Monaco’s range of restaurants is pretty impressive but not surprising for this dazzling pocket of the world. For those in search of vegetarian and vegan dishes, you’re in luck as Monaco has a delightful selection of restaurants for quick midday bites to break up a day of exploring and once in a lifetime fine dining experiences.
Enjoy breathtaking views at Le Vistamar
Hotel Restaurant, Restaurant, European, Mediterranean, $$$
One of the most beautiful views of Monaco is from the terrace of Le Vistamar and the food is as exquisite as you’d expect from a restaurant with a Michelin star. The menus are incredibly seasonal and vegan and vegetarian options are numerous. To whet your appetite, a couple of the favourite vegan dishes on the menu include seasonal raviole with vegetal broth and tender local vegetables of the season with truffle dressing and menus start from €59.
Discover this exquisite Joël Robuchon restaurant in the luxurious setting of the Hôtel Métropole, which in itself, is something to see. Come to dine on expertly crafted dishes, always incorporating the flavour of the sun-drenched Mediterranean. The restaurant itself oozes opulence and grandeur, but stylishly so, with a subtly to its well-thought-out pieces so that everything effortlessly works together. Executive Chef Christophe Cussac’s creations will make it hard to choose. Menus start from €62.
Nobu Monte-Carlo is a dream for vegetarians as menu options are almost endless. The eating space is light and airy with an edgy ceiling artwork and the restaurant actually sits in the Fairmont Hotel, which has some of the best views in Monaco. It makes for a great night out for groups too, with most of the dishes being smaller and lending themselves to joint ordering.
La Montgolfière is a fantastic restaurant, 200 metres from the Royal Palace on Monaco’s ‘Rock’. They have several set menus on offer with a delightful choice for vegetarians. The best thing about this restaurant is its old Monaco charm, mixed with quality food.
An Italian restaurant had to be on our list and Graziella, a family-run affair, is superb. It’s a great location looking out onto Monaco’s rocky headland and the old town with classic Italian cuisine at all times – it’s the perfect vegetarian feast. Just behind this sweet restaurant is the Princess Grace Rose Garden, the perfect place to amble off some of your carb overindulging.
Both Japanese and Thai food are a delight for non-meat eaters and Maya Bay has all the dishes you’d expect from a top restaurant. Think spicy rice, white cabbage salad, fried raviolis and more. The lunch menus are particularly good value, especially for Monaco, starting at €18 and consisting of three courses.
EQVITA is the plant-based option for dining while in Monaco. Nature is at the centre of their cuisine and you can feast on everything from burgers to soups to cheesecakes and more. The restaurant itself is light and airy with a unique decor and an attractive terrace.
Eat Me By L’Inattendu E is a wonderful little cafe, tucked on one of Monaco’s less busy streets, but still super central (it’s close to the Hermitage Hotel). There is a wide range of ingredients to their salad bowls and their other dishes – it’s perfect for a quick bite to eat in a day of sightseeing or for a ready-made picnic to enjoy on Monaco’s beach.
Sometimes, the moment calls for a burger. Happily, Stars ‘N’ Bars, an American burger restaurant located just off Monaco’s deepwater port and decorated Formula 1 memorabilia cars, is really well set up for vegetarian and vegan options. Vegan dishes include burgers, burritos, smoothies and more and don’t surpass €16, which is a treat for Monaco.
SenSais has a really cool modern interior and an equally interesting menu for vegetarians and vegans. Located just behind the Japanese Garden, it is in the perfect spot for a sophisticated lunchtime pause before exploring some of Monaco’s biggest landmarks around the Monte-Carlo Casino. The fixed lunch menus are particularly good and start at €18 for the dish of the day and a drink. Be sure to try their salads, too.
The view from the terrace is the first reason to dine at Blue Bay. Not to mention the Michelin star it holds or the fact that the chef’s menu’s fusion of Caribbean and Mediterranean is unlike anything else in the principality. How does a dish of sweet potatoes, asparagus, kumquat and agricultural rum sabayon sound? I know, exquisite.
