The Luxury Connoisseur’s Guide to the 2016 Monaco Yacht Show

By Paul Joseph

The 2016 edition of the Monaco Yacht Show is nearly upon us, and many of you will have your flights booked and show passes packed, ready for the 4-day superyacht spectacle in Port Hercules.

Each year the prestigious event seems to get bigger and better and this year is no different, with several notable additions to the programme, including a new prestige car exhibition zone – called the Car Deck –featuring ten stunning supercars.

For many years, major automobile manufacturers have indirectly participated in the Monaco Yacht Show by chauffering its VIP visitors and the private clients of exhibiting companies.

The launch of the Car Deck reflects the desire of these brands to associate themselves with the show. It is also designed to meet the needs of yachting companies by attracting a new wealthy clientèle on the quays of the marina.

Of course, the show itself may represent Monaco’s beating heart for four days, but there is also a huge amount to see and do around the principality itself that will appeal to the discerning visitors to the event. Below we give you our top tips for how to spend your time in Monaco.

SHOP ‘TILL YOU DROP
Monaco is indisputably one of the world’s luxury capitals and the leading names in fashion can all be found here, including the most prestigious labels in haute couture, perfumes and jewellery.In the heart of Monaco is the famous Cercle d’Or where numerous elegant shops are located, filled with luxury goods and prestigious brands. Then there are the alleys of the old town where street merchants display typical souvenirs, and the galleries of the Métropole shopping centre, the Allées Lumières, or the Fontvielle Shopping Centre, with their window displays showcasing ready-to-wear, decorations, leather goods and gifts. In short, you can find everything your heart desires here.

DINE IN STYLE
Synonymous with hedonism, excess and unadulterated opulence, it is little surprise that Monaco has some of the finest restaurants in the world. Among some of the finest are Restaurant Joel Robuchon Monte-Carlo, featuring a Teppanyaki-style kitchen that allows you to watch your food being adeptly cooked; Le Vistama, which offers one of the best views in Monte Carlo, and Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse, which transports you into a fantastical world of elegant grandeur and culinary perfection.

WHERE TO PARTY
Monaco houses a number of glamourous and extravagant clubs, and there’s none more famous than Jimmy’z. The nightclub is partly outdoors, giving it a unique vibe and is often buzzing with Monte-Carlo's heirs and socialities dressed to the nines. And then there is Amber Summer Monaco, a luxury ‘After Beach’ chill-out lounge in Monte Carlo that comes from the same people behind Amber Lounge, the famous pop-up party destination that follows the Grand Prix circuit around the world. Located at Le Méridien Beach Plaza in front of Monaco’s most beautiful beach, Amber Summer exudes the brand’s signature nightlife experience, offering unparalleled service, chill-out cabanas, shisha pipes, smooth DJ vibes and an Asian-style menu.

SOMETHING EXTRA
If you really need to kick back and relax, a day at the Monte Carlo Beach Club will be just the ticket. Pitch yourself up in one of their luxury cabanas and enjoy the idyllic view over the sea. Once it gets a little later in the day, head for the Sea Lounge Monte-Carlo, a chic outdoor shisha bar with an extensive list of cocktails and champagnes. This is one place you'll certainly want to see and be seen.

The 2016 Monaco Yacht Show runs from 28 September – 1 October.

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By Paul Joseph