Photo credits: montecarlosbm
Each May, the world’s second-smallest country becomes its loudest. For three days, the roar of Formula One engines ricochets off Belle Époque façades, echoing through narrow streets transformed into one of racing’s most demanding circuits. But to understand the Monaco Grand Prix is to look beyond the asphalt—to the rarefied atmosphere surrounding it.
Since 1929, the Monaco Grand Prix has represented not only the pinnacle of motorsport, but a convergence of tradition, status, and spectacle. Central to this experience is the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, Monaco’s historic hospitality group and a near-century-long partner of the Automobile Club de Monaco.
With 10% of the circuit running through its properties, SBM is not merely a backdrop to the Grand Prix—it is part of the track itself.
A Circuit with a Side of Caviar
In most cities, Grand Prix fans watch from grandstands. In Monaco, they dine in Michelin-starred restaurants perched above the chicane.
At the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, where race cars skim the edge of the famed Casino Square, guests can take in the action from Le Grill, located on the hotel’s eighth floor, or from the Salle Empire and Bar Américain, both steps from the track. Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse, the hotel’s triple-Michelin-starred institution, remains a culinary destination even amid the race weekend’s chaos.
Across the square, the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo hosts Pavyllon Monte-Carlo, led by celebrated chef Yannick Alléno, whose modern French cuisine is served with unobstructed race views.
Further down by the port, L’Hirondelle at the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo lets diners overlook both the sea and the screaming straightaways. The newly reimagined Café de Paris Monte-Carlo and Amazónico Monte-Carlo, both located in Casino Square, are also open for lunch throughout race weekend—a rarity—offering coveted terraces with 360-degree views of the action.
When the Engines Stop, the City Starts
Monaco’s nightlife during Grand Prix weekend unfolds like a multi-act opera. The mood shifts, but the drama remains.
Jimmy’z Monte-Carlo, a mainstay of European club culture since the 1970s, hosts four nights of international DJs, from underground favorites like DJ Tennis to tech house icon Marco Carola. Selva Monte-Carlo, a new subterranean venue under Amazónico, is fast becoming a fixture for global partygoers. It opens its race-weekend programming with DJ Ramyen on May 22 and closes with a Selva x Gospël showcase featuring Adam Ten, Sona, and others on May 25.
The after-party culture isn’t limited to clubs. Blue Gin at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort brings in resident DJ Nicolas Saad for four nights of waterfront sets, while Buddha-Bar Monte-Carlo and COYA Monte-Carlo offer a blend of live music, dancers, and dining until the early hours.
Even La Rascasse, a former fisherman’s bar at a hairpin turn on the circuit, transforms into a nightly live music hub during race weekend. From May 22 to 25, its terrace becomes a magnet for spectators seeking both music and proximity to the track.
Photo credits: montecarlosbm
Photo credits: montecarlosbm
A Chance to Drive — Or at Least Pretend To
For those who wonder what it’s like inside the cockpit, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort is offering a near-authentic substitute. Two Phoenix Pro F1 simulators, installed at L’Orange Verte, allow guests to experience full-motion, hyper-realistic racing from the safety of a terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. Open until May 28, the simulators are available without booking.
Racing Toward a New Kind of Luxury
In recent years, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has positioned itself at the forefront of sustainable hospitality. Its corporate social responsibility policy, first launched in 2007, addresses energy, resource use, and preservation of the local ecosystem. As Monaco’s largest private employer, SBM introduced a new ethical charter in 2023, reinforcing its focus on environmental standards and social equity within its 4,000-person workforce.
A World Within a City-State
To witness the Monaco Grand Prix from within the walls - and rooftops - of Monte-Carlo’s most storied institutions is to see a rare kind of choreography: Michelin chefs timing dishes between laps; DJs adjusting beats to the thunder of V6 turbo hybrids; hotel doormen who’ve watched this dance unfold for decades.
It’s not just racing. It’s Monaco in full bloom.