The French maison trades courtside whites for Riviera sun, serving tennis-tinted club sandwiches and founder inspired cocktails from dawn until 2 a.m.
Le Méridien Beach Plaza now hosts a sunlit corner claimed by Lacoste, complete with the familiar crocodile. Doors swing open at nine each morning, lights dim well after midnight, and every hour in between is stitched with the easy pace of French leisure.
Chef Thierry Paludetto and the Giraudi Group curate a menu that reads like a mixtape of tennis memories. Expect coquillettes tossed in truffle, baguette slices plated like art, and a “Practice” club sandwich that nods to René Lacoste’s training routine.
Desserts rally for attention: a pistachio “Crocodile” that cracks under the spoon, a clay-hued tiramisu called “Terre battue,” and the Tarte Victorine, a sweet salute to the founder. Eight cocktails complete the playbook, led by “La Chose,” the crushed-ice refresher René mixed after matches.
Inside, racing-green banquettes echo the brand’s courtside heritage without slipping into theme park territory, while terrace tables angle toward the Mediterranean. If the Fifth Avenue flagship signaled a retail comeback, this café shows Lacoste is ready to host the after-party.
Reservations are live, though walk-ins find luck between lunch and the early-evening spritz rush. Dress code? Anything from a pique polo to tailored beach shorts, just leave the racket with the concierge.
Need to Know
- Location: Le Café Lacoste, Le Méridien Beach Plaza, 22 Avenue Princesse Grace, Monaco
- Hours: Open daily, 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.
