Indian Summer (October 2009)

The buckets and spades have been packed up, and school holidays have been over for sometime… yet this the time of year that many of the Monaco locals love the best…our yearly ‘Indian Summer’. And how summery is it? Well, swimming is still possible thanks to the warm Mediterranean waters, beaches are no longer overcrowded, and it’s still warm enough to sit out in your swimsuit and quaff an icy-cold glass of rosé in the early days of October… so in Monaco, Larvotto beach is the obvious destination.

Infamous only for some of the rhinestone laden bikinis (or lack thereof) sighted on its shores, Larvotto is often overlooked by tourists, being situated a smidgen further down the coast from the main port (just a few minutes on the other side of the tunnel made famous by the Grand Prix), and it’s a shame so many miss this area, as it is home to some of the best eateries and bars in town.

Catering for all, and under the surveillance of lifeguards, this destination is great for families (sporting several playgrounds) and has a beach volley court, not to mention a ‘handiplage‘ giving easy access to disabled visitors. The sea itself is a part of Monaco’s underwater nature reserve, with all fishing and activities harmful to the environment forbidden, although care is taken with the bipedal visitors too… jellyfish nets protect the swimmers all through the summer months, so no need to fear the stingers terrorising much of the Riviera in recent summers..

But what of the ‘apres-d’eau’? Whether one wishes to be pampered by ones bronzed ‘plagiste’ from a sun lounger all day, or sit on the public sectors of the beach, Larvotto is an excellent place for a spot of lunch in between dips, and is equally a good destination for a summer or autumn evening’s aperitif. Miami Plage is the place to head for the one of the most delicious salads this blogger has come across (tip: it’s called the ‘Cancun‘ and contains basil-marinated chicken breast), and ‘La Rose de Vents‘ has some fabulous seafood. And of course it’s impossible to talk about Larvotto without mentioning ‘La Note Bleue‘, home to some of the best Jazz acts in town, not to mention a chic selection of food and cocktails…a great spot on a summer evening.

But what’s on at Larvotto in the Winter months? Well apart from those hardy few who take the annual New Year’s Day dip in the sea, ‘La Spiaggia‘ the yellow-liveried beach & restaurant at the very end of Larvotto beach, is a great spot to visit. Famous for its terrific pizzas, it’s a popular spot even in Winter, (as can be seen from the amount of visitors every weekend,) there’s nothing quite like sitting on a Sunday afternoon in February or March munching an another delicious slice whilst catching some winter rays…

…so checking out Monaco’s little beach could be a good option next weekend…whatever time of year you’re reading this.