Le Mélo on Cours Julien in Marseille's 6e is the corner café-concert that hosts the Marseille Jazz Collective jam every Sunday from 18:30, then flips to karaoke Thursday and DJ sets Friday-Saturday until 02:00.
Tip: Sunday jazz jam is free; arrive by 19:00 for a banquette. House piano, drum kit and bass are set up for sit-ins.
Address: 68 Cours Julien, 13006 Marseille
Le Capian on the first floor of the InterContinental Marseille Hôtel-Dieu in the 2e is the open-air bar perched above the Vieux Port, with 50-plus signature cocktails by Xavier Gilly and a view across to Notre-Dame de la Garde.
Tip: Cocktails €18-24; book a Vieux-Port-facing terrace banquette for sunset. Closed shoes and shirts only, no sportswear.
Rooftop Les Bords de Mer above the Catalans beach in Marseille's 7e is the hotel's small-pool terrace perched on the Corniche, with Fontenille wines, Mediterranean tapas and one of the city's clearest sunset views to the Frioul.
Tip: Reserve a Sunday table for the 11:00 opening; cocktails €15-20 and the heated plunge pool is for hotel guests only.
L'Azur Rooftop above the Rowing Club Marseille in the 7e Pharo is the garden-themed terrace beside the Palais du Pharo, with a 180-degree view across the Vieux Port to the Mucem and an evening Saturday DJ programme.
Tip: Reserve a Saturday-evening table for the DJ slot; the Wednesday lunch terrace is the easier walk-in if you just want the view.
Le Bistrot Plage on the Corniche above Vallon des Auffes in Marseille's 7e is the lifeguarded private beach and tapas terrace looking out to the Frioul Islands and Château d'If, open from breakfast through sunset cocktails.
Tip: Cocktails €12-16 from 18:00 on the terrace; the private beach below charges a daybed fee but is free to walk through.
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.
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.