Arriving on the beautifully landscaped driveway of Monte-Carlo’s hidden Hôtel Métropole, you immediately know that you are in the realm of royalty. But discretion is de rigueur in jet-set-besieged Monaco, so don’t expect celebrity names to be dropped during check-in. The Hôtel Métropole is unquestionably one of the best hotels in Monaco. The 1886 Italian belle époque building was remodelled by Jacques Garcia in 2004 to create an interior of great comfort and relaxation with Renaissance, Egyptian and Napoleonic elements. The Hôtel Métropole embodies old-world glamour and the modern allure of Monte Carlo. Chef Joël Robuchon heads three destination restaurants, including the two-Michelin-star Joël Robuchon Monte-Carlo and his first ever Japanese restaurant, the Michelin-starred Yoshi. We had the pleasure of one of our best meals ever in the Joël Robuchon Monte-Carlo. The restaurant offers sophisticated but accessible cuisine with Mediterranean flavours, executed by Head Chef Christophe Cussac, who promotes fresh seasonal products. You can take normal portions but you can also order every dish as a small portion in a ‘tapas kind of way’.
 
We started with the famous Roseval potato with truffle, Parmesan and smoked foie gras shavings. The combination of the waxy potato with the richness of the foie gras worked superbly. After this we enjoyed crab with tomato confit and avocado. This was followed by an exquisite filet of John Dory en bohemienne meridionale and the fourth dish was Malabar pepper coated beef tenderloin with Joël Robuchon’s pomme purée. This was a stunning meal. It is exceptional to find such a high standard of food from start to finish and it was an example of world-class cooking. Back in our wonderful room, we were already planning our next trip to this magnificent hotel.

 Copyright 2014 Mart Engelen