The high point of an ambitious project and the symbol of rediscovered pleasures. Tuesday, 02 June 2020. This date, which will no doubt go down in the annals of history, marks the inauguration of the new Place du Casino architecture and the simultaneous re-opening of the iconic Brasserie du Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, which was closed during the health crisis. Made exceptional by the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène, de H.S.H. Princess Stéphanie and Her children, Camille Gottlieb and Pauline Ducruet, Mr and Miss Louis Ducruet, Mr and Miss Andrea Casiraghi, Mr Pierre Casiraghi, Mr Gareth Wittstock and monegasque authorithies, this event reflects the tremendous enthusiasm that marks the Principality’s ‘return to life’. On this occasion, the officials present,
in association with the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group, wished to pay a much-deserved tribute to all the key workers and actors in institutions who have been working on the front line to manage
the Covid-19 crisis, and in particular those at the Princess Grace Hospital, the Monaco Red Cross, the directorate of Public Security, the Fire Brigade and the Société Monégasque d’Assainissement.

New architecture for the Place du Casino

For Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, the owner operator of the Place du Casino, this event is the high point of the work carried out to bring a new kind of architecture to the lively heart of the Principality. This achievement is part of an ambitious and comprehensive urban planning project, which will project the Monte-Carlo myth into the 21st century. A comprehensive project that had already madepossible the spectacular metamorphosis of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, the creation of One Monte-Carlo, one of the brightest luxury brand hubs in the world, and the restructuring of the Boulingrins Gardens, which have rediscovered the landscaping aesthetics they enjoyed in the 1930s, before giving back to the prestigious Casino de Monte-Carlo its original appearance. The ambition behind this plan is to make Monte-Carlo Societé des Bains de Mer the most exclusive destination in Europe.

Keeping up with initiatives in large cities around the world while retaining its own unique characteristics, the new Place du Casino is structured around three objectives:
. to give pedestrians priority and allow people to stroll around in complete serenity
. to preserve the race course of the famous Formula 1 Grand Prix
. to please the Monte-Carlo Société Group’s VIP customers, whose vehicles, which are often exceptional,
can be parked in the square, arousing the admiration of passers-by.

The re-opening of an emblematic place in the Principality, Brasserie du Café de Paris Monte-Carlo A stage where life in Monaco unfolds, the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo also enjoys a double celebration as the first establishment in the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group to re-open its doors, on this day, 02 June 2020, at 2 pm. Firstly, to inaugurate its new embellished and extended terrace, which now benefits from being in a 100% pedestrian area, and secondly because this re-opening offers an
opportunity for all of the Group’s employees to welcome their customers again.

A symbolic time to say thank you

On this same day, Jean-Luc Biamonti, Deputy Chairman of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group welcomed, to pay tribute to them, the Monaco institutions that were on the front line to manage the Covid-19 crisis. These included representatives from the Princess Grace Hospital, the Monaco Red Cross, the Fire Brigade, the directorate of Public Security and the Société Monégasque d’Assainissement (SMA).

On this occasion, every guest received an alternative mask offered by the Princess Charlene Foundation and the flag bearing the now famous #Strongtogether, launched by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group at the start of the crisis, was flown as a sign of solidarity with all the everyday heroes of Monaco.

‘Barbagiuans’ stuffed with Swiss chard from the Ferme des Boutons d’Or in Guillaumes, fresh plum tomatoes and Stracciatella, olive crumble, a ‘barigoule’ of spring vegetables, San Remo prawns in sweet oil, panna cotta with raspberries in liqueur from the Orangerie de Monaco, uncooked strawberries on the vine from the Carros valley, so many specialities prepared by chefs Philippe Joannès and Franck Lafon with teams of volunteers from the SBM, that the guests were able to enjoy, as a preview, on the terrace of the Café de Paris Monte-Carlo.

The final gift for the guests was the ‘bread of life’, a long-lost speciality also known as the ‘Hand of Nice’, which was immortalised in 1952 by the famous Robert Doisneau photo, ‘Les Pains de Picasso’. This tasty olive oil bread with a hint of lemon was revisited by Thomas Subrin, Best Craftsman of France, the Group’s Head Baker, and prepared in the SBM bakery by the Group’s team of volunteers.

Crédits Photos: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.