6 Best Restaurants in Monaco

Only in Monaco can opulence be served on a plate, and only at Alain Ducasse’s flagship, three-Michelin-star restaurant in the Hôtel de Paris, can you taste it. At Le Louis XV, Ducasse embraces the Riviera’s art de vivre and simplicity, with dishes like grilled local fish and oysters from Maison Giol with salicornia (seaweed) and pistachio praline. Set menus are a better value: the Jardins de Provence menu is €260, or you can get four half dishes selected by the chef, along with cheeses and dessert for €380. Don't expect to save on lunch: the set menu will still put you back €210; tack on another €70 for two glasses of wine, water, and coffee.

Tucked away at the far end of the Fontvieille Port, with spectacular views of the cathedral and the oceanography museum suspended on the Rock above, this restaurant with a few unpretentious wooden tables and chairs is where celebrities like Clooney and Pitt were rumored to come for a dégustation (tasting). Whether they were dining next to a prince, a model, or an everyday local, it wouldn't matter to the owners—two marine biologists from Brittany—as to them, everyone is made to eat the freshest of shellfish, crustaceans, and fish. The food is also surprisingly affordable for Monaco: a dozen No. 3 oysters accompanied by a glass of white organic wine will only set you back €36, or try the six organic shrimp for €16. No wonder reservations are a must.

You could easily walk past this unassuming restaurant—near Larvotto Beach along one of the world’s most expensive streets—and not have a clue that its four eating areas are packed with locals loyal to chef Andréa Lanzillotta. Locally sourced ingredients go into its simple salads, pizzas, pastas, and fish or grilled beef dishes, all of which are reasonably priced (for Monaco) and won't leave you feeling heavy like dishes at some Michelin-starred restaurants.

The landmark Belle Époque Brasserie 1900—better known as Café de Paris—reopened in summer 2023 after an ambitious renovation. Supercilious and super-professional waiters still fawn gracefully over titled preeners, jet-setters, and tourists enjoying classic fare (shellfish, steak tartare, matchstick frites), but now there is an additional floor. Although the emphasis is on beef at the new rooftop Amazonico restaurant, it also has a sushi bar and a jazz club. To claim "I've been there," grab a chair outside in Place du Casino, order a €9 coke or a €10 Monaco beer, and sit back to watch the show.

This warehouse-scale, neo–Art Deco bistro on the port packs in Monaco residents. The people-watching is optimal no matter where you sit while tucking into rich brasserie classics (think lamb shank on the bone with potato puree, rosemary, and spicy gravy) or the restaurant's renowned oysters and seafood platters. The lunch special and three-course €26 meal are excellent value. There's also an organic selection, but it is très expensive.