Published on February 20, 2020Updated on March 06, 2024
Would you like to know where to go for a mojito or two in Monaco? Whether you are relaxing after work, meeting up with friends or a date, or getting ready to explore everything Monaco's bar scene has to offer, check out our selection of the best bars, cocktail lounges and speakeasies in the city-state. These hip, chic destinations are the place to be if you want to refresh your senses or enjoy a great night out boozing on the Riviera.
The Best Bars in Monaco: Top destinations for after-work drinks
During the summer season, the Crystal Bar takes up residence in the paradisaical Jardin Excelsior and becomes the Crystal Lounge. It offers a lounge atmosphere for evenings under the stars in the heart of Monte-Carlo, with its wide choice of drinks, a chicha bar, a finger food menu and assortments and boards to share that make the most of moments with friends in complete relaxation.
If you would like some musical accompaniment to go with your Sazerac or aperitif, head in the direction of Monaco port to La Rascasse. This bar and lounge is absolutely not to be missed during nights out in the Principality. The after-work drinks specials it organizes every week night are kicked off by an acoustic musician or a DJ, and you can also enjoy some small bites while sipping on orange bitters or something equally delicious. The atmosphere is lively and convivial.
Another of the city-state’s legendary hangouts, the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, is strategically located for taking in everything Monaco has to offer, as it overlooks the majestic glitz of the Place du Casino. Meet up with friends on this brasserie-style bar’s rooftop and set the world to rights, admire the luxury cars cruising by or soak in the vibes a little longer during a delicious dinner.
The Principality’s best places for drinks in a cozy ambiance
Are you looking for a sophisticated spot for a tete-a-tete? Then the Bar Américain – or “American Bar” – is the place for you. This legendary cocktail lounge in the equally famous Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo has a plush, jazzy ambiance that sets the scene perfectly for special moments. It is open morning until night, so you can sample original or classic cocktails, sip a glass of champagne or vintage wine, warm your bones with a cup of tea and a pastry, and take a look at its food menu for lunch or dinner. On an evening, it is one of the best bars in Monaco for cosmopolitan jazzy, soul-inflected music.
A brand-new space with even more sea views to enjoy: the Shisha Lounge Bar
The spectacular setting of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo provides an exceptional, all-enveloping experience, with the lush greenery of a Mediterranean garden exuding the exquisite fragrance of lemon trees, kumquats and wild sage, breath-taking sea views, and a shaded terrace that makes the perfect place for a bite to eat on warm summer days. Amidst these chic, relaxing surroundings, Em Sherif Monte-Carlo also offers guests the chance to enjoy a Shisha Lounge Bar, which is open afternoons and evenings.
Discover Em Sherif Monte-Carlo
La Vigie Lounge & Restaurant
For a total change of scene (and perhaps some craft beers), head over to La Vigie, the Monte-Carlo Beach’s summer bar and restaurant. From its hilltop perch covered with pine trees and stunning views of the Mediterranean coastline, glittering blue seas extend as far as the eye can see. Its armchairs and couches are upholstered with Balinese fabrics, making them particularly inviting and relaxing when you are sipping a mai tai or a mint julep. A bohemian air reigns in this casual-chic destination, where the bar menu includes fruit juices, wines and all kinds of classic drinks, as well as fresh grilled meat and fish served all day long. A DJ set helps to get the party started as you tuck into cocktails, champagne and a sharing platter while the sun sets. And make sure you head over there in real style - by boat!
The Principality’s best casino bar
Discover the Salle Europe's bar and lounge
The bar at the Casino de Monte-Carlo, meanwhile, is so much more than just a bar...
A drink in the Salle Europe Bar is also a chance to marvel at a room packed with legend and history, with gilding, paintings, sculptures and bas-reliefs all in fierce competition to catch your eye. These sumptuous surroundings are brought alive by the buoyant, thrilling atmosphere of the gaming tables, making the Salle Europe Bar the ultimate watering hole for punters.
Monaco and its amazing cocktail bars
The Principality of Monaco also offers drinkers a selection of undeniably charming and exclusive destinations. One of them is the Blue Gin, the bar lounge at the Monte-Carlo Bar Hotel & Resort. The atmosphere is plush, so it is one of the best bars in Monaco for drinks with friends or a date. The cocktail menu is packed with inventive, original creations, and there is also a selection of canapes designed by chef Marcel Ravin to choose from. Outside, the terrace boasts amazing panoramic views over the Mediterranean sea whatever the season. When the colder months come around, the cantina is transformed into a mountain chalet with a heated terrace, offering amazing views of the city. Every weekend, the DJ takes to the decks and adds some spice to your evening.
