The Métropole has been welcoming guests in Monte-Carlo since 1889. Jacques Garcia has given the house its interiors, Karl Lagerfeld designed the pool restaurant – and at Les Ambassadeurs, Christophe Cussac cooks two-star cuisine.
In this story · 6 sections
A few steps from the casino in Monte-Carlo lies the Hôtel Métropole, in the district known as the Carré d'Or. The establishment opened in 1889, in the midst of the Belle Époque that made Monte-Carlo Europe's winter resort, and it has since welcomed an international clientele. Today it is privately owned and has a two-star restaurant on the ground floor.
What makes the Métropole special in a city full of luxury hotels is the combination of history and two strong designers: the interior architect Jacques Garcia and the fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.
Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo
- Address
- 4 avenue de la Madone, 98000 Monaco
- Opened
- 1889
- Architect
- Hans-Georg Tersling
- Interior
- Jacques Garcia (reopened 2004)
- Rooms
- 126, of which 64 are suites
- Restaurants
- Les Ambassadeurs (two stars 2026), Yoshi, Odyssey
- Spa
- Spa Metropole by Givenchy
01From 1889 to the Metropole Palace
According to the hotel's own history, the property was purchased in 1886 by the Monte-Carlo Hotel Company Ltd., and the hotel opened in 1889. The building is attributed to the architect Hans-Georg Tersling.
In the 1980s, the hotel was bought by the Lebanese property developer Nabil Boustany, who restored it and renamed it Metropole Palace. The hotel is still privately owned.
02Jacques Garcia's hotel
In autumn 2003 a second restoration began, this time with Jacques Garcia as designer, and in summer 2004 the hotel reopened under the name Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo. In 2017 the large public areas were refurbished, and in 2019 Garcia recreated the Carré d'Or suite. The hotel has 126 rooms, of which 64 are suites.
Garcia also designed the dining room at Les Ambassadeurs, in tones of bronze, ivory and gold.
03Lagerfeld's Odyssey and the Japanese garden
By the pool lies Odyssey, a restaurant designed by Karl Lagerfeld, surrounded by gardens. The hotel's Japanese restaurant Yoshi opens onto a Japanese-style garden, designed by the landscape architect Jacques Messin. According to the hotel's 2023 press kit, Yoshi was awarded a Michelin star in 2010.
In April 2017, the Spa Metropole by Givenchy opened.
04Les Ambassadeurs and Christophe Cussac
The hotel's gastronomic restaurant has long been associated with Joël Robuchon, whose restaurant here received its second star in 2007. Executive Chef Christophe Cussac, who trained alongside Robuchon and has been at the Métropole for two decades, today carries the legacy forward at Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac.
The restaurant opened in July 2023 and was awarded two stars in the Guide Michelin nine months later. It has retained them in the 2026 guide – see the Riviera's star restaurants 2026. Cussac's principle is three flavours per plate – nothing superfluous, everything essential. The desserts are made by pastry chef Patrick Mesiano, who received the Michelin Passion Dessert award in 2024.
05The Carré d'Or and the Monaco around it
From the Carré d'Or, you can reach the casino, the Opéra de Monte-Carlo and the gardens in front of the casino within minutes. The principality can be explored district by district in VERA PI's Monaco guide, and our Monaco guides are collected at metromode.co/monaco. For more of the city's tables, read eating in Monaco beyond Louis XV.
06How to make the most of a stay at the Métropole
Book a table at Les Ambassadeurs at the same time as the room – the restaurant serves dinner and is not open every day. During Grand Prix week in May, Monaco is fully booked, so book early. Ask for a room facing the sea or the garden.
