How To Spend The Perfect Weekend In Marseille
Marseille offers something uniquely different to that of its glitzy neighbors on the Côte d’Azur. A melting pot of cultures and cuisines, Provençal traditions, sun-drenched squares, and alluring turquoise coves, Marseille is a worthy destination on your summer travel bucket-list. What it lacks in glamor, it makes up for in soul, and is quickly becoming the place to eat and drink well, see and be seen on France’s Mediterranean coast.
Morning Coffee
Start your day like a local at Petrin Couchette in the Noaills district for la pompe à huile and a café au lait. From the team behind La Mercerie (nextdoor) and Livingston, this hybrid coffee shop and bakery is loved by locals and visitors alike. Quality is prioritized with long fermentations, natural sourdough, and ancient wheat. Sit on the sunny terrace to enjoy your coffee and confections and plot the rest of your day in Marseille.
Where to Shop
If you took your coffee at Pétrin Couchette, wander across the street into Maison Empereur, the oldest hardware shop in all of France. Not just any general store, this multi-story multi-sensory mecca offers everything from kitchen appliances, handmade soaps, linens, bath products, leather goods, clothes, tableware, etc. This is a one-stop-shop to purchase thoughtful unique gifts for any occasion. Be prepared to spend hours here, and maybe even purchase an extra suitcase to haul your goodies back home. (They currently have a pop-up on the ground floor of Le Bon Marché in Paris). ©fredtchalekian
Jogging is a concept shop with an inspired curation of clothes, shoes, homegoods, and accessories for men and women. There is a beautiful café in the center courtyard of the space with rotating chefs in residence offering delicious seasonal menus. Come for a shop, stay for lunch and people-watching.
Where to Stay
Tuba Club effortlessly cool, this 8-room boutique hotel and beach club is situated on the edge of Les Goudes near the Calanques with stylish interiors, delicious seafood, unbeatable views and seaside swimming access.
Les Bords de Mer is a larger, more contemporary seaside alternative to Tuba located at the end of Plage des Catalans with breathtaking panoramic views. In the heart of Marseille, this hotel is ideal for walking to shops, wine bars, and restaurants. While their pool is closed, they offer complimentary guest passes to the nearby members-only swimming club, CNM, which was a highlight of the trip.
Where to Eat & Drink
If you’re spending the day by the sea, head to Boissonnerie – the coolest little mobile sandwich + ice cream bike cart run by local Cécilia Bonacchi. Perched on the edge of Les Goudes district, Cecilia offers 3 simple but incredibly high quality sandwiches and a few ice creams. My favorite was Le Pan Bagnat, which is essentially a tuna nicoise inside a soft crusty ciabatta bun, sliced in half and doused in olive oil just before serving. The perfect beach lunch.
La Mercerie - Offering a prix fixe menu at dinner with creative Mediterranean dishes. Super light and fresh, each of the five courses was thoughtfully prepared to highlight the best of the season and local land. Think Amberjack crudo with rose grapes and mint, courgette gazpacho with lump crab and finger lime, gnocchi with cherry tomatoes and local goat cheese, grilled tenderloin with anchovy and charred scallion, and to finish, melon granita with raspberry sorbet and fresh cream. ©Adrian Bautista
Limmat - Understood to be one of the best meals you can have in Marseille. Serving up simple, unfussy, fresh, inspired seafood + vegetarian dishes. Also excellent natural wine selection.
Figure - A little slice of Paris in Marseille, with the same owner of Lolo Cave a Manger in the 9th. Serving up thoughtful small plates with an impressive selection of natural wines.
Epicerie L’Idéal - Beautifully curated specialty grocery shop + café. High-quality products and delicious food. I recommend picking up provisions for the perfect beach picnic.
Loulou Monsieur Glace - Artisanal ice cream shop in Malmousque – the ideal way to close out a long day of sun in Marseille.
Where to Swim
La Baie des Singes (Monkey Bay) - This is one of the most coveted spots to swim in Marseille. Book lunch here and enjoy fresh seafood line-caught that morning, and spend the rest of the afternoon lounging on the sun beds. Absolute heaven.
Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille - Members-only swimming club understood to be the hardest spot to snag a seat by the sea. Even members receive numbered passes for the summer. The space itself is nothing over the top it’s quite bare bones and hasn’t changed a bit over the last 30 years, but that’s exactly what makes it special. Unless you have an in with a local, you can have access to this club by booking a room at Les Bords de Mer, just down the road.
84 Rooms recommends: Where To Eat, Drink & Play In Marseille, and A French Riviera Road Trip.