Carry Nation in Marseille's 6e Castellane is the city's first speakeasy, opened 2011 behind the storefront of a souvenir shop, with a 40-seat Prohibition-era room and more than 300 rums and whiskies on the back bar.
Tip: Book on the website to receive the address and door code by email; cocktails €13-16. Capacity is 40 so weekend slots go a fortnight ahead.
Address: 6 Rue Jules Moulet, 13006 Marseille
CopperBay in Marseille's 6e Notre-Dame du Mont is the marine-themed cocktail bar on Boulevard Notre Dame, a Paris-Marseille two-city project with blue-tiled banquettes and Mediterranean-leaning cocktails from €11.
Tip: Cocktails €11-14, wines from €7 by the glass; tapas €5-9 to share. Closed Sunday-Monday, busiest Friday after 21:00.
Polikarpov on Cours Honoré d'Estienne d'Orves in Marseille's 1er is the city's smallest vodka bar, named after the Russian fighter plane, with a 25-vodka back-bar, a low-volume jazz programme weeknights and weekend DJ sets.
Tip: Vodka shots €5, cocktails €9-12; the south-facing pedestrian terrace is the spot from 18:00. Cards accepted.
L'Unic Bar on Cours Jean Ballard in Marseille's 1er is the eclectic-decor cocktail counter just off the Vieux Port, with a long pavement terrace, late-night service to 02:00 and a small cocktail list under €13.
Tip: Cocktails €9-12; the back room with the antique-shop fittings is the calmer corner once the terrace fills.
Le Pulse on Cours Julien in Marseille's 6e is the queer bar at the south end of the artists' terrace, with a wide pavement table run, a small dance room behind the bar and weekend DJ nights from 23:00 to 02:00.
Tip: Closed Sun-Mon; arrive 19:00 for a terrace seat, the dancefloor opens 23:00. Cards accepted, no cover at the door.
New Cancan off the Canebière in Marseille's 1er is the city's anchor gay club, opened June 1991 by Michel Piacenza, with a house, electro and disco programme that runs Friday-Saturday midnight to 07:00.
Tip: Door from midnight; cover €10-15 on themed nights, free before 01:00 most weekends. The basement is the dancefloor, ground floor stays calmer.
L'Annexe Bar on Rue Saint Bazile in Marseille's 1er is the Michel Piacenza follow-up to New Cancan, a small two-floor gay-and-friends room facing the Réformés-Canebière metro with daily happy hour from 17:00.
Tip: Happy hour 17:00-21:00 is the easy entry; the upstairs lounge is the quieter table after 22:00. Metro Réformés-Canebière at the door.