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.
Address: 11 Cours Jean Ballard, 13001 Marseille
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.
Double Zéro in Marseille's 5e Camas is the high-fidelity wine-and-vinyl bar on Rue Briffaut, with large-format speakers, a 100-percent natural-wine list and small plates from €7 in a warm dining-room setting.
Tip: Shared plates €7-29, wine by the glass €5-8; book a counter seat to see the turntable. Closed Tuesday-Wednesday.
Tangerine at the foot of Cours Julien in Marseille's 6e is the industrial loft record shop and listening space stocking 10,000-plus used records, with a coffee counter and a turntable wall for in-store sets.
Tip: Open until 19:00 only; check the in-store DJ calendar for Saturday afternoon vinyl-only sets. Coffees €3, no full bar.
Livingston in Marseille's 6e off the Cours Julien is the orange-wine bistro and vinyl bar with a tight natural-wine list, small-plate counter and a turntable that runs jazz, soul and tropicalia through the room from 19:15.
Tip: Glasses €5-9, tapas €9-16; the counter takes walk-ins, the dining bench is reservation only.