Monte-Carlo, Monaco — An ultra-exclusive experience has just arrived in, where else, Monte-Carlo. The Monte-Carlo Cigar Club opened its doors last May 28th in the heart of the Casino de Monte-Carlo. The project was led by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, and conceived as one of the most prestigious clubs in the world for cigar enthusiasts. The luxurious club was designed by Bruno Moinard and Claire Bétaille. An ultimate challenge for the celebrated interior designers given that the Casino de Monte-Carlo is one of Charles Garnier’s architectural masterpieces. And the challenge clearly has been met.

The Monte-Carlo Cigar Club inside the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Photo ©Monte-Carlo SBM – A.Duprat. Courtesy Moinard Bétaille. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

This is an invitation into the world of cigars, with a fine selection of cigars, a well-appointed bar, plush leather arm chairs and a library of books all on the agenda. The reception vestibule, with its counter combining stone and fine wood, sets the tone: tobacco-colored walls alternate with tall glass panels, offering a glimpse to the left of the smoking lounge. The guiding principle is visual continuity: while the layout complies with regulations requiring tobacco consumption to be confined to the smoking lounge. The smoking lounge and bar open through large French doors onto a terrace reserved exclusively for the club, offering one of the most spectacular views of the azure blue Mediterranean Sea.

The most pampered guests of the club may very well be the cigars themselves. Just past the entrance, a unique room houses the humidor, also accessible from the casino. This true treasure of the Cigar Club contains the world’s finest cigars, carefully stored and available for purchase in custom-designed furnishings, within an environment where climate conditions are rigorously controlled. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette. Monte-Carlo Cigar Club, Casino de Monte-Carlo, Place du Casino, MC 98000 Monaco