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Christmas in Wonderland at the Hôtel Métropole
2011-10-03 14:34
What:
Christmas in Wonderland
Where:
Hotel Métropole Monte-Carlo
When: 25 November 2011 to 6 January 2012
It's hard to believe, while basking in the beautiful Indian summer, that soon it'll be time to start thinking about Christmas - but that's exactly what our friends at the Hotel Métropole have been doing, and this year they are promising a really spectacular stay inspired by the celebrated fantasy 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'.
Entering the hotel through a lobby adorned with candyfloss and beautiful flowers, you may well feel that, like Lewis Carroll's heroine, you've shrunk several feet as your attention is drawn by the oversized furniture specially designed for the Christmas in Wonderland season. Having posed for souvenir photos next to the huge Christmas tree (embellished with giant biscuits and candies) a glance at your pocket watch will remind you not to be late for the pièce de résistance of the afternoon - the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, when Head Pastry Chef Patrick Mesiano will be serving up cakes, sweets and pastries galore along with the finest Ronnefeldt teas in an atmosphere that can only be described as truly enchanting.
Head Barman Eddy Montana (no doubt having reached for the magic bottle labelled 'Drink Me'), will be mixing a host of inspirational concoctions: for grown-ups, there's the 'Wonderland' cocktail (€24) made from fresh lychees, vodka and a strawberry foam, while children can enjoy their own 'Tiger Lily mocktail' (€18) with a Tagada strawberry base, apple juice and lychee infusion, or home-made lemonade.
And of course, no visit to Wonderland would be complete without a playroom where younger guests can delve into a world of card games, croquet and storytellers, as well as video games, an electric train circuit and, most important for all imaginative children, a reading area!
Not to be outdone, the Queen of Hearts has commanded Michelin-starred chef Joël Robuchon that the whole of his restaurant should be dressed in a colour scheme reflecting the red and black of playing cards, and here guests will be treated to a selection of wonderful six-course menus (Christmas Eve dinner €250, Christmas Day lunch €200, New Year’s Eve dinner €650 and New Year’s Day dinner €160 - all prices are per person and exclude drinks). To top off the feast, Pastry Chef Mesiano will create and design a series of exclusive Joël Robuchon miniature Yule Logs, including a 'Wonderland Log' made from hazelnut brownies, tiramisu cream and milk chocolate mousse.
The 'Christmas in Wonderland' package includes
· Joël Robuchon breakfast
· Bottle of house Champagne on arrival
· VIP welcome
· Children’s treats, including an Alice in Wonderland story-book, teddy-bear, marshmallows and fresh juices
· Priority access to the Alice in Wonderland-inspired playroom
· Afternoon tea in the lobby lounge
Rates (subject to a minimum stay of two nights between 30 December 2011 and 2 January 2012)
25 November to 29 December 2011
Two superior rooms (two adults and two children) from €180/night.
Superior Junior Suite (two adults and one child) from €1,040 per night.
30 December 2011 to 3 January 2012*
Two superior rooms from €1,380 per night.
Superior Junior Suite (two adults and one child) from €1,680 per night.
3 January to 7 January 2012
Two superior rooms from €840/night
Superior Junior Suite (two adults and one child) from €1,040/night.
*Please note that afternoon tea is not included in this package
With special packages also available at Robuchon's Yoshi Japanese restaurant and the award-winning ESPA Monte-Carlo spa, this is one trip that will have you wanting to come back to Monte Carlo for another trip 'down the rabbit-hole'!