99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant Elevates the Art of Sushi in Monaco
Founded in 2005 in Spain, 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant traces its origins to Madrid—at number 9 of the very street where its first address opened. The concept was imagined by two brothers, Fernando and Pedro de León, passionate admirers of Japanese cuisine. What began as a heartfelt tribute to Japanese culinary artistry soon flourished across the Iberian Peninsula, with refined addresses opening in Madrid, Marbella, and Barcelona, each entirely devoted to the precision and elegance of Japanese gastronomy.
Driven by growing international enthusiasm for this exacting cuisine, the brand soon set its sights beyond Europe. In 2017, 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant dropped anchor at the Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, before continuing its journey during the height of the pandemic to Dubai, at the foot of one of the world’s most iconic landmarks: the Burj Khalifa.
For the past three years, 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant Dubai has held a Michelin star, shining brightly on the gastronomic map of the United Arab Emirates. Both restaurants have also been distinguished by the Gault & Millau guide, alongside numerous local accolades from Time Out, What’s On, BBC Good Food, and many others.
Building on this success, Jaime Castañeda, CEO of Ninety Nine SB Investment LLC—the holding company founded in 2023—now leads the brand into a new chapter. Already firmly established in the Persian Gulf and on Morocco’s Golden Corniche in the imperial city of Rabat, 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant now answers the call of Monaco.
A Prestigious Address in Mareterra
The restaurant has chosen to settle in Mareterra, Monaco’s new eco-luxury district—an exceptional architectural achievement designed by Renzo Piano alongside Valode & Pistre. Conceived as a harmonious extension of the coastline, Mareterra blends contemporary architecture, sustainability, and absolute refinement. With its prestigious residences, exclusive marina, and expansive green spaces, the district embodies an exceptional art of living where nature and modernity meet the Mediterranean.
At the heart of this emblematic neighborhood, 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant has found its new port of call—an exceptional address that further strengthens the brand’s international development and prestige.
A Culinary Journey to the Land of the Rising Sun
99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant promises guests a refined culinary journey to Japan. Its cuisine is deeply rooted in Japanese tradition, celebrated for its elegant simplicity, meticulous attention to ingredient quality, and absolute respect for freshness and balance. Each dish reflects a masterful command of diverse culinary techniques, executed with precision.
Every day, the restaurant honors this ancestral art by elevating a flagship product: Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), highly prized for sushi and sashimi. Committed to environmental responsibility and species preservation, 99 sources its tuna exclusively from the Balfegó family, certified by the United Nations and the FAO. The result is tuna of optimal fat content, carefully caught and prepared to preserve both flavor and texture, showcased throughout the menu in multiple variations.
While deeply respectful of tradition and umami-rich flavors, the restaurant also embraces modernity. Signature creations reinterpret classic recipes with exceptional ingredients such as caviar, sea urchin, truffle, and foie gras. Tartares, gunkans, chawanmushi, and hiyashi-style dishes are elevated by the expertise of the chefs and sushi masters, subtly blending Japanese techniques with refined European influences.
The Excellence of Contemporary Sushi
In the heart of Monaco, 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant elevates the art of sushi through a selection of signature dishes where luxury and refinement meet.
Among them, the 99 Jewel stands out for its sophisticated harmony: an exceptional maki combining melting toro and akami, enhanced by the aromatic depth of truffle, the delicacy of caviar, and a shimmering gold leaf—a bite of pure elegance.
The Toast Cristal Umami embodies the essence of iodized indulgence. A generous layer of toro tartare is paired with creamy uni and crowned with caviar, offering a rare intensity of textures and flavors.
The Golden Bricks present a refined contrast between crisp and tender: caramelized rice supporting delicate toro tartare, enriched with avocado, tobiko, and a touch of gold—an exquisite balance of indulgence and sophistication.
A sashimi selection that delights with every bite—immensely fresh and of impeccable quality. Straight from the sea, the flavors are heightened by ginger freshly grated to order on a traditional sharkskin grater, a Japanese technique that is both precise and captivating to watch.
Finally, the 99 Flag, an iconic signature of the house, combines the richness of toro with the umami intensity of uni and the refinement of caviar, perfectly capturing the spirit of 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant Monaco.
Each signature dish is an invitation to discover a reimagined Japanese haute cuisine, where exceptional craftsmanship is expressed in every detail.
An Immersive and Refined Setting
The contemporary setting in which this cuisine unfolds is adorned with golden tones, mesmerizing mirrors, amber backlit surfaces, and deep purple velvets, creating an atmosphere that is both intimate and captivating. The design—minimalist yet warm—plays with dark hues, bronze highlights, and deep reds, blending raw materials such as stone, leather, precious woods, glass floors, and vegetal walls under soft, theatrical lighting.
This is the jewel box that 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant offers its cuisine: resolutely Japanese, yet always ready to travel. In Monaco, the bar takes center stage, bordered by an elegant lounge with low seating, garnet-colored sofas, and deep black tables.
Outside, the terrace opens onto the marina, where immaculate yachts reflect golden light upon polished hulls. Chic and resolutely contemporary, it extends the sophistication of the dining room into the open air, offering a quintessential Monaco experience.