Sharing his unique perspective on Monaco this week is Dominique Gastaldi, who was born and raised in the Principality. At the age of 20 he moved away to Madrid and then London where he worked in the eyewear industry. Four years ago he moved back to Monaco to join his family business, Gastaldi Fleurs, which he runs alongside his father and sister.
Professional Instagram: @gastaldifleurs – Flower Business
Hobby Instagram: @foot_a_la_carte – Football Card Collection
Website: www.gastaldimonaco.com
I get my morning coffee and croissant here
My office is based in Fontvieille, so every day I have my coffee and pain au chocolat at Le Kiosque in the little plaza in front of the Centre Commercial. It is all open air and Livio, the manager, has become a good friend of mine over the years.
My favourite lunch spot
I am biased as my family owns the restaurant Le Loga on boulevard des Moulins. They make best gnocchis in Monaco, if not in the world! To be fair to the other restaurants, I would say that I go quite often to La Piazza and Tre Scallini too.
Best Friday night aperitif
I am quite old school as I grew up in Monaco, so I stick to the old basics from way before the Brasserie or other bars on the port opened. So for me, there’s nothing better than an aperitif at Stars’n’Bars and sharing some nibbles there with friends. Back in the day they even had a club above Stars’n’Bar called “Blues”, it used to be a great combo. I also enjoy La Vigie in summer for a drink.
Annual event I never miss
I could not quote an event I never miss, but I am a big football fan and I try to go to every AS Monaco game in Stade Louis II. When I was younger the stadium was much fuller than it is nowadays, as it was free for school kids to attend the games.
Favourite time of year in the Principality
April till June, when the weather is great and the tourists haven’t all arrived.
My best Monaco workout
I do not work out on a regular basis, but my wife is a fitness coach (check out www.itsalwaysmonday.com) so I am forced into group classes every once in a while. Monaco offers a good variety of spots to work out but my favourite is on the digue in Fontvieille, as it is hard to top the view of the Océanographique Museum from there, with the open sea on the other side.
Where I go/what I do for “me time”
Our family time is mostly spent between Larvotto and les Sablettes in Menton. Both offer nice places for a drink and a lot of space for children to play. As for my “me-time” I like to go to the football matches with friends and hunting for good deals on football cards (a hobby of mine) online.
My go-to shop for last minute gifts
The easiest answer is La Fnac. There’s a gift for everybody there and I am also quite into anything hi-tech so I really enjoy looking at all the new gadgets and TVs. Of course, a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Gastaldi always makes a great gift too.
A hidden gem I’m willing to share
La Maison du Limoncello in Monaco-Ville. It is quite a new shop and the boutique is really nice. There is a great selection of gift ideas as well. I think it is important to shine a little spotlight on the shops/restaurants on the Rocher as they were the most severely hit by the COVID crisis as their activity mostly relies on tourism. So not only did I give you a hidden gem, but visiting this shop and having a coffee at one of the cafes on the Rock would do a lot for the spirit of people working there.
Best day trip out of town
The bike ride from Ospedaletti to San Remo is one of my favourite things to do with my family. You can rent bikes from either place, and stop in the middle to eat a great pizza and burn the calories off on the ride back!
The one thing I would change about Monaco if I could
I became a dad two years ago and I would really appreciate more things to do with young kids in Monaco. It is a real shame to have to go elsewhere, to Menton or Nice for example, to do activities that could be done here. It is a pity that older kids wanting to play 5 vs 5 football need to go to Vintimille, it was something I loved to do as a kid and I’m sure my son will, too.
The Shout Out
I love the Dixieme Art Tattoo shop on Rue de Milo. I only have one tattoo myself (for now) but this place is really great. The staff are very qualified, and they offer a unique experience to help you understand how every step of their process works. I love following their Instagram account as their tattoos really are an amazing art form. @dixiemartmonaco
Thanks Dom, for sharing your Monaco!
