Over the last few years, Monaco’s culinary scene has shifted. Renowned for its glitz and glamour, Monte Carlo recently begun establishing itself as a culinary hotspot, drawing in visitors for its abundance of dining offerings, including popular restaurants like Pavyllon, The Blue Bay, Yoshi and Le Grill. Amazonico, COYA, BeefBar and Nobu also have locations in the capital. To further evolve its offerings, the destination just opened its first British restaurant, Marlow.
“British cuisine is in our DNA at Marlow,” says Bryan Gaillard, director of Marlow restaurant at Monte-Carlo Sociétes des Bains de Mer, in an email interview with Forbes.”We believe that great food should be honest, seasonal, and elevated without ever feeling pretentious. That’s exactly what we serve: beautifully crafted dishes for everyone, for any moment, whether it’s a quiet dinner for two or a table full of friends raising a glass to something worth celebrating.”
Taking inspiration from English private members’ clubs and the Mediterranean sun, it intends to serve food that feels effortless and can be enjoyed over a conversation. “It’s been so rewarding to see guests breaking bread together, passing dishes around and diving into flavors that nod to our British roots while still feeling fresh and relevant,” says Gaillard. “Our signature plates are the soul of the menu, those familiar, bold flavors that keep the heart of Marlow unmistakably British, but we never let it feel heavy-handed. It’s about striking the right note, and I think we’ve found it.”
The British restaurant is known for its relaxed, shareable style of dining. It offers English-inspired dishes, beginning from 8:30 am with a full English breakfast until midnight. Other menu specialities include Beef Wellington and truffle purée or the Marlow pie with walnuts, honey, mushrooms, rocket and Cheddar. On Sundays, the spot has brunch with complimentary champagne, and there is also an English tea time with pastries, finger sandwiches and scones.
At the end of the day, the venue shifts into a sleek bar, complete with a cocktail menu that takes inspiration from British classics (like the Vesper Martini, Hanky Panky or Milk Punch). “When it comes to drinks, I wanted our cocktail offering to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in London, modern, clean, and driven by what’s in season,” explains Gaillard. “It’s something we’ve worked hard to perfect, and now, having it all enjoyed on our beautiful new terrace overlooking the Mareterra esplanade feels like the missing piece. There’s nothing quite like sipping a perfectly made cocktail as the Riviera sun sets. It’s exactly the experience we envisioned when building out this concept.”
Alongside British classic cocktails, Marlow will also serve a selection of whiskies, cognacs and rums and have a cigar cellar. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, there will be live music playing in the venue.
Marlow is the latest addition to over twenty-five different restaurants from SBM, ranging from Café de Paris to Le Louis XV. Located within the newly opened eco-district of Mareterra, the all-day dining concept is the first restaurant to open within the new space.