Monte Carlo - 3
As they did at The Emory in London, the folks at owners Maybourne have used several interior designers at Maybourne Riviera – even though the art is spectacular and the best picture of all is looking through all-wall windows, at seagulls whirling at this height (300m ASL), and looking down at that blue sea far below.
André Fu designed Room 209, the smallest in the house. It's exquisite. Fu does seem slightly to have shrunk the sofa. He's shrunk the terrace. But there's still space for a table and two chairs and a lounger. Once again, there's no colour in the design, but there's lots of colour in bits and pieces. The orange mat on the desk, some yellow collateral. He's a genius.
SERRENNE spa, also designed by André Fu, is sophisticated calm. The attendants all seemed to have their hair pulled neatly back, not a single hair out of place. They wear palest cream robes. No, gear. Let's say trousers, tight, fairly tight trouser suit, but with a semi-attached pleated skirt over. Weird but effective. The room had really no decoration, but looked out over a terrace to the view beyond. The very comfy bed induced sleep straight away. It was decorated on arrival with a fake artist's palette, including a brush and some coloured paints. The leg stretching was a good physio workout, and the facial was the full biologic recherché go-over. FITNESS, below the spa, has 4 indoor spaces and one out. All the latest Techno and big on weights, and classes.
That evening, hotel GM Francisco Garcia and Girlahead sat up at ABC, on the 14th floor rooftop, soaking in the sunset, above. ABC, by Jean-Georges Vongerichten, is delightful fun, and it attracts people of all ages. The open kitchen allows full view of Gregory Delabarre and his brigade working - there's an outsize glass-wrapped open grill working overtime.
First came a signature cocktail, a fluffy-topped lemon pie drink. Really, it looked barely potable, but it was (if you must, it contained Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Vanilla Cedracello, Italicus Rosolio Di Bergamotto, Mastiha Skinos, Lemon, Lemon Leaf, Greek Yogurt Espuma, Honey, and Orange Blossom). Unique and unbelievably good.. A similar highlight from the food side was a two-bite egg sandwich, à la Vongerichten. His ‘egg toast’ is toasted white bread, cut in ‘soldier fingers’, holding egg yolks and caviar on top. And there was burrata on top of Monton lemon jam, absolutely unsweet, and grilled chicken with a side of asparagus and mashed potatoes, and, finally, cheesecake under strawberries.
And the view, THAT view, looking far down at the Principality and its tennis courts. Below. Nothing quite like it.
