Recently, my husband and I took our first ever trip to Monaco to celebrate a friends birthday. It was a very much invited break for both of us really. A month before was our 5th year marriage anniversary which we barely celebrated. I was exhausted after arriving back from Paris Fashion Week a day before and my husband, shattered from running a home, working deadlines with two toddlers in tow. So yeah, we couldn’t wait to get away!
In brief I never expected to love and enjoy Monaco as much as I did, I was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the country was, mainly because it’s not somewhere that’s really ever been on my radar, and secondly we drove from Essex all the way there. We were able to take in the breathtaking scenery, green reserves and architecture from Paris, to Lyon, to Monaco.
The drive was approximately 12 hours, we drove four hours into Paris, and stayed a night both ways, another four hours into Lyon, and stopped for dinner and then the last stretch, four hours into Monaco. Crazy you might say but once the trip was broken up it wasn’t so bad, plus my husband LOVES driving.
After a long drive into the district of Monte-Carlo we pulled up in my husband Mercedes g63 s GT and checked in at the renowned Fairmont Hotel for our three day escapade. The service was amazing, I mean in terms of interiors and style it’s not my vibe, but I would still stay there again because the service was that good and the view we had from our room was simply breathtaking. I remember pulling back the curtains the next morning and gasping at the view.
Anyway, I have a whole vlog that will be going live soon on my YouTube channel, so make sure you subscribe and vicariously relive my holiday. Now back to the purpose of this post before I began rambling! Here are some of my looks and favourite places to eat if you visit Monte-Carlo one day (which I highly recommend you do!)
Buddha Bar
I think many may be familiar with Buddha Bar, but in case you aren’t, Buddha Bar is a bar, restaurant, and hotel franchise created by French-Romanian restaurateur Raymond Vișan and DJ and interior designer Claude Challeis. With locations across the world, we chose this high-end Pan-Asian eatery as the perfect spot for dinner. Arriving as a group of 10, we were seated at a huge round table and the service and food were really good. My favourites from the menu were the Lobster Tacos and the Rock Shrimp. I also tried their shrimp fried rice, but unfortunately, it was on the bland side for me.
What I wore
Giacomo
A gorgeous Southern-Italian restaurant located on the strip by the stunning Plage du Larvotto beach. The views were scenic! And although our reservation was for inside the restaurant, the traditional Italian interiors featuring pink walls and beautiful art didn’t disappoint. The food was a 10 out of 10, and even though we felt rushed by the waiters, adding a negative into the mix, I would ABSOLUTELY go back because the food was madness! If you go, be sure to order the Truffle and Mushroom Pizza, truffle pasta, truffle arancini and the grilled octopus. Lord, my mouth watereth as I type!
What I wore
La Note Bleue
Ok now, no cap but this might have been THE BEST Thai Salad I have ever had in my entire life. It was at the La Note Bleue located a few doors down from Giacomo on Plage du Larvotto beach. On this occasion we were there for a late lunch again but managed to snag a seat outside on the beachfront and watch the sunset. When my salad arrived (I didn’t want anything too heavy because we had a dinner reservation later that evening) the presentation was what got me at first, I ordered mine with grilled prawns and it was everything plus more. I just don’t understand how something so simple could taste so delicious. I have to also mention that the service was incredible, we had such a lovely, chilled and friendly waiter.
What I wore
La Mome Monte-Carlo
Now this restaurant took me by surprise. Our last evening, a group of 12 headed to La Mome to celebrate our friend’s birthday and boy oh boy what a celebration it was. We tried to push the reservation to a later time as a few of us were still full from lunch, however we were told the restaurant was in high demand and we had to be there on time or lose our reservation entirely. It all made sense because this was just a huge party with fancy delicious food. We had live singing entertainment, break outs of traditional mediterranean songs with sparklers, the biggest and most extravagant Happy Birthday dedication you’ve ever seen, they even dropped Last-Last by Burna Boy and the whole place was turning up, young and old! It was such an exhilarating and fun experience to say the least. Now the food, chile! There were some ups and downs; For example my husband had to send his Truffle Steak back 3 times because it was over cooked, (I think he just got the short straw) because 6 others got the same but theirs was fine. I had the best Tuna Tartare I have ever tasted, it was seriously delicious. David’s Beef and Truffle Arancini starter was INSANE, and my Herb Crusted Lamb Chops were chef’s kiss. Also to note, their Sweet Potato Mash was gorgeously delicious too!
What I wore
One thing I know you guys love is food reviews, so I hope this helps if you are ever to visit Monte-Carlo one day. Be sure to check out and subscribe to my YouTube channel and check out the vlog coming soon!
Bonus look
