Blue Gin
The spirit of the French Alps meets the glamour of the Riviera at Blue Gin as it’s transformed into an alpine chalet for the festive season from November 26th. The bar at Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort will offer guests an immersive experience and a cosy ambience inspired by mountain chalets, with wooded elements, animal skins and subdued lighting. The signature Blue Gin cocktail menu has been refined for the Christmas period, with warming new flavours influenced by the mountains. Delivering extra heat, resident DJ Nicolas Saad will warm up the dance floor on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Hôtel Martinez
Hôtel Martinez and Palme d’Or, the only restaurant in Cannes with two Michelin stars, has unveiled two new signature sweet treats for the festive season. Created by chef Jean Imbert in collaboration with Fabrice Fernandes, the hotel’s pastry chef, the deliciously eye-catching desserts can be enjoyed on-site or taken home to nearby addresses.
Presented in the form of a film reel as a nod to the Cannes Film Festival and film-themed restaurant Palme d’Or, the Martinez Production Christmas cake features crispy puffed buckwheat praline, a caramel chocolate mousse, poached pear and a chocolate biscuit with a light popcorn cream. The festive galette, meanwhile, takes the shape of a King’s crown and contains a frangipane with caramelised hazelnuts and a touch of candied lemon zest.
Both limited-edition cakes make the ideal addition to a festive table and are delivered free of charge in Cannes and the surrounding area by the hotel’s electric Méhari.
The American Bar
The iconic Bar Américain at Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo will reinvent its luxurious afternoon tea menu for the festive season. Dreamt up by executive chef Dominique Lory, the menu features festive savoury dishes and sweet pastries, designed to be washed down with the famous hot chocolate sent over from La Manufacture Alain Ducasse in Paris.
Diners can indulge in a fine offering of upscale sandwiches, such as gravlax salmon, Kristal caviar, blue lobster and black truffle, as well as warm, freshly baked scones served with clotted cream and jams. A generous serving of pastries and cakes includes seasonal favourites such as Paris-Brest, Saint-Honoré, chocolate pie and Mont Blanc.
Available from December 14th to January 5th, the festive afternoon tea takes place in the hotel’s lobby from 3pm to 6pm, where diners will be entertained by live piano music as they gaze over a spectacular Christmas tree designed by high jewellery brand Chopard.
