Café de Paris

Café de Paris is a historic coffeehouse and restaurant in Monte Carlo, Monaco, situated on the Place du Casino beside the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Hôtel de Paris. It forms part of the hospitality and leisure estate operated by the Société des bains de mer de Monaco, the company associated with many of the principality’s landmark casino, hotel, dining, and entertainment venues. The establishment dates from 1868, the year in which Monte Carlo was developed around the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Hôtel de Paris. It was created through the initiative of François Blanc and Prince Charles III of Monaco and was originally called Café Divan. Over time, the venue was altered several times as the surrounding resort evolved and as expectations for dining and public entertainment changed. A major redesign in 1988 gave Café de Paris a Belle Époque appearance inspired by Parisian cafés and bistros of the early twentieth century. This architectural and decorative identity became central to the venue’s positioning: it presents itself as a highly visible Monte-Carlo meeting place combining traditional café service, restaurant dining, terraces, and a setting connected to the casino district. The venue underwent another substantial renovation in the early 2020s. After a 19-month closure and redevelopment, it reopened on 14 November 2023. The project introduced or renewed modular terraces, dining and hospitality spaces, and the Bellevue lounge on the first floor. The redesigned venue can accommodate as many as 500 guests indoors and approximately 200 guests on its terrace. Its location provides views toward the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Hôtel de Paris, while a daily display of prestigious automobiles contributes to its luxury-resort atmosphere. Café de Paris operates as a destination hospitality venue rather than as a packaged consumer-goods brand. Its principal offer is the combination of coffeehouse service, food and beverage dining, outdoor terraces, event-oriented spaces, and a landmark setting. It is open daily, from morning through late evening, and serves both visitors to Monte Carlo and the local and international clientele associated with Monaco’s tourism, gaming, luxury retail, and events economy. Following the 2023 reopening, Stéphane Tendero became director of Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, succeeding Éric Gorjux, who had held the role since 2022. The venue’s current identity therefore rests on continuity with its nineteenth-century origins while using a modernized physical format to support high-volume hospitality and premium destination dining. The available reference material does not establish a separate international franchising network or a packaged coffee product line under the name; the relevant subject is the Monaco café and restaurant located beside the Casino de Monte-Carlo.

Café de Paris was established in 1868 during the creation and development of Monte Carlo as a resort centered on the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Hôtel de Paris. Its founding is associated with François Blanc and Prince Charles III of Monaco. The venue initially operated under the name Café Divan and became part of the emerging concentration of cafés, hotels, gaming facilities, and public spaces around the Place du Casino. The establishment was modified repeatedly during the decades that followed. These changes reflected both the growth of Monte Carlo as an international destination and the changing requirements of a hospitality venue serving casino patrons, hotel guests, residents, and visitors. By the twentieth century, Café de Paris had become an established feature of the Casino Square district, where its identity was closely linked to the surrounding luxury and entertainment environment. In 1988, the venue was comprehensively renovated and given a Belle Époque style modeled on early twentieth-century Parisian cafés and bistros. The design connected Café de Paris with the architectural language used to express Monte Carlo’s historic resort character. Rather than functioning only as a place for coffee, it developed as a broader café and restaurant with terraces, views, and a prominent position next to the casino and hotel. Café de Paris is owned and managed by the Société des bains de mer de Monaco. Its role within that group’s hospitality portfolio is centered on public-facing food and beverage service in one of Monaco’s most recognizable visitor districts. The venue’s setting also supports visual and experiential attractions, including views of the Casino de Monte-Carlo and Hôtel de Paris and a daily display of prestigious cars. A further major renovation began in the 2020s and resulted in a 19-month closure. The project reportedly represented an investment of approximately €55 million and sought to modernize the venue while retaining its historic Belle Époque positioning. Café de Paris reopened on 14 November 2023. The renovated format includes modular terraces, refreshed indoor dining and hospitality areas, and the 340-square-metre Bellevue lounge on the first floor. The stated capacity is up to 500 guests indoors and up to 200 guests on the terrace. The reopening marked both a physical renewal and a management transition. In November 2023, Stéphane Tendero became director of Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, replacing Éric Gorjux, who had occupied the position since 2022. The establishment continues to operate daily, from morning until late evening, as a coffeehouse, restaurant, terrace venue, and landmark hospitality destination in Monte Carlo. The available reference material supports treating Café de Paris (Monaco) as a specific hospitality venue and brand, not as a generic reference to cafés called Café de Paris elsewhere or to unrelated packaged coffee products. Its historical significance derives from its connection to the foundation of Monte Carlo, its location beside the principality’s principal casino and hotel landmarks, its Belle Époque architectural identity, and its continuing role in Monaco’s luxury tourism economy.

