Fairmont Monte Carlo: our review of the palace with the iconic rooftop pool and Nobu

Independent of the SBM group, the Fairmont Monte Carlo plays the accessible luxury card: rates often below the 700 € mark out of season, half the price of the neighbouring Hôtel de Paris. The property counts 596 rooms in a modernist building set between the Casino square and the port, with 180° views over the bay, spectacular terraces and a location directly on the Formula 1 Grand Prix circuit.

Without rivalling the heritage authenticity of the Belle Époque palaces, the Fairmont offers the best value for money in the Monegasque five-star segment. Our review covers the three classic use cases: short tourist stay, business trip and extended summer stay.

The Fairmont’s rooftop pool is one of Monaco’s iconic landmarks: a heated year-round pool, sunloungers facing the bay, a cocktail bar, a plunging view over the Formula 1 Grand Prix curve (the historic Loews hairpin). It is the main argument for staying here: few Monegasque hotels offer this combination of an outdoor pool and an open view. The rooftop is open to residents and for occasional event privatisations.

The 596 rooms: all with balcony, average size 35-40 m², sober contemporary décor (beige-white-midnight blue palette, light parquet, light marble bathroom). The standard is solid without being spectacular: no Calacatta marble, no Lalique chandeliers. For 450 €, it is entirely reasonable.

At the foot of the hotel, Nobu Monte Carlo offers the Japanese-Peruvian signature of chef Nobu Matsuhisa, replicated across the group’s thirty-odd worldwide addresses. Black cod miso, ceviche, sushi bar: the menu is familiar to those who know other Nobu restaurants, but the service is of a high standard and the room, open onto the port, is magnificent at dusk. For Nobu enthusiasts, this is the expected Monaco experience.

The other restaurants: L’Argentin (steakhouse, prime breed meats) and Le Saphir 24 (24/7, upscale brasserie) cover daily needs. Horizon Deck, the panoramic terrace on the 5th floor, serves a Sunday brunch that has now earned a reputation in the Principality.

The Willow Stream Spa, the Fairmont group’s wellness signature, features an indoor pool, a hammam, a sauna, a large panoramic fitness room and eight treatment rooms. More contemporary than the SBM Thermes Marins, it has the advantage of being included in most room rates (rather than charged as a supplement, as in some palaces). It is the other highlight of a stay here.

The Fairmont is the antidote to the overpriced Monegasque palace. It does not compete in the heritage category of the Hôtel de Paris, but it delivers the essentials at a reasonable rate.

Independent review: rating established by the La Revue des Hôtels editorial team on the basis of a visit, on-site observations and internal comparisons within the Monegasque palace segment. Editorial illustration visuals.