Monday to Saturday, roughly 8am to 7pm. It's closed Sundays.
Discover Authentic Marseille: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Marseille, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Calanque de Sormiou, the Savonnerie du Fer à Cheval and Le Couvent.
Top 5 Things to Do in Marseille
Marché des Capucins (Noailles)
Monday to Saturday, roughly 8am to 7pm. Cumin, saffron, fresh flatbread, merguez sizzling on a griddle — this is Marseille's North African heart, and it isn't dressed up for visitors.
Le Panier's back streets
The oldest part of the city, all steep lanes and painted shutters. Chez Étienne, a tiny wood-fired pizza spot with no sign and no reservations, has been feeding the neighbourhood for decades — show up early or wait.
Quai des Belges fish market
Fishermen sell the morning\u2019s catch straight off the boats at the Vieux-Port most mornings. Go early if you want to see it in full swing rather than the leftovers.
Corniche Kennedy
The cliffside road and path running along the bay, away from the port. Fewer crowds, more sea air, and a proper look at how the city meets the Mediterranean.
Au Cœur du Panier
A spot in Le Panier that bridges Corsica and the coast — go for the figatellu, a smoked, gamey liver sausage that isn't on every menu.
Explore Marseille's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Marseille
We've mapped local spots around Marseille, from the calanques to the soap makers.
Nature
Calanque de Sormiou via cordata
Round the Bec de Sormiou at the tip of the calanque with Monde Vertical: a zipline through the Capelan cave, abseiling and via cordata climbing above the Mediterranean. Ready to swing?
Calanque de Sormiou, 9th · Outdoor adventure · Made for thrill seekers
Massif du Garlaban
Marcel Pagnol made it famous: the 730-metre Garlaban rises above Aubagne and the village of La Treille, with marked trails for hikers, climbers and mountain bikers. 37 to 45 minutes from our Marseille hotels.
Aubagne · Mountain · Perfect for hiking
Domaine de la Bargemone
An 800-year-old wine estate between Saint-Cannat and Aix-en-Provence, with tastings and summer events among the vines.
Coteaux d'Aix · Winery · Great for wine lovers
Culture & local life
Savonnerie du Fer à Cheval
Since 1856, this soap works in Saint-Barthélémy has made real Marseille soap in cauldrons – it created the famous Le Chat brand. Free guided tours by reservation.
14th arrondissement · Soap factory · Perfect for authentic souvenirs
Le Couvent
A creative hub of around forty artists' workshops, two former chapels for exhibitions and events, a terrace and a two-hectare garden. Something's always happening.
Marseille · Cultural venue · Ideal for contemporary culture
Cinéma Le Gyptis
Built in 1913 in Belle de Mai and reborn as a cinema in 2014, Le Gyptis screens art-house films and shows for young audiences.
Belle de Mai, 3rd · Cinema · Made for film lovers
Le Chapiteau
Between Bon Secours and Belle de Mai: a bar, club, organic restaurant and pétanque courts under the stars. Open Friday and Saturday, 10pm to 4am.
Belle de Mai · Bar and club · Great for nights out
Les Beaux Mets
France's first restaurant inside a prison, opened in 2022 at Les Baumettes, where inmates train in cooking and service. A meal that means something.
Les Baumettes · Restaurant · Perfect for a meaningful meal
Phap Hoa pagoda
A Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda founded in 1978 on the Canal de Marseille, sharing lunch with visitors on the first Sunday of each month.
Northern districts · Pagoda · Ideal for a change of scene
UndARTground
A concept store in Le Panier showcasing local artisans, street artists and designers.
Le Panier · Concept store · Great for gifts
Four des Navettes
Saint-Victor · Bakery · Perfect for souvenirs
Miel des Rois
A honey shop and bar working with small beekeepers from Marseille and Provence. Taste before you choose.
Honey shop · Made for tastings
Maison Le Ray 1901
Chocolatier Marine Le Ray's shop in Le Panier, home of the Barre Marseillaise praline.
Le Panier · Chocolate shop · Ideal for gifts
Maison Yellow
A shop, museum, bar and restaurant all about anise and pastis. Apéro time?
Old Port · Museum and bar · Perfect for an aperitif
Site-Mémorial du Camp des Milles
A former tile factory near Aix-en-Provence that became an internment and deportation camp in the Second World War. The memorial tells its history and explains the mechanisms that lead to genocide.
Aix-en-Provence · Memorial and museum · Ideal for history
Food & drink
Les Grandes Halles du Vieux-Port
A 2,000 m² food hall with 13 stalls and a central bar, from Lebanese to Marseille cooking. Everyone gets what they want.
Old Port · Food hall · Great for groups
Chez Jeannot
Wood-fired pizza for 70 years in the postcard setting of the Vallon des Auffes. Book a table by the water.
Vallon des Auffes · Pizzeria · Made for sea views
L'Escalié
Lunch, tapas, weekend brunch and cocktails at the top of the Cours Julien steps.
Cours Julien · Restaurant · Perfect for brunch
Chez Étienne
A Le Panier institution since 1943 for Neapolitan pizza and Provençal cuttlefish.
Le Panier · Pizzeria · Ideal for local classics
La Brasserie de l'OM
A Mediterranean brasserie on the Old Port celebrating the city's football club. Allez l'OM!
Old Port · Brasserie · Made for football fans
FAQ
It\u2019s a genuine working market — fishermen sell their morning catch dockside. Go early for the best selection and the least performance.
It\u2019s an easy walk around the Vieux-Port from Mercure Marseille Centre Vieux-Port — no need for transport.
With Monde Vertical, a via cordata route round the Bec de Sormiou combines a cave zipline, abseiling and climbing above the sea.
At the Savonnerie du Fer à Cheval, making soap in cauldrons since 1856, with free tours by reservation.
The Massif du Garlaban above Aubagne, made famous by Marcel Pagnol, has trails for all levels.
Where to Sleep in Marseille
See Mercure hotels in Marseille, all within reach of these picks.