Berlin will seat you in sneakers at a two-star; Monaco will lend you a jacket and mean it. A city-by-city guide to what the room expects.
The jacket cities
Le Louis XV in Monaco requires a jacket for men and will lend one; Per Se and Daniel in New York ask for one in the dining room; Le Cinq in Paris expects it. In these rooms, a jacket is not a rule to test; it is the ticket. Jeans are tolerated only if they are dark and the rest is impeccable.
The elegant cities
Vienna, Zurich, Munich and Paris dress for dinner without a written rule. A jacket never looks wrong at the Kronenhalle or Tantris; a suit without a tie is the local uniform. Women’s dress codes are unwritten everywhere, but the standard is the same: the room, not the beach.
The relaxed cities
Berlin, Hamburg’s HafenCity, Málaga, Miami’s Coconut Grove: smart casual is the ceiling. Nobelhart & Schmutzig writes “come as you are” and means it; Kaleja seats people in shorts at a starred counter. Sneakers are fine if they are clean.
The beach cities
Ibiza, Mallorca and Marbella dress up in a different language: linen, loafers, white after dark, a shirt at dinner. Nobu Marbella and Es Fum expect effort at dinner; Es Torrent seats you barefoot at lunch. On Sylt the code is cashmere and wellies, and it is not a joke.
The rule that always works
Dress one notch above what you think the room needs. Nobody was ever turned away for being too elegant, and the staff treat guests who dressed for them with visible pleasure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I wear sneakers to a starred restaurant?
In Berlin, Hamburg, Málaga and most of Spain, yes. In Paris, Monaco and the New York palaces, no.
Do restaurants lend jackets?
The palaces of Monaco, Paris and New York keep jackets for guests who forgot; ask discreetly at the door.
What about shorts?
Lunch by the sea, yes. Dinner anywhere in this guide, no.