As we mentioned, the Bar Américain is one of Monaco’s legendary hotspots. Having first opened in 1929 in the prestigious Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, it has successfully maintained its sophisticated twenties speakeasy ambiance. Its carved woodwork, leather armchairs and silky upholstery give it a timeless charm that visitors and eminent guests always love. Every night, it is the perfect place for a glass of whisky or a signature cocktail serenaded by excellent live entertainment, which is often jazzy or bluesy in tone or inspired by French chanson. In the daytime, it is also a delight to settle down in the rooftop lounge and take in the sweeping views of the Casino de Monte-Carlo.
Cool nights out in Monaco
The Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort has got a whole host of fun and funky nights out in store for you! Check out some of this summer’s hottest events, from lagoon-side fiestas at Las Brisas to themed nights at the Blue Gin. On the agenda is a Havana Night at the Blue Gin on 8 July, and, last but not least, we’d love for you to join us on Saturday 3 September to see out summer in style with a Lagoon Night in the idyllic surroundings of the lagoon and Mediterranean Gardens of the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort.
Once evening falls, the magic hour descends when the Buddha-Bar Monte-Carlo’s unique eastern-inspired décor comes into its own. Its warmly colorful salon is decorated with carved woodwork, gilding and sculptures, including a giant meditating Buddha. Anyone looking for a place to enjoy drink specials while listening to a lounge music soundtrack should check it out. Its rooftop patio is also perfect for starlit summer evenings. You might even want to extend your night by heading upstairs for fine dining in the restaurant, where the food menu is peppered with Asian specialties.
Party time: Which bars should you go to in Monaco?
Monaco’s sparkling, fun-packed nightclubs reign supreme on the Cote d’Azur. It is a much-favored haunt among clubbers and international jetsetters, who flock to it so they can dance in the French Riviera’s ultra-chic, hip bars. The newly opened COYA Monte-Carlo and its Pisco Bar & Lounge add some Latin American spice to your evening, inviting you to get the fiesta started. Its Peruvian cantina is a real treat, while its bar and lounge pulses with a caliente Latin electro beat thanks to the resident DJ collective. Its drink menu offers guests a selection of the best cocktails and rare and refined beverages. COYA Monte-Carlo opens on an evening from April to October, and its calendar regularly boasts themed nights, including a noche blanca.
The next item in our travel guide is a single destination, but it has two very different ambiances. When aperitif time comes around, La Rascasse is the perfect place to relax as you gaze out over Monaco port – but it is also famous for its unforgettable nightlife. There is something different in the agenda every evening, from concerts to DJ sets and salsa nights, so if you love to party, this is the best bar in Monaco to savor live entertainment. The bar also keeps up with all the latest major events happening in the Principality. La Rascasse is tucked away in a famous bend in the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix’s track, so not only is it a great spot for watching the race on Quai Albert I, but also the place to go for wild after-parties.
If you were to go to only one destination on your night out in Monaco, it would have to be Jimmy’z Monte-Carlo. This iconic part of Monaco’s night scene has become a genuine clubbing institution, and it has welcomed some of the world’s best DJs during its 40-year history. Movie stars and other beautiful people get the dancefloor jumping in an extremely glamorous ambiance. This must-visit nightclub is open all night long from March to October.
Discover the Jimmy'z Monte-Carlo
Last but not least, the Buddha-Bar Monte-Carlo is another top tip. The ambiance in this hip bar gets hotter and hotter as the night goes on, and it is located in what was once the Casino de Monte-Carlo’s Cabaret de Monte-Carlo. DJ Papa surveys the scene as he spins the decks, getting the party started with his mix of electro-world tunes. Its décor is warm and the ambiance is unique, so it is one of the best bars in Monaco for anyone who loves to dance.
Are you looking for somewhere to eat with your friends after an aperitif or before you hit the nightclubs? Then check out the Resort de Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s tips for Monaco’s best bars and restaurants, covering everything from tapas to fine dining.
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