What it is

A refined 179-room retreat overlooking Old Port, with a Clarins spa and mosaic indoor pool, rooftop bar, locavore restaurant, and high-tech gym.

What it isn't

Lacking in provenance. The hotel sits on the site of a circa 1188 hospital and is tucked within a revamped structure from 1866 that was inaugurated by Napoléon III.

What we think

To the uninitiated, Marseille is a marvel: home to architectural icons like the Unité d'Habitation designed by Le Corbusier and ancient Roman ruins alike. In a place so eye-catching, it tracks that the storied hotel would invest in its design by hiring Jean-Philippe Nuel to create the guest rooms. The results are modern and minimal yet warm, beginning in the Classic Rooms, which begin at 301 square feet and are fitted with smart TVs, coffee makers and tea kettles, double glazed windows for quiet, and robes and slippers that are ideal for nights in raiding the mini bar. Our favorite room is undeniably the Junior Suite Terrace, though, with its castle-like archways overlooking the cityscape from the private covered terrace and spacious floor plans (beginning at 484 square feet).

You're here because

Service is exemplary; the hotel offers room service, turndown, laundry service, and shoe shines.

The Moment

You’re obsessed with breakfast at Les Fenetres, where you can pull up a chair under the shade of an umbrella overlooking the red terracotta rooftops. It’s not the view, though, that you’re salivating over (although it’s fabulous). It’s the meal: buttery pastries; cheese fresh from nearby farms; smoked salmon and charcuterie; and pear juice: the best possible fuel for the day.

Restaurants & Bars

Les Fenêtres - In this intimate space, Chef Lionel Levy presents creative Mediterranean cuisine, epitomized by his signature dish, the milkshake de bouillabaisse.

Alcyone - Dine on innovative Mediterranean cuisine inspired by Marseille and its premium quality local products.

Location

Just a couple blocks from the port of Marseille, and a zippy 27 minute drive from Marseille Provence Airport.