Food destinations within easy reach of Marseille, worth the early start.
Food destinations within easy reach of Marseille. worth the train, the rental car or the early start.
Famous for: Bouillabaisse on the Cassis port and AOC Cassis white wine
Cassis 22km east of Marseille is the port town with four bouillabaisse rooms on the harbour, Chez Gilbert the canonical reference, plus AOC Cassis white from the surrounding hills.
Famous for: Daily market at Place Richelme and the city's calissons
Aix-en-Provence 30km north of Marseille runs a daily food market at Place Richelme from 8am to 1pm, plus the bigger Tue, Thu and Sat extension at Place des Precheurs for spices and produce.
Famous for: Tuesday food market, santon workshops and Provencal traiteur counters
Aubagne 17km east of Marseille is Marcel Pagnol's hometown and the santon capital of Provence, the Tuesday food market and the santon workshops the two reasons to make the trip.
Famous for: Camargue red rice with bull stew (gardiane) and sea bream
Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue delta is the rice country, Le Clos du Rhone and Mas Saint Bertrand cooking bull-stew gardiane with red rice and sea bream with the rice.
Famous for: Cabanon kitchens like Le Chateau in Sormiou and grilled sea bream
The Calanques between Marseille and Cassis run a handful of cabanon kitchens like Le Chateau and Le Bistrot in Sormiou, grilled fish on the rocks with sea-side terraces accessible May to September.
Famous for: Panisses and chichis at L'Estaque, oursins on the Sausset rocks
The Cote Bleue west of Marseille runs from L'Estaque (Chez Magali panisses since 1947) out to Sausset-les-Pins, the oursin season September to April the reason to come in winter.
Peak food season in Marseille is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Marseille rewards trust.