REBIRTH OF A LEGEND A tip-to-toe renovation of Monaco’s leading hotel – and its three top-shelf restaurants – takes glamour to new heights, says LANIE GOODMAN C all it a life-changing meeting in a legendary spot. In 1951, while 22-year-old ingénue Audrey Hepburn was filming a scene of Monte Carlo Baby inside the gilded Rococostyle lobby of Monaco’s famed Hôtel de Paris, she noticed a woman staring at her intently. Little did she dream that the frizzy-haired woman in a wheelchair, who rolled past the set on her way to her hotel suite, was the iconic French author Colette. The 78-year-old writer was so mesmerised by the young actress that she recommended Hepburn for a stage version of Gigi, thereby launching a fresh face into stardom. Fast forward to January 2019 and another remarkable transformation. Now, after a four-year, multi-million-euro revamp, the spotlight has returned to the glamorous grande dame, the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. The jewel-box Belle Époque palace, which was once frequented not only by entertainment A-listers but also by grand dukes, royals, statesmen and glitterati – has been brought into the 21st century with an ultra-stylish mix of contemporary furnishings and high-tech touches. The renovations have also introduced brand-new additions, including a 70-room Art Deco bedroom wing with a rooftop wellness centre, a jewellery boutiquelined interior courtyard and chef Alain Ducasse’s latest innovative creation, Ômer. “In Monte-Carlo, we’re right in front of the sea, so we synthesised different flavours of the Mediterranean to give an idea of the diversity of its culture,” says Ducasse. Headed by chef Patrick Laine, the restaurant Ômer features a stunning array of dishes from Turkey, Spain, Lebanon, Greece and North Africa, beginning with the mouthwatering meze: crispy fried anchovies, baby calamari, stuffed vine leaves, falafel, and chicken livers with hummus. Highlights include rations such as smoked grilled 98 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo‘s fabled history, welcoming such celebrated guests as Frank Sinatra, above, is reflected in the opulent decor of restaurant Le Louis XV - Alain Ducasse, left CONTACT CENTURION SERVICE FOR BOOKINGS CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM 99
