Known as the millionaires’ playground, Monaco is the glittering city-state on the coastline of Southern France. Adorned with twinkling lights, populated by celebrities and millionaires and with plenty of sunshine throughout the year, it’s the perfect place to visit for a city break while you’re in the glorious South of France.
The Monte Carlo area of Monaco is famous for exuding a certain mystique and exclusivity synonymous with the city-state. With the opportunity to attend events like the Monaco Grand Prix on the Monte-Carlo circuit and the PokerStars Championship at the Casino de Monte-Carlo or visit grand buildings like the Prince’s Palace, you’re sure to be impressed by the extravagance displayed here.
It also happens to be an excellent place to get vegetarian and vegan food while in the country. Catering for every palate with diverse menus ranging from raw food to “clean” eating to Michelin stars to Japanese fusion, there is a guarantee you’ll find something here to tickle your taste buds. On this page I’m sharing the best vegetarian and vegan food spots in Monaco.
Eqvita
Founded by tennis star Novak Djokovic and his wife, Jelena, this restaurant is entirely plant-based and organic. The couple’s aim when opening this food venture was to offer healthy vegan options to anyone and everyone interested in eating it — their entire menu is gluten- and sugar-free as well as vegan. Customers can choose from several tempting dishes, including zucchini pasta, vegetable gnocchi, raw lasagna or a fantastic bean burger. When it comes to dessert, the chocolate mousse is a surefire hit with everyone!
Blue Bay
Located within the fabulous Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, this Michelin-starred eatery offers the best in vegetarian and vegan fare. Chef Marcel Ravin has not neglected his meat-free customers, instead presenting delicious dishes such as organic winter vegetable “risetto,” green papaya spaghetti and the intriguing sensation tart. Combining the distinct flavors of both Mediterranean and Caribbean cuisine into simple, delectable dishes, Chef Ravin’s menu is one you’ll never forget.
Eat Me by L’inattendu E
More of a friendly pavement café than a restaurant, Eat Me was established in 2015 by Madeleine Badia who was already a successful chef. With a focus on organic, vegan food, Badia has created a highly sought-after daytime eatery where customers can discover excellent, nutritious meals across a varied menu. Everything in the café is gluten- and lactose-free, so it’s also an excellent choice for those with medical dietary restrictions. Customers can choose from delicious Buddha bowls, pesto gnocchi, seitan dishes, fresh vegetables and quiche and, if the weather behaves, enjoy their choices on the terrace outside.
Nobu
Known all over the world as a signifier of quality, there is, unsurprisingly, a Nobu restaurant in Monte Carlo. This restaurant is at the Fairmont Hotel, home of several stellar dining options, and offers a fantastic array of vegan and vegetarian meals. Using Japanese flavors like yuzu, miso, wasabi and shiso, Nobu chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa has created enticing veggie-friendly dishes available here, including eggplant den miso, roasted cauliflower with jalapeño dressing, steamed broccoli with shiso salsa and vegetable tempura.
Restaurant Joel Robuchon Monte-Carlo
The five-star Hotel Métropole in Monte-Carlo is a gorgeous 19th-century building that counts the royals and celebrities of multiple countries among its past guests. Inside its plush interior is the Restaurant Joel Robuchon, a beautiful conceptual adventure through Mediterranean cuisine and French interior design with two Michelin stars to its name. With great care taken to create a stunning vegetarian menu, it incorporates artichoke with chickpea and turmeric cappuccino, beetroot and parmesan risotto, and pineapple marinated in ginger and lime, a treat for all palates.
While this guide only touches on the assortment of vegetarian and vegan options available in the sumptuous surroundings of Monte Carlo, it does pick out some of the star players. There is never a dull moment in Monaco, and this is very much reflected in the unusual flavors, beautiful settings and exceptional quality ingredients of the city-state’s culinary scene.
Click here for my blog on our road trip in the South of France.
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