The Best Hotels to Book in Marseille, France

This isn’t just a grand hotel by name but something of a Grande Dame as far as top Marseille hotels go. This four-star stay in the Old Port area has been attracting top clientele for 200 years ‒ among them Henri Matisse, Serge Gainsbourg and Ernest Hemingway. We bet that the latter would have enjoyed the local liquors at the honesty bar in the lobby; other pluses include the complimentary L’Occitane toiletries and great views from some of the rooms (it’s worth paying extra for these).

One of the only three-star boutique hotels in Marseille, ALEX provides a lot of bang for your buck. The location is fantastic – opposite the TGV and Eurostar Saint-Charles train station –, the decor is modern yet friendly and the tapas bar-lounge is a slinky space for cocktail hour. Make sure you hit up the spa to enjoy its sauna, hammam, massage cabin and glass-roofed relaxation lounge.

You’ve come to the seaside to stay with an eccentric French aunt, who has a pop art collection and a fantastic in-house chef – at least that’s what it feels like at this luxury hotel in Marseille. The location is second to none, right on the Old Port, and the views equally sensational. Enjoy light-filled rooms complete with lovely little extras (straw sun hats, robes and slippers, etc.) and wake up to a delicious breakfast with an array of French cheeses. Mais oui!

C2 Hôtel is housed in an elegant Haussmann-style building in the Opéra neighbourhood of central Marseille, just behind the Old Port. Originally designed as a 19th-century townhouse, many of the historical features, such as frescoes and sculptures, have been retained. There are now 20 luxurious rooms inside, as well as a full-service spa and access to a private beach with sunloungers. The urban retreat also has a stylish bar and a restaurant offering five-star service.

While this boutique hotel is technically in Marseille, it is about as far as you can travel before leaving the city limits and heading into the Calanques National Park, making it a real find for a remote stay near the town. Hôtel 96 is owned by a brother and sister who have turned their Provençal farmhouse into an oasis of calm with furnishings that are both sumptuous and modern. Relax by the pool or make the most of the hotel’s sauna and massage facilities.

While Mama Shelter might not have a beachside location, it’s ideally situated in the heart of the edgy, urban sixth district of Marseille, with its cool bars, artisanal ice-cream parlours and great restaurants. Philippe Starck designed the two-star hotel’s quirky decor, blending industrial materials with kitsch furnishings and bringing lots of bright colour to the bedrooms and laid-back shared spaces. Its terrace is a good option for dinner, and it’s well worth trying the Sunday buffet (12pm to 4pm).

The InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu was a hospital for more than 800 years before it became a five-star luxury hotel in 2013, which just happened to be the year that Marseille was the European Capital of Culture. With views of the Basilica Notre-Dame de la Garde and just a five-minute walk from the popular Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisations (MuCEM), the hotel has one of the best locations for a stay in Marseille. Public steps below the hotel lead down to the Old Port and are perfect for people-watching, and the Sunday brunch here is legendary.

For a reliable, traditional hotel chain, the Sofitel in the Old Port of Marseille, with its modern rooms and attentive service, is a solid choice. The building itself is far from architecturally compelling, but its location is magnificent, with unrivalled vistas from waterside rooms. The main draw is the bar and restaurant, which both have views over Marseille’s impressive Mediterranean coastline. Rooms here are stylishly designed, with patterned headboards providing a focal point, and some have balconies perfect for an al fresco breakfast or evening drink.

Le Petit Nice Passedat is a foodie’s delight – and it doesn’t scrimp on style either. This hotel on the beach in Marseille lies on the Corniche Kennedy, and was bought a century ago by the current owner’s grandfather, who originally started a café here. The place soon expanded, and the hotel restaurant now boasts three Michelin stars and offers 65 different varieties of fish. Inside, the hotel rooms capitalise on its brilliant position by the sea, with windows looking out to panoramas of the coastline.

With a four-star rating and a fabulous spa, the nhow Marseille is everything you might want from a beach resort hotel. The bright and airy rooms feature large windows, offering stunning views of the nearby sea. Situated a little outside of Marseille on the Corniche Kennedy, it’s private and secluded, making it perfect for a chilled-out break on the coast. However, the hotel is also ideally located for a trip into central Marseille, as it’s only a 10-minute bike ride to the city’s Old Port (consider hiring a city bike). The nhow Marseille also has a good restaurant on-site, indoor and outdoor pools and a well-stocked breakfast buffet.