If you pass through Monaco this summer, here is a welcoming new spot we love. Imagine a typical french bistro, like ones you can find in New York!!! (a la Balthazar or Pastis) I know, that might sound criminal for french gastronomy purists, but it’s not! The place is really cute, brand new but with soul, and the fare is very simple, fresh and tasty. Good products, simple recipes, very affordable prices and charming service. 
The name “Bouchon” comes from the traditional french bistros in the city of Lyon. Yesterday was really hot, and we wanted some fresh air at lunchtime. Bouchon and it’s new terrace was the perfect choice, with its large open glass windows. My boyfriend Piero had cucumber soup and “assiette anglaise”, and for me a fresh salad with perfect vinaigrette and tender bavette with crispy french fries. Everything was really good, and in summer on the coast it’s not that easy to find establishments that don’t take advantage of the tourists!
The menu is quite extensive, so you can choose between a lot of traditional french dishes like endive salad with blue cheese and nuts, assorted kinds of omlettes, small roasted chicken with olive oil purée, mussels with “sauce poulette” and fries, beef tartare, chocolate mousse, cremes brûlées etc!
The wines are classified under three categories: “drinkable”, “agreeable” and “unbelievable”, and the prices correspond! We are planning to go back in the evening to try the house made cocktails such as the “Monaco Mule”: Vodka, lime and ginger ale.
In summary: it’s easy, open all day from breakfast at 7:00 am (mini viennoiseries eggs, etc), to diner, last order around 11:00 pm, and to give you an idea at lunch you can have a first plate then a fish or meat of the day plus a glass of wine for 17 euros.
Either you can decide to stay there all day long, chit chatting with a friend, reading the newspaper or writing your new book (!!!), or you can just cross the street to visit the Extra Large exhibition of giant pieces from the Parisian Pompidou Center, lent to the Grimaldi Forum for the summer.
Bouchon, 11 Avenue Princesse Grace, +377 97 77 08 80, www.bouchon.mc
