Top Rated Restaurants & Cafes in Marseille

Formerly the royal rope-makers' workshop, this long, vaulted room offers an elegant setting in which to dine just minutes from the Vieux-Port. Run by wine connoisseur Paul Léaunard, this gourmet restaurant has the region's finest selection of wines, some of which can be tasted by the glass: the perfect accompaniment to the excellent meat and poultry dishes on its menu.

Depending on the time of day and year, this café has a really nice feature: customers can come relax near the large swimming pool. The Sports Beach Café is also a place to have lunch or dinner, or even enjoy a drink at the bar in the evening. The magnificent terrace and the location on the seafront give the Sports Beach Cafe a nice pleasant atmosphere. In the winter, the wood-decorated interior makes it a warm and cozy place to hang out. Every Tuesday is salsa night and Thursday is Latina Obsessions with Latin rhythms.

The late Fonfon would have been proud to see that his restaurant's excellent reputation lives on. Still a family-run affair, one of the city's best places for seafood serves a mean bouillabaisse (cooked to perfection using ingredients fished from the sea close by), whilst other dishes including poisson à l'argile (clay-baked fish), and poisson grillé (grilled fish) should easily satisfy the most demanding of palates. Huge bay windows ensure a fabulous sea view while you dine. Très magnifique!

Just like Paris's renowned Café de Flore, La Samaritaine - situated on the corner of the Vieux-Port at the lower end of Rue de la République - has managed to hold onto its old-fashioned charm. And it's easy to see why, with its 1930s-style décor, deliciously light, traditional cuisine, piano bar and fabulous terrace looking out over the boats moored in the harbor making it the perfect rendezvous, no matter what time of day. The bar closes at 8:30 pm generally, but is open until midnight during the summer months.

La Chimère Café is a beautiful dining space that boasts an art-inclined interior decor. Its opulent chandeliers, cherubs and plush furnishing are inspired by Baroque, Art Deco and Belle Époque architecture. To match the regal aura are 70 inventive cocktails and drinks like Single Malt, Bourbon and Irish Whiskey. Revoke the prohibition era vibe with cigars and spirits while savoring their bar fare. On the seasonal menu are Petite Lobster Tail, Cod Croquettes, Octopus a la Gallega, and dessert Hot Cold Citrus Sabayon Seven at Chambord.

Every day this restaurant offers its "fresh from the market" menu at an astonishingly good value! The fresh ingredients are usually Mediterranean and Provencal and are combined to create dishes such as charlotte of cod in garlic cream or casseroled lamb served with tapenade flavored polenta. The desserts are just as impressive and the space is warm and inviting. There is a separate dining space in the downstairs cellar that is romantic and intimate.