After living in New York for years, Christian Roth and his husband Eric Domege relocated to Monaco in 1997, where they spent almost two decades. Here, Roth shares his insider tips on the glamour capital on the Mediterranean.
FAVORITE THINGS: Eric’s family; the views; the location; the climate, especially in the winter; the convenient location – three-and-a-half hours to Paris; to speak French on a daily basis, and the security. It’s one of the very few places in this world a person can wear all their jewels without being afraid. It is located only one to two hours by car from the most beautiful French resort towns on the Riviera. A question we get asked all the time: Who is your favorite Monegasque Princess? It is not up to me to judge. I still consider them all my princesses, but I like to take this opportunity to give credit and enormous respect to Princess Stephanie, who founded Fight Aids. Her events are spectacular and raise a lot of money– including the art auction on World AIDS Day each December 1. It was Princess Stephanie who made the world aware that AIDS affects at least as many women as it affects men.
LEAST FAVORITE THINGS: “Monaco is a sunny place for shady people” is still very much accurate. For those like us who make Monaco their main residence and spend lots of time here, it is hard to make friends. Most Monaco residents have places all over the world, and hardly spend any time in Monaco in the end.
On the other hand, it is such an attractive place for friends and more family to come and visit.
MUST DO: Take a helicopter flight from Nice airport to Monaco, and travel back to the airport by car. You see the most of the landscape. Also check out the schedule of museums and exhibitions of the Grimaldi Forum, Villa Paloma, Oceanographic Museum, and the Villa Sauber; the Bal de la Rose if you can get invited, and the Termes Marins, a fabulous spa. Experience at least a Formula One race in your life, or, if you are not into race car driving, the Monte Carlo Masters tennis championship. Also check out the classical concerts in the court of the Palace up on the Rocher, and the Oceanographic Museum founded by Prince Albert 1.
MUST SEE: The museums, incredible exhibitions have come to Monaco, and for some reason they are (almost) always under-publicized. We were able to see amazing exhibitions on our own because the museums are never crowded.
Monaco has brought very interesting and unique exhibitions to its small country. The credit has to be given to S.A.S. Caroline Princess of Hanover (Princess Grace’s oldest daughter).
If you play Golf, you must do so in the Monte Carlo Golf Club in Mont-Agel, 2,400 feet above Monte Carlo. The Prince’s family has its weekend residence close-by.
WHERE TO EAT: Truth is, the absolute best, chicest and down-to-earth restaurant is in Nice, La Petite Maison by Nicole Rubi. It’s French food, but not the way you would expect it. Even the Monegasques and Parisians are a little jealous because they don’t have anything like it.
In Monaco, Maya Bay is our favorite place. For a casual lunch, go to Anne’s La Notte Blue on the Larvotto Beach. For a more chic lunch, try the classic Rampoldi, like time has not stopped, and the Monte Carlo Beach Club. We personally like the unpretentious and refreshing Cabanon, which is situated a couple of miles from Monaco in Cap d’Ail. Its simple Mediterranean cuisine prepared on a brick oven!
WHERE TO CHILL: Monaco is one of the biggest construction sites. With so little space and mountains all around it, it is hard to find a peaceful place among the constant noise and never-ending dust. But that does not stop you to explore the neighborhood on French soil. La Malla is a beautiful beach cove hard to access by foot. The steps are easy to go down, but after a day on the beach with lunch and a few glasses of rose, the walk back up is…hard. Definitely easier to come by boat! In winter, drive to the charming Italian ski resort Limone.
BEST STREET STYLE: That’s a good question, and hard to answer. The street style is very diverse, and not always fabulous – unless you run into S.A.S. Princesse Caroline de Monaco and a very few other chic fashionistas. A lot of Italians live in Monaco, and many of them bring style. You find truly trendy street and beach style in Cannes and Saint Tropez.
ON MISSING MONTE CARLO: We miss Eric’s family and our friends, and the always unexpected glamorous life we had the privilege to be part of it to a certain extent. We also miss the climate in winter, the vegetation (it is always green), the Mistral winds that bring the bluest skies and fabulous lights….and the whispering gossip about the prince’s family at a dinner party. There is always a new story which does not make the papers. And they are not #FakeNews. Our lips are sealed.
