Updated on September 29, 2025
They say time has no hold on it, and this is because the Bar Américain continues to lay claim to the art of celebration with style and refinement. The Bar Américain of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo has always offered an unforgettable interlude with an element of panache, underscored by the spectacle that unfolds both on stage and backstage.
Summary:
1. The front stage of Tout-Monte-Carlo
The front stage of All-Monte-Carlo
Since the 1930s, the entire elite flocked to the former reading room that was transformed into a unique world revolving around its legendary bar. Today, the gilded youth congregate here for its jazzy, cosy and avant-garde atmosphere where they indulge in the creations of its mixology artists, the Bar Américain's barmen, behind its reputation for decades. An intimate cocoon, the Bar Américain is above all a place where magic is at work. In the spotlight, talented musicians perpetuate the legend of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo: a unique place for a timeless interlude.
A perpetual spectacle
The scent of the leather, the tinkling of glasses, the thrill of precious materials… the Bar Américain leaves nothing to chance. Each and every detail asserts a unique identity just like the truly fascinating scene that unfolds before your eyes. If mixing is an art, then the Head Barman presents his masterpieces. With virtuosity, he crafts sensational creations which flirt with the senses, and of which only he knows the secret. You're on a date with harmonies that take you by surprise, that are daring but always strike up a winning rapport with texture and flavour. Quite simply, a journey to experience... until nightfall. Find the best bars in Monaco in our guide.
Where talent and legends meet
Throughout the 20th century and into our already vibrant 21st century, notable artists and personalities have gathered, rekindled old flames, and reconciled in plain sight yet unseen by anyone: Liz Taylor and her husband Mike Todd, Curd Jürgens and Simone Bicheron, Marcel Pagnol and Fernandel, Annabel and Bernard Buffet... One could often find Sir Roger Moore, a resident of the Principality, at “his” table. He recounted a night when, sitting with Frank Sinatra and his wife in the familiar Churchill Suite, the bar singer started crooning “Strangers in the Night. “ Sinatra playfully quipped, “I don’t sing your songs, so don’t sing mine!”. The intimate stage of the Bar Américain has welcomed numerous unexpected music stars. When Bono, of U2 fame, drops by as a neighbour and plays with the bar musicians, it becomes evident that such moments are unique to this place.
Table 16 or nothing!
This place maintains its secrets in an era where smartphones monitor our actions, including those of famous figures. The Bar Américain has its own unwritten rules; understanding them requires no further explanation. Nestled in the heart of Monte-Carlo, it stands as a discreet sanctuary for the 400 to 500 patrons who visit each evening, contributing to its nearly century-old legend.
In 1928, the hotel underwent renovations, transforming the former reading room into the Bar Américain. The reason for the name “American” remains a mystery today. It may stem from the cocktail culture that originated in the United States, which the bar sought to embrace for its clientele, a roster filled with more renowned personalities than any social register.
Table number 16 by the piano is a favourite among many. Notable guests like Charles Aznavour, Tina Turner, and Roberto Cavalli have cherished this spot. In fact, during the bar’s renovations in 2018, this was the only table that retained its original number.
Colette was a known regular, famously ordering a “Barley Water” (essentially orgeat syrup) and a handful of radishes, regardless of the season. More recently, in July 2015, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett took to the bar after their concert at the Sporting Monte-Carlo, performing impromptu until 2 AM.
Who will add their name to the legacy of the Bar Américain this fall? That remains a mystery...
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