Feast your way around the Principality
Attention, foodies: this one’s for you! With Michelin stars aplenty and being home to some of the best wine cellars in the world, Monaco (External link) is a gourmet destination like no other that just keeps growing in deliciousness. And whilst the Principality prides itself on its world-renowned fine dining classics, such as Louis XV by Alain Ducasse (External link) or Hotel Metropole’s Joël Robuchon Restaurant (External link) , there has also been a wave of healthfood restaurant openings taking Monaco’s foodie scene by storm over the lastfew years.
Whether it’s wining and dining at the iconic Place du Casino or strolling the local Condamine markets in the ‘local’ district of Fontvieille, Monaco has emerged as one of Europe’s hottest health food destinations, offering crème de la crème experiences for travellers of all tastes and budgets.
But how do you know which ones are so good that they deserve the pole position on your dining priority list? Let us tell you.
Here are our top picks for a healthy foodie holiday:
Elsa Restaurant
Famed the world’s only organic Michelin-starred restaurant, Elsa (External link) is a trendy seaside restaurant beautifully located in one of Monaco’s most exclusive and intimate 5-star hotels, the Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel (External link) . Executive chef Paolo Sari is renowned for his talent and creativity both of which becomeobvious when dining at this world-class venue. Serving a high quality contemporary cuisine inspired by the Riviera’s culinary history, the menu puts the spotlight on local produce through a seasonal approach. Whether you try theFarmer’s menu or the Inspirations menu, all ingredients are 100% organic and locally sourced. For more information click here (External link) .
Blue Bay Restaurant
Just next door to Elsa, enjoying an equally enticing setting, Blue Bay restaurant (External link) is located in the 4-star Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort (External link) .The restaurant well-deservedly holds one Michelin star with chef Marcel Ravin serving a fusion of Caribbean and Mediterranean influences giving his cuisine a uniquely delicious and refined flavour profile. In the open kitchen layout, MarcelRavin uses local fruit and vegetable gardens as a valuable source of fresh organic products, which are used in his inspired recipes. For more informationclick here (External link) .
Eat Me by L’inattendu-e
Not what you would usually expect in Monaco, the natural and organic restaurant specialises in raw food cuisine by Chef Sylvain Etievant, formerly the Executive Chef of “Le Grill” at the Hotel de Paris and more recently of the catering company “A Roca” specialized in Monegasque cuisine. Our drink favourites include the hot apple juice with ginger and cinnamon and the ‘anti-inflammatory’ shot with lemon, turmeric and ginger. Health foods include pastry-free quiche with salad and soup, a vegan ‘Buddha Bowl’ or a ‘vegetable plate’ served with soup. Menu prices range from 16 to 30 €. For more information click here (External link) .
L’Eqvita
Eqvita is a restaurant in the world of nature-centric cuisine, opened by tennis legend Novac Djokovic two years ago. As described by the team at Eqvitaitself: ‘Eqvita was created out of love, gratitude and deep esteem towards the nature, its effects on human body and mind, and the way they flawlessly interconnect to create a healthy, happy person we can all be.’
Eqvita’s vegan fare certainly is delicious with highlights including raw vegetable lasagne, quinoa stuffed sweet potato and cashew gazpacho. For more information click here (External link) .
Condamine Markets
Often described as one of the warmest, friendliest and colourful Provençal marketson the French Riviera, the Condamine markets (External link) should be on every Monaco traveller’s list. It is open every day, all year round, accommodating twenty or so traders within its confines. There are also numerous market gardeners, florists and small local producers on Place du Marché. Part of Monaco's heritage, the Condamine markets represent the authentic heart of the Principality, where Monaco's population likes to gather. For more information click here (External link) .
Going behind the organic foodie scene
Many of the above restaurants work with organic farming start-up Terre de Monaco (External link) , an organisation whose mission consists in instituting urban agriculture by installing fruit and vegetable gardens on Monaco’s rooftops and which has now grown to become one of the largest private city farms in the world. In addition to the Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel, which were partners from the start, Terre de Monaco works with many schools, hotels, and the Social Funds inthe Principality.
For more information visit www.visitmonaco.com (External link)