Urbanologist and nutrition & holistic health coach, Madeleine Karlsson, picks her favourite spots for healthy & delicious food in Monaco.

Coya 

Newly opened and already a favorite among many, Coya is a rare combination of the perfect location with the perfect venue, atmosphere, music, crowd, drinks and food. Offering Peruvian cuisine with a twist of Japanese, Chinese and Spanish, this is a place where you’ll discover dishes & flavors you’ve never experienced before. Most of what is on the menu is actually quite healthy and the idea is to share the different dishes tapas style. They have lots of different ceviches, all of which taste fresh and delicious but my favorite starter is the Chilean Sebass Croquettes. Granted they’re not the healthiest but OMG they're amazing. But before you tuck into your starters, make sure to order the Guacamole. It's a must. It's served with corn chips and simply tastes amazing. If you're in the mood for a salad as a starter or a side, I highly recommend the corn salad. In terms of mains, my favourite is the Chilean Seabass cooked in an Iron Pot although everything else I've tasted on the menu is delicious too.

Maya Bay

This well established place has been around for a while but never fails to disappoint if you're in the mood for Asian flavors. The restaurant is divided into two distinct sections offering different cuisines and atmospheres. The Japanese section is very good but I have a personal preference for the Thai one. Most of the food here is healthy. It´s fresh, full of flavors and of vegetables with lean meats or fish. My personal favourite for starter is the eggplants and prawn salad and for main the breaded salmon in yellow curry with chia and sesame seeds. The panang crab and lemon leaves curry is also a favourite. The eggplant confit with red miso makes a great side dish and so does the sweet potato mousseline with sesame seeds. This place is well known for its desserts, especially if you like chocolate. The Maya Sphere combines the intense flavors of dark chocolate with the tangy taste of raspberries whereas the “Intensément Chocolate” is just an explosion of chocolate for the real chocoholic.

Monte Carlo Beach Club

A bit of an institution and perhaps one of the chicest beaches of the Riviera, the Monte Carlo Beach Club offers fresh, local and seasonal specialties for the sophisticated beach goer who wants to look trim in their swimwear. A personal favorite is the tuna tataki with a side of grilled vegetables or the octopus but don´t worry, they have good burgers and pizza here too. Sunday brunches are fantastic and offer a great selection of healthy foods you can enjoy while gazing at the people around the pool. Even the desserts have been designed for the health conscious: the range of homemade sorbets are to die for!

Eqvita

This place is the creation of famous tennis player Novak Djokovic and is the only vegan restaurant in Monaco. The menu changes from season to season but the food always tastes fresh and full of flavor. They are well known for their incredible soups and for their vegan burger with a side of sweet potato fries. Desserts are delicious and healthy too. It's a great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner if you're in the mood for something healthy.

La Vigie

This place is only open from July to beginning of September but offers perhaps the best views of Monaco and some of the freshest fish & seafood too. It´s hard to go wrong if you go for any of the latter. A personal favorite is the seafood platter for starter and the lobster with a side of grilled vegetables as a main. 

Madeleine Karlsson is a nutrition & holistic health coach, a Pilates trainer and a self-proclaimed epicure, based in Monaco. She is the founder of Nutrition For Naughty People helping her clients improve their health, boost their energy levels and reduce the signs of aging by balancing the sensible with the naughty. 

Ideal For

Insider tips