Where to eat in Monaco: what to order and where to book
Monaco eats Ligurian more than French: barbajuan, socca, pissaladière and stockfish. The cheap and good food is at the Condamine market and in the Old Town, and the grand restaurants are in Monte-Carlo. Prices are high everywhere, so a market lunch and one good dinner is the sensible plan.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The Condamine market and the streets around it for cheap and local food, Monaco-Ville for old Monegasque cooking.
- Order this
- Barbajuan, socca, pissaladière and fougasse, then stockfish on a Friday.
- When to eat
- Lunch from noon, dinner from 7.30pm. The Condamine market stalls close by mid-afternoon.
- Book or walk in
- Walk in at the market and for lunch. Book dinner at the grand restaurants, especially in Grand Prix week.
- Budget
- Eat at the market and the Old Town for lunch, and keep Monte-Carlo for one good dinner.
What to eat in Monaco
- BarbajuanMonaco's national snack: a small fried pastry filled with chard, ricotta and rice, eaten hot as a starter or with a drink.
- SoccaA thin chickpea pancake cooked in a hot oven and eaten with black pepper, sold at the Condamine market.
- PissaladièreAn onion tart with anchovies and olives, sold by the slice at bakeries and market stalls.
- Fougasse monégasqueA sweet flatbread scented with orange blossom, eaten at breakfast or with coffee.
- StocafiDried cod stewed in tomato, olives and capers, the traditional Friday lunch.
- Pan bagnatA round bread roll with salade niçoise inside, a cheap lunch from the market.
- OystersOysters grown in the principality's own waters, served at Fontvieille harbor.
- Tourte de blettesA sweet or savory tart made with chard, found in bakeries along the coast.
Where to eat in Monaco, by neighborhood
La Condamine
The best everyday eating in Monaco: the covered market, bakeries and small restaurants around the port. Prices are far lower than in Monte-Carlo.
Monaco-Ville
Traditional Monegasque cooking in a few small places on the Rock. Many serve lunch only, so go at midday.
Monte-Carlo
Grand hotels and brasseries around Casino Square, from a coffee on a terrace to some of the most expensive meals in Europe. Book ahead.
Fontvieille
A calm marina with seafood and oysters on the harbor wall. Easy to reach from the Rock.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
Chez Roger
€Socca stall · Condamine market
OrderSocca and pissaladière
A long-running stall in the market hall that makes socca and pissaladière by hand. Cheap, hot and local.
- Book
- Queue at the stall
Confirmed open: monaco-tribune.com
-
U Cavagnetu
€€Monegasque restaurant · Monaco-Ville
OrderBarbajuan and the daily Monegasque dish
A traditional restaurant on the Rock open since 1967, serving Monegasque cooking at lunch.
- Book
- Book by phone for lunch
Confirmed open: monaco-tribune.com
-
Brasserie du Café de Paris
€€€Brasserie · Monte-Carlo
OrderBarbajuan and a crêpe Suzette
The historic brasserie on Casino Square, open from morning to late night. Pay for the setting, not the cooking.
- Book
- Walk in for a drink, book for dinner
Confirmed open: montecarlosbm.com
-
Les Perles de Monte-Carlo
€€€Oyster bar · Fontvieille
OrderOysters grown in Monaco and the fish of the day
At the tip of the Fontvieille harbor wall, run by marine biologists who grow the oysters themselves.
- Book
- Reserve by phone
- Closed
- Sunday
Confirmed open: theinfatuation.com
-
Pavyllon Monte-Carlo
€€€€Fine dining · Monte-Carlo
OrderThe tasting menu or the counter menu
Yannick Alléno's restaurant at the Hôtel Hermitage, a Michelin Guide entry for modern cooking.
- Book
- Book weeks ahead
Confirmed open: cotedazurfrance.com
Food markets in Monaco
- Marché de la CondamineMonaco's daily market hall, with fruit, vegetables, flowers and stalls selling socca, barbajuan, pissaladière and fougasse.Every day, 7am to 3pmSource: visitmonaco.com
How Monaco eats
- Meal timesLunch from noon to 2pm and dinner from 7.30pm. Market stalls close by mid-afternoon.
- TippingService is included. Round up or leave a few euros for good service.
- ReservationsBook dinner at the grand restaurants, and walk in at the market and for lunch.
- DressSmart casual is fine in most places. The Casino and some hotel restaurants expect more at night.
- FridayStockfish is the traditional Friday lunch in Monaco, so look for it on the menu.
Signs of a place to walk past
Terraces on Casino Square with a menu in six languages and nothing Monegasque on it.
Harbour-front restaurants with a photograph of every dish and a server calling out.
Menus with sushi, burgers and pizza alongside Monegasque dishes.
Eating in Monaco: questions people ask
What food is Monaco known for?
Barbajuan, socca, pissaladière and fougasse, all Ligurian in origin, plus stockfish on Fridays. The market is the best place to try them.
Where can I eat cheaply in Monaco?
At the Condamine market, which has socca, pissaladière and pan bagnat, or in the bakeries in La Condamine. Lunch is cheaper than dinner everywhere.
What is barbajuan?
A small fried pastry filled with chard, ricotta and rice, and Monaco's best-known snack. You find it at the market and in restaurants.
Do I need to book restaurants in Monaco?
For dinner at the better restaurants, yes, and well ahead in Grand Prix week. Market stalls and lunch spots take walk-ins.
Is eating in Monaco expensive?
Yes, in Monte-Carlo especially. The Condamine market and Old Town lunches are the affordable end.
Where should I eat in Monaco with a view?
The Fontvieille harbor for oysters and fish, or the terraces around Monaco-Ville. Casino Square terraces cost the most for what you get.