Travelling to Monaco with the little ones? Here’s where to stay, eat and visit

Words: Luciana Bellini

There are plenty of things that come to mind when you think of Monaco. Decadent five-star hotels and fine dining? Of course. Luxurious supercars? Bien sûr. Glamorous people-watching? Naturellement. But family-friendly? Not so much. That’s where you’d be wrong, though. A trip to Monte Carlo can actually be just as enjoyable for the kids as it is for the grownups – you just have to know where to book.

First up, you’ve got to choose the right hotel. Located at Square Beaumarchais, just steps from the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the historic Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo is one of the most storied properties in the principality. It also happens to be one of the most family-friendly thanks to its excellent kids’ room, which is open during the French school holidays (excluding February).

Designed for children aged three to 12, it comes equipped with building blocks, Lego kits, darts, tea sets, video games, colouring books, a reading corner and musical instruments. Perhaps best of all, the kids’ club also offers additional evening entertainment on Saturdays from 7pm to 10pm, so you’ve got somewhere to stash the little ones while you’re sitting down to dinner at the hotel’s celebrated two-Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant, L’Abysse Monte-Carlo by Yannick Alléno.

It’s not just the kids’ club that sets the Hermitage apart. When I visited with my husband and our five-year-old daughter, we were lucky enough to stay in a beautiful sea-facing room with a balcony overlooking Monaco’s iconic harbour. My daughter was delighted to find a kids’ welcome pack waiting in the room for her, complete with sweet treats, her own tiny hotel slippers and a giant teddy bear for her to play with during her stay. The hotel has also recently revealed a collection of newly redesigned rooms and 10 Diamond Suites designed by celebrated interior architect Pierre-Yves Rochon.

While dining can be tricky when you’re travelling with kids, Monaco has this taken care of too, with a host of the principality’s top restaurants catering to children. We loved the fact the Amazon-inspired restaurant Amazónico and the Café de Paris brasserie had kids’ menus they could order from, as well as packs filled with puzzles and colouring to keep them entertained. Meanwhile, back at the Hermitage, any guests booking in for Sunday brunch at Yannick Alléno’s Pavilion MonteCarlo during the school holidays get access to the hotel’s kids’ room.

As for days out, no family trip to Monaco is complete without a visit to the Monte-Carlo Beach Club. Kids will love splashing around in the Olympic-sized seawater pool or lounging on the private beach, while the Monte-Carlo Kids Club by Petit VIP provides plenty of fun activities for when parents need a bit of time to themselves. Thought Monaco wasn’t for kids? Think again.

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