• 2023

  Reopening after 19-month renovation

  [1]Café de Paris (Monaco)en.wikipedia.org

  Café de Paris reopened on 14 November 2023 after a major renovation that added or renewed terraces, hospitality areas, and the Bellevue lounge.

• 2023

  Stéphane Tendero appointed director

  [1]Café de Paris (Monaco)en.wikipedia.org

  Stéphane Tendero became director in November 2023, succeeding Éric Gorjux.

• 2022

  Éric Gorjux becomes director

  [1]Café de Paris (Monaco)en.wikipedia.org

  Éric Gorjux is identified as having served as director of Café de Paris Monte-Carlo from 2022.

• 1988

  Belle Époque renovation

  [1]Café de Paris (Monaco)en.wikipedia.org

  A comprehensive renovation recast the venue in a Belle Époque style inspired by early twentieth-century Parisian cafés and bistros.

• 1868

  Café established during the creation of Monte Carlo

  [1]Café de Paris (Monaco)en.wikipedia.org

  Café de Paris was founded alongside the early development of Monte Carlo, the Casino de Monte-Carlo, and the Hôtel de Paris. It was initially known as Café Divan.

A landmark Monte-Carlo coffeehouse and restaurant positioned around Belle Époque design, premium hospitality, terrace dining, and proximity to the Casino de Monte-Carlo and Hôtel de Paris. luxury café

• Coffeehouse and restaurant · 1868

  Café de Paris Monte-Carlo

  The core offering is the Café de Paris coffeehouse and restaurant beside the Casino de Monte-Carlo. It combines coffee and beverage service with restaurant dining in Belle Époque-inspired interiors and outdoor terraces. The venue serves as an all-day hospitality destination for visitors and residents, with its location, views, and connection to the casino district forming an important part of the experience.

• Hospitality and lounge space · 2023

  Bellevue lounge

  The Bellevue lounge is a 340-square-metre space on the first floor of the renovated venue. It expands Café de Paris beyond conventional café seating and provides an additional setting for hospitality, dining, and events within the Monte Carlo destination environment.

• Outdoor dining · 2023

  Modular terraces

  The renovated Café de Paris includes large modular terraces overlooking the Casino de Monte-Carlo and Hôtel de Paris. The terraces support outdoor dining and refreshments while allowing the venue to adjust its hospitality layout for different levels of demand and programming.

• 2023

  Major renovation and format renewalStrategy

  Background

  Café de Paris underwent a 19-month closure and redevelopment intended to update a historic hospitality venue while preserving its Belle Époque identity and relationship with the Casino de Monte-Carlo and Hôtel de Paris.

  Action taken

  The operator renovated the interiors, created or renewed modular terraces, added the Bellevue lounge, and reopened the venue on 14 November 2023.

  Aftermath

  The renewed venue reopened with capacity of up to 500 guests indoors and approximately 200 on the terrace, strengthening its role as a large-scale café, restaurant, and destination hospitality space.

  Renovation cost. Approximately €55 million (19-month renovation completed in 2023)

  Source

• 2023

  Café de Paris Monte-Carlo reopens after major renovation[1]Café de Paris (Monaco)en.wikipedia.org

  Other · Product generation

  The Monaco coffeehouse and restaurant reopened on 14 November 2023 after a 19-month renovation that renewed its dining areas, terraces, and hospitality spaces.

• 2023

  Stéphane Tendero appointed director of Café de Paris Monte-Carlo[1]Café de Paris (Monaco)en.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Stéphane Tendero became director following the reopening, succeeding Éric Gorjux, who had served as director since 2022.

1. 1Café de Paris (Monaco)en.wikipedia.org