Fodor's Expert Review Le Louis XV
In Monaco, cosmetic surgery extends even to buildings, and no better example can be seen than at Le Louis XV at the Hôtel de Paris, where Alain Ducasse’s flagship restaurant has undergone the architectural knife of Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku, in the hopes that visitors will always be wondering if they're in the glamorous past or the modern future. Mission accomplished: a custom-designed circular chandelier with 800 pieces of Murano glass hovers over the “Office,” an open metal-and-wood kiosk that serves as the central service station. The makeover harmonizes with Ducasse’s overhauled dinner-only menu—a return to the Riviera’s art de vivre and simplicity. Try the Provence garden vegetables cooked with black truffle or baked locally caught fish, tomatoes, and olives from Nice. Set menus are a better value: the Jardins de Provence menu is €230, or you can get four half dishes selected by the chef, along with cheeses and dessert for €390.