Marseille

France

Things to do in Marseille:

View the Gallery Winding Streets of the Old Port

Marseille Restaurants

Cheap (56)

Boulangerie Aixoise

One of the city's oldest boulangeries, Aixoise not only produces top-quality baguettes and loaves, but also�a mouth-watering range of�patisseries such as�Normandy apple tarts. read more
Affordable (56)

A Cantina Corsa

The modern interior and inviting bar distinguish this decent Corsican restaurant, which serves classic cuisine from�L'Ile de Beaut�. read more
Good quality (46)

Le Mas de Lulli

An unpretentious late-night eating place, where an artistic client�le comes to savour tasty p�t�, gnocchi with Corsican sausage, veal escalopes and spaghetti with seafood sauce. read more

Marseille Nightlife

Chilled (52)

Caf�s Debout

Founded in 1932, this charming caf� sells an�excellent selection of�roasted coffee beans and a variety of�teas. There's also handmade chocolate, jams and biscuits, including Marseille's famous... read more
Live Music (38)

L'Embobineuse

A subversive concert venue hosting a plethora of sounds, from experimental computer music to pogo-worthy punk and post-punk. Not for the faint-hearted! read more
Clubbing (56)

Le Bazar

One of the city's new-generation clubs excelling in innovative�lighting, video and sound effects.�The red couches and crystal chandeliers lend a stylish feel to the interior, which features four... read more

This Month in Marseille (March):

By Adrienne Bourgeon

Shopping: Marseille's urban streetwear label Kulte has a serious following among the city's fashionistas, who love its revised vintage look with a rockabilly vibe (9 Rue Jeune Anarchasis, tel: 04 9133 5346).

Sightseeing: Funky world-music festival Babel Med Music will take place at Les Docks des Suds on 25-27 March (dock-des-suds.org).

Key areas: Le Panier is the city's oldest neighbourhood and provided inspiration for the hit soap opera Plus Belle Vie. Visit the official Boutique (56 Rue Sainte Fran�oise, tel: 09 5185 5429) and the Bar des 13 Coins, which was reproduced in the soap's Bar du Mistral.

Day trips: The ancient town of Arles, (92km west of Marseille) was briefly home to troubled painter Vincent Van Gogh, and is a fascinating destination for history lovers. Don't miss the 2010 "C�sar" exhibition, which displays more than 700 objects retrieved from the Rh�ne River, including the recently found marble bust of Jules C�sar (Mus�e D�partmental, tel. 04 9018 8888).

Marseille News & Gossip

French National Dish: Bouillabaisse

This hearty fish soup was originally eaten by Marseillaise fishermen after a hard day at sea. They would sell most of their catch to restaurants and markets, and then take the rest home to eat. Despite its modest beginnings, the dish is often referred to as soupe d'or (soup of gold) due to the vibrant colour created by two of its vital ingredients: saffron and orange peel. Traditional bouillabaisse includes white scorpionfish, skate and conger eel, garnished with a garlic mayonnaise.

Try Ginette Mathiot's recipe, with the addition of mussels, in the first English translation of the French cooking bible I Know How to Cook (�24.95/�28.30), published by Phaidon Press.

Or book a table at one of these restaurants:

LE MIRAMAR
MARSEILLE
If you want to taste the real deal in its native city, go to Le Miramar. At �58 the vraie bouillabaisse is pricey, but worth it. 12 Quai du Port, tel: +33 (0)4 9191 4109

GOUMARD
PARIS
Many Parisian restaurants claim to serve the best bouillabaisse, but few come as close as Michelin-starred Goumard. 9 Rue Duphot, tel: +33 (0)1 4260 3607

VIS AAN DE SCHELDE
AMSTERDAM
This striking, monochrome restaurant is one of Amsterdam's finest for seafood. The bouillabaisse is pretty authentic, but with the decadent addition of a helping of Gruy�re cheese. 4 Scheldeplein, tel: +31 (0)20 675 1583

Marseille Trivia

March: About 100 trout swimming in 12 aquariums are used to monitor the quality of Marseille's drinking water. Trout are always in motion and scientists at the Soci�t� des Eaux de Marseille watch for changes in their movements to detect possible pollution.
February: A recent survey reveals that only 500 barquettes (typical wooden boats) remain in Marseille's 14 ports. Originating from Italy, these brightly painted boats are distinguished by a pointed bow and stern - and are worth a minimum of �35,000.
January: Marseille's emblematic wooden ferry boat, C�sar, has faithfully carried passengers across the Vieux Port from the Town Hall to the Rive Neuve since 1953. But newspapers were up in arms to hear that "C�sar est mort" and is to be replaced by C�sar II, a solar-powered craft.