The Côte d’Azur has never been short on style, and this timeless yet chic hotel is equipped with a cordial (not to mention quadrilingual) staff that’s eager to please. Pass the Rolls-Royces and Bentleys in the driveway and you’ll find a property that combines a 21,000-square-foot ESPA Spa, two Michelin-starred restaurants and interiors by Jacques Garcia (of Hôtel Costes fame), all in an 1886 Italian Belle Époque building. If that doesn’t define the spirit of Monte Carlo, we don’t know what does.

Roll up to Monaco’s hidden Hôtel Metropole on the cobblestoned and lushly landscaped driveway and you can immediately see that you’re in the realm of royalty. But discretion is an art form in jetset-besieged Monte Carlo, so don’t expect celebrity names to be dropped during check-in.

The two on-site Joël Robuchon restaurants — one Japanese, one French — are both Michelin-starred.The 1886 Italian Belle Époque building was given a fresh interior redo by Jacques Garcia (of Hôtel Costes fame) in 2004. Garcia brought in Renaissance, Egyptian and Napoleonic elements, with silk walls and Corinthian column façades here and rococo paintings and velvet Empire sofas there. It may sound pompous to some, but it’s actually quite comfortable and loungey, not to mention organic to its surroundings.

Still, if one whimsical brush stroke of rococo is too much for you, head to the breezy and more mod outdoor saltwater pool bar. Savor a bowl of fresh fruit or a Pimms and take in the meticulously landscaped bluebells, palm trees and magnolias that frame the views of the yacht-lined harbor and beaches below.

On-site amenities are also a selling point for Metropole. The 21,000-square-foot ESPA Spa (complete with crystal steam room and ice fountain) and two Joël Robuchon restaurants (one Japanese, one French, both Michelin-starred) up the luxury ante. Both deliver an amazing experience and impeccable service, an unusual asset on the sometimes too-carefree Med. The staff at the Metropole can arrange anything from beach transfers with bottles of rosé to 24-hour room service. A 5 a.m. breakfast of French onion soup and a bottle of Veuve Cliquot just might prepare you for the next day in Monte Carlo.

What to do:

• Place a Bet. Get a glimpse of the lavish Monte Carlo Casino, used as a location in two James Bond films, Never Say Never Again and GoldenEye.
• Party. Down some bubbly and groove to Afro-funk and Motown tunes at the chic Black Legend nightclub, created by the CEO of Groupe Floirat.
• Get Cultured. Take in a show by the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, which helped transform Monaco into a cultural destination.
• Dine. After you’ve had a few meals at Joël Robuchon’s restaurants at the Metropole, have lunch at Alain Ducasse’s venerated three-Michelin-star Louis XV.
• Sail. It’s all about the gorgeous Mediterranean views here; why not take them in firsthand? Charter a crewed yacht with CSO Yachts; prices start at about $1,000 per day.

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