L-atitude’s Monte Carlo Shopping Guide

Monte Carlo provides plenty of ways to give your credit cards a workout.

There are famed casinos, 5-star hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants and, of course, luxury shopping. As you would expect there are streets lined with the best designer brands, including Prada, Celine, Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint Laurent, to name just a few. Although window-shopping at these famed boutiques can provide plenty of cheap thrills, those looking for a more authentic shopping experience won’t be disappointed, either; this jet-set playground has plenty of interesting shopping options.

Our favorite is a tiny but captivating vintage emporium carrying barely worn, designer bags, shoes and clothing obviously acquired from the closets of the well-heeled locals. There are also several new multi-brand boutiques carrying the hottest young designers from London and NYC. We even found a designer outlet store offering luxury brand clothing up to 70% off retail prices!

For those in search of the unique, there is a flea market filled with bric-a-brac every Saturday and a variety of local shops selling products celebrating Monaco’s cultural and artisanal past, including chocolate and fine bone china made for the royal family, and a Formula 1 boutique selling all types of products celebrating the Monaco Grand Prix.

MAIN SHOPPING DISTRICTS

Galérie du Métropole
Galerie du Metropole, 17 Ave des Spelugues, Monaco 98000
This luxury, top-end mall has 80 shops set in a lush environment -- we are talking marble floors and crystal chandeliers! No surprise, this space feels more like a luxury hotel than a mall. With luck you will be here in mid-August, when everything is on sale! 

Cercle d’Or 
Avenue des Beaux Artes and Avenue de Monte Carlo, Monaco 98000 
If seeing signs like Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci or Prada turn you on, Monte Carlo’s golden triangle is the place for you. These streets are a window-shopper’s paradise.

Fontvieille Commercial Centre
Avenue Albert II, Monaco-Ville Monaco 98000
This is where you go for practical shopping needs. There's a proper Carrefour hypermarket, a supermarket and other shops carrying products you may actually need, like batteries, books etc. There is also a McDonald’s and other snack-like places that are good, inexpensive options when traveling with children.

Condamine Market
Rue Grimaldi, Rue Princesse Caroline, Rue Millo, Rue Terrazzani, Monaco 98000
A traditional and lively Provençal street market that sells everything from food to crafts. If you don’t feel like shopping, take a seat at one of the cafés and watch what passes as normal life in Monte Carlo!

THE BEST LOCAL HAUNTS FOR FASHION

Le Dressing
Le Dressing, 2 Rue des Orangers, Monaco 98000
This little vintage shop is long on style, featuring the designer names we all crave. Everything is in great shape and hardly worn, though be aware designs from luxury brands Chanel, Hermes and Alaia are still pricey even secondhand.

Eleven Monte Carlo
Eleven Monte-Carlo, Sporting d’Hiver, Place du Casino, Monaco 98000 
This multi-designer shop features funky and whimsical animal-shaped cocktail rings from Nach, Funky Bling accessories from London, and the feminine beauty of swimsuits and cover-ups from French label Haeckel Haus.

Work in Progress
Work in Progress, 19 Boulevard des Moulins, Monaco 98000 
Leyla Moghadam’s dream store features brands she fell in love with while living abroad. This shop features cutting-edge American and British designers: Proenza Schouler, Pamela Love, Rick Owens and Erdem. Shoes from cobbler to the stars Nicholas Kirkwood, sunglasses form Linda Farrow and lifestyle tomes by Tashen.

Stock Griffe 
Stock Griffe, 5 Avenue Saint-Michel, Monaco 98000
Stock Griffe is a designer outlet, offering well-known labels for men and women at discounted prices. Armani, Valentino, D&G, Kenzo, Versace and Moschino are some of the brands you will find here up to 70% off.

Contemori
Contemori, Palais de la Scala, Carre d’Or, 1 Avenue Henry Dunant, Monaco 98000
This shop’s most recent claim to fame came when Rihanna strutted in from the beach wearing only a racy 1-piece bathing suit! That may be the correct attire for a yacht but not for shopping in this town. This local store has a range of shoes and fashion perfect for locals and tourists alike.

GREAT FOR SOUVENIRS

Chocolaterie de Monaco
Chocolaterie de Monaco, Place de la Visitation, Monaco 98000
This chocolate shop has been in business for the past 90 years -- this is the official chocolate shop of the royal family. There are many delicious gift items in this pretty store.

Formula 1 
The Formula 1 shop, 15 Rue Grimaldi, Monaco 98000
Finally a shop for the men in the family! This boutique has everything from racing helmets to specialty key chains and T-shirts celebrating the roaring, high-octane world of the Monaco Grand Prix.

Boutique du Rocher
Boutique du Rocher, 1 Avenue de la Madone, Monaco 98000 
This boutique was opened by Princess Grace (Kelly) in 1966 and has since become the best boutique for souvenirs in town. The shop sells decorative porcelain, carved picture frames and embroidered tablecloths. Carrying on the elegance and charitable nature of its luminous founder, the boutique donates all of its proceeds to charity.

Boutique de la Manufacture de Monaco
Manufacture de Monaco, 1 Avenue Prince Pierre, Monaco 98000
Here’s your chance to get a hold of porcelain and tableware from the official suppliers to Monaco’s royal family! This boutique also sells candy boxes bearing the personal seal of the Prince of Monaco.

Les Feuillets
Les Feuillets, 32, Rue Comte Félix Gastaldi, Monaco 98000
Bookbinder Martine Rosticher makes beautiful paper that she turns into bookmarks, picture frames and notebook covers. Here, you will also find old postcards and magazines that feature Monaco -- they all make great souvenirs.

Les Puces de Fontvieille, Flea Market
Les Puces de Fontvieille is only open on Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., quai Jean-Charles Rey, immediately adjacent to Port de Fontvieille.
If you prefer bric-a-brac, postcards and all types of ephemera, this small but funky flea market is your best bet.

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