8 editor picks in Marseille.
8 french bistro places in Marseille we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Marseille | French Bistro across every city.
The bistro suits Marseille's appetite for short, market-led menus and a relaxed room. La Mercerie on Cours Saint-Louis in the first has become the city's modern bistro reference, with Le Pelle-Mele on Place aux Huiles and Le Melo on Cours Julien nearby. Out at L'Estaque, Chez Magali keeps a simpler seaside version alive.
La Mercerie in Marseille's 1er opened in 2018 from the Paris Popup trio Harry Cummins, Laura Vidal and Julia Mitton, a stripped-concrete room.
OrderThe set tasting; the kitchen reads as a tighter Septime cousin south of Paris.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday; book the terrace on Cours Saint-Louis for warm nights.
Le Cafe de l'Abbaye in Marseille's 7e sits next to the Saint-Victor Abbey above the Vieux Port, a Provencal bistro with a single daily dish.
OrderWhatever the single plat du jour is at lunch; tapas at aperitif on the terrace.
TipOpen Mon-Fri 9am-10:30pm, weekends from 3pm; closes mid-afternoon between services.
La Mercerie in Marseille's 1er opened in 2018 from the Paris Popup trio Harry Cummins, Laura Vidal and Julia Mitton, a market-driven bistronomic tasting menu.
OrderThe set tasting; the kitchen reads as a tighter Septime cousin south of Paris.
TipClosed Sunday and Monday; the terrace seats are the prize on warm nights.
Le Pelle-Mele in Marseille's 1er on Place aux Huiles is the city's longest-running jazz bar, late-night cocktails and tapas under live music from the small.
OrderTapas and bistro plates with live jazz
TipLive music most nights; small room, arrive before 21:00 for a seat.
Le Melo in Marseille's 6e on Cours Julien runs cocktails and a dance floor through the late hours, DJ sets in the back of the bar and small bar plates served.
OrderCocktails and small bar plates
TipOpen Thursday to Saturday 19:00-02:00; other nights by reservation only.
Limmat at the foot of the Cours Julien stairs in Marseille's 6e runs a daily changing menu by Lilian Gadola, bar seating for a single-pour-and-plate evening.
TipBook the bar for a single-pour-and-plate evening; closed Sunday and Monday.
Chez Magali on the L'Estaque port in Marseille's 16e fries panisses at €3.50 the dozen and chichis from €2.80, the cheapest sea-side meal in the city.
OrderPanisses and chichis fregis in a paper cone
TipCash only; eat standing on the kiosk terrace facing the harbour.
Four des Navettes in Marseille's 7e has baked navettes since 1781, the orange-blossom boat biscuit by the paper bag, the cheapest edible Marseille souvenir.
OrderNavette biscuits by the bag
TipClosed mid-afternoon between batches; Chandeleur morning is the day to come.
Guided tour · 3 hours
From breakfast to lunch, enjoy the food and drinks tour through Marseille's old towns: must-sees, must-eats, and must-drinks included!
4 hours
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Day trip · 6 hours
Explore Avignon, the Pope's Palace, and Avignon Bridge on a day trip from Marseille. Grab lunch at a local market, then travel a route through the southern part of Côt...
