transforms an ordinary Tuesday into something memorable.
Hot chocolate, perfected
The traditional hot chocolate (€19) arrives with vanilla whipped cream, made in-house and bearing no resemblance to anything that comes from a packet. The cinnamon version adds warming spice that feels like a hug in a cup.
For the adventurous, the Infusion with cocoa bean and cocoa bean shells (€18) offers an earthy, surprising drink that lets you taste chocolate in its purest form. The “Chez Mamie” tea (€18) blends green and black teas with cocoa, cinnamon, almond and orange for something both comforting and exotic.
Pure indulgence at its finest
What makes Chocolate Time at the Métropole special is the complete commitment to the experience. This isn’t a few chocolate items added to an existing menu — it’s an entire concept built around the idea that chocolate, at its finest, deserves to be the center of attention.
Chocolate Time runs through the end of March at Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo.
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Photos courtesy of Hôtel Metropole