Updated on March 20, 2025
Beneath the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo lies an exceptional place: majestic cellars housing 300,000 exceptional bottles. A precious heritage, they are now open to a privileged public thanks to a renovation that promises unique experiences. Dive into the heart of a timeless treasure trove of history, tastings and exclusive discoveries.
An extraordinary treasure
It's a haven for wine lovers. The Hôtel de Paris cellars are one of Monte-Carlo's hidden treasures. Built following the model of Bordeaux wine warehouses during Prince Charles III of Monaco's reign, ten years after the construction of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, the 1,500 square metres of corridors and reserve have undergone very few modifications. Marie Blanc was so visionary that she planned big enough to ensure Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer's central cellar would never be considered too narrow. Yet, the wine heritage has continued to grow to the point where today the cellars house some 300,000 exceptional bottles and over 7,000 different wines which - unique in the world - supply all of the Group's restaurants.
Bottles preserved in the best conditions. The temperature always remains between 13 and 14°C, and the humidity level is close to 80%.
A timeless setting for wine
Under these vaults that give a strange impression of eternity, the nectars rest and time brings them to full maturity. Here, 90% of the wines are French. The corridors resemble a reimagined wine map: Rhône Valley, Burgundy, Provence, Bordeaux... A unique collection of jeroboams (three-litre containers, equivalent to four bottles) and methuselahs (six litres, equivalent to eight bottles) majestically punctuates the walk.
A kilometre and a half of bottle racks seem to tell a century and a half of France's history and its regions. And to discover, during a visit, a cellar dedicated solely to Romanée-Conti wines, a numbered bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild celebrating the 1945 victory, a Château d'Yquem from 1890...
One might think this is a museum. Not at all! Each day, some 900 bottles are removed from stock by sommeliers to meet client requests from more than thirty Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer dining venues.
The cellars as you've never seen them before
There are places where magic works with such force that it leaves unforgettable memories. The wine cellars of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo are among them. Reserved for wine professionals and a few privileged visitors, the 1,500 square metres of galleries are gradually being unveiled to Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer clients.
The renovation project was entrusted to the Parisian firm Moinard Bétaille, in collaboration with Monegasque architect Gabriel Viora, which notably designed Château Troplong Mondot in Saint-Émilion (France) in 2023. An area of 310 square metres has been transformed to welcome visitors in a truly enhanced space.
After an initial renovation marking the cellars' 150th anniversary, work resumed in full force between November 2024 and April 2025 to allow for more visits and offer exclusive experiences, including a tasting room and a vast reception area.
A starlit vault for Marie Blanc's reserve
From May, it will be possible to discover or rediscover these fabulous depths of Monte-Carlo which, 10 metres underground, feature a space of rare elegance reminiscent of a gigantic barrel whose wooden staves let light filter through.
Every evening at 19:00 and 20:00, tours for groups of 2 to 10 people are available for restaurant clients upon request. It is also possible to book a dinner or a cocktail reception. And for the greatest wine enthusiasts, the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo Cellars Circle opens its doors to them with a range of exclusive offers.
Beyond the long storage corridors and logistics area, clients will also be able to discover Marie Blanc's fabulous reserve, entirely reimagined with a vault that, like Bacchus' starry sky, allows rays of light to pass through. Here, the rarest bottles are displayed, some dating back to the 19th century. Like a sanctuary, this showcase pays beautiful tribute to Marie Blanc, an exceptional woman and widow of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer's founder, who built the cellars with her own funds in 1874.
Proof that wine is certainly not just a man's game, and hasn't been for a long time!
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