The Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo is one of Monaco's historic grand hotels, built in the Belle Époque at the start of the twentieth century on the slope above Port Hercule. It stands on Square Beaumarchais, a quiet corner just behind the Casino and the Hôtel de Paris, and it shares the same management and a similar sense of occasion, but the feel is a little calmer and more leafy. Its best-known feature is the Winter Garden, a glass-and-iron dome over a light, plant-filled lobby and lounge, a space that is often attributed to the workshop of Gustave Eiffel and that gives the hotel its character. The rooms and suites are traditionally elegant, with many looking over the sea and the harbour, and some have terraces, which are among the most sought-after places in Monaco for a breakfast or a drink with a view. The hotel also has several restaurants and bars, spa facilities and a connection to the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo spa, which offers seawater treatments and a heated seawater pool.
Location is the main attraction. You are a few minutes' walk from the Casino, Casino Square, the Opera and the shops of the Golden Square, and you can reach Port Hercule, the Condamine market and the station on foot by walking downhill, though the way back is a climb. The Grand Prix circuit passes close by, so the hotel is a natural base for motorsport fans, and in race week it is one of the best-placed addresses in Monaco, though rates and minimum stays rise sharply.
Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is roughly a half-hour drive away, and taxis and private transfers are easy to arrange at the front desk. The streets around the hotel are steep, so a room close to the lifts and a taxi in the evening are sensible choices.
Staying here
Choose your room by view and floor, because sea-view and terrace rooms carry a premium and courtyard or city views are the cheaper end of the range. Dining and drinking are part of the draw, with a mix of restaurants and bars that vary in style and season, so check which are open for the dates you plan to stay and reserve ahead for popular tables.
Spa treatments should be booked in advance, and spa access rules differ by room category, so ask when you book. Ask also about breakfast, parking, pets and the minimum age for check-in, because policies and charges change by date.
Who it suits
Couples and honeymooners, anniversary trips and travellers who want Monte-Carlo ceremony with a quieter, more residential setting than the square itself. It works well for a three-night stay, giving you time for a morning at the Casino, a walk to the Rock and a day of coast trips by train.
Families are welcome, but the atmosphere is adult and the price level is high, so consider Fontvieille or Larvotto if a beach or a larger pool matters more. It is not the choice for a tight budget, but outside peak dates the rates can be more reasonable than you might expect for the address.
Why stay here
- ✓Belle Époque building with glass-domed Winter Garden
- ✓Walk to the Casino and Casino Square
- ✓Sea and harbour view rooms
- ✓Terraces on selected rooms
- ✓Spa and fitness facilities
- ✓Link to Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo
- ✓Restaurants and bars
- ✓Concierge and airport transfers
Good questions
Where is the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo?+
On Square Beaumarchais in Monte-Carlo, just behind the Casino and the Hôtel de Paris, a few minutes' walk from Casino Square and close to the Grand Prix circuit.
What is the Winter Garden?+
It is the glass dome over the hotel's lobby and lounge, a light-filled space of iron and glass that is often attributed to the workshop of Gustave Eiffel and is one of the hotel's signature features.
Is there a spa?+
The hotel has spa facilities and a link to the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo, which offers seawater treatments and a heated seawater pool. Treatments should be booked in advance.
