Welcome to Marseille’s premier nightlife guide.
On this page, you’ll discover the vibrant and varied nightlife scene in Marseille. You’ll find the perfect venue for you and your preferred night out. Whether you want to go all-out clubbing or if you’d like a more laid back dinner and drinks with a view, we’ve got your covered.
Enjoy!
An Intro to Marseille, France
Marseille is the second-largest city of France. The main city of the historical province, it is the prefecture of the department of Bouches-du-Rhône and the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur. It is located on the Mediterranean coast near the mouth of the Rhône.
Marseille remains the main commercial port of the French Republic. It is now France’s largest city on the Mediterranean coast and the largest port for commerce, freight and cruise ships. The city was European Capital of Culture in 2013 and European Capital of Sport in 2017; it hosted matches at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2016. It is home to Aix-Marseille University as well. Marseille is the “oldest city in France” and indeed one of the oldest in Western Europe.
Here in this article, we will provide all the essential information about nightlife features at the Lyon City to make your trip to France incredibly memorable including a comprehensive list of the best bars, restaurants, and nightclubs in the city.
The Nightlife of Marseille
The Nightlife of Marseille
Nowadays Marseille opens at night and rustles with new concepts and venues. The evening often begins on an aniseed note, from a seat on one of the city’s several terraces, with a glass of the famous pastis. Tourists from France and Europe are rushing to enjoy the charms of this popular and friendly town.
Is Marseille the new place to be in France? Some date the boost in visitors to 2013 when the European Union named it the European Capital of Culture. Others cite 2001, when the arrival of the high-speed rail service, which quickly carries south its hordes, both cosmopolitan and not. Marseille has always been underground. An evening in the city comes with the promise of beautiful sunsets, but also of secret venues, hidden in unusual and unsuspected places.
We are going to present you here all the information including nightlife activities, fun, and entertainment, etc. you may choose to participate in during your stay at Marseille. Make sure to give a try to the following options laid in this section to truly feel the city.
Best Bars in Marseille
Marseille is both a big city and a working port, so naturally, it doesn’t lack for bars, some of them with pretty raucous reputations. Many of the best of the rest cluster around the Vieux Port, though these days, the hippest of all, gather in the streets around Rue Sainte et Rue d’Endoume, up above the Vieux Port in a previously little-visited district. Other highlights include a sprawling rooftop bar that gives directly onto the sea, a pleasingly bonkers bar in a design-conscious hotel, and a fab spot for craft beer drinkers with more than 400 varieties on offer. Check out our recommended options here for the best venues available in Montpellier and all are ready to make you happy and kill your liquor desire:
La Part des Anges
La Part des Anges serves organic and ecological wine. This funky locale is more than a great wine bar, it also has an area dedicated to selling wine and a dining section where visitors can enjoy one of their tasty meals. The place is also very affordable in terms of their price tags.
La Caravelle
Those in search of a historic bar will be enormously satisfied by La Caravelle, which has been around since the 1930s. It has a distinctive jazzy element and prewar characteristics but has been modernized by introducing a tapas bar that serves great snacks to accompany the drinks. They also serve full meals during lunch and dinner. The tiny terrace looks over the Vieux Port, so tourists can appreciate the great views of one of Marseille’s most iconic landmarks.
Le Bar de la Marine
Le Bar de la Marine is one of the most frequent and famous venues of the city, it is because it was featured in Love. Many locals also claim that this is where French director Marcel Pagnol filmed scenes of his trilogy of films Marius (1931), Fanny (1932) and César (1936). As its name suggests the bar is located by the port and has a huge breezy terrace where diners can partake in a French aperitif.
L’Unic
Situated in one of the loveliest areas of the city, L’Unic is a wonderful bar, where the drinks never stop coming and the fun never ends. Open from early morning until late night, it sees a variety of folk come through the doors. Older locals love it for a late morning or early afternoon drink, whilst younger people head here later on in the evening to start what usually ends up being an unforgettable night out.
Best Bar Restaurants in Marseille
In this port city of southern France, seafood plays an important role in the culinary scene, with a wealth of ingredients then being sourced from the surrounding land. Whether dining in the heart of the city or on the rocky shoreline, this culinary identity can be seen in restaurants helmed by world-class chefs. Experience the local flavor by seeking out the best and premium restaurants available in Marseille so you don’t find yourself in the hassle of looking for:
Restaurant Chez Michel
This Marseille venue always draws a crowd, thanks to its great location, warm and friendly welcome, and the sumptuous gourmet dishes. Restaurant Chez Michel’s decor is simple but effective. The quality of the meals speaks for themselves. The warm welcome by the always-friendly owner is the icing on top of the cake.
Le Souk
Here you can sample traditional North African couscous dishes, kebabs and the ‘tagine of the day’, which can be sweet or savory. There are many vegetarian options too so you don’t have to be a meat-eater to enjoy what Le Souk has to offer. As well as the delicious food, the decor, furniture and even the uniform of the servers are reminiscent of an authentic Moroccan restaurant.
Le Bouchon Provençal
This traditional Provincial bistro in the heart of Marseille’s Old Port is the locals’ favorite. Le Bouchon Provençal‘s menu is completely revamped with each new season and the wine list is just as comprehensive. There are more than 60 wines to choose from, ranging in price from relatively modest to the very extravagant bottle of Château Pape Clément red wine. The meat, seafood, and regional specialty dishes are popular.
Le Café des Epices
Just behind the Marie de Marseille, the city’s town hall, you’ll find this charming French bistro in the Old Port area of Marseille. The small but carefully chosen lunch and dinner menus are made from fresh, seasonal ingredients which please even the pickiest of taste buds. The urban decor is chic and stylish. The outdoor seating on the terrace is particularly pleasant on those balmy Mediterranean evenings.
Best Nightclub in Marseille
Marseille’s rough and ready port bars are legendary and there is still a lot to be found. But the city’s nightlife also offers hip music bars, top dance clubs, and sophisticated cocktail lounges. The warm evenings and relaxed ambiance make Marseille one of France’s pleasurable cities for an exotic nightlife experience, where a lot of the bars and night clubs are located throughout the city. Refer our recommendations here and keep the nightlife activities going on at the optimum best night clubs in Lille:
Le Palais de la Major
The Palais de la Major is the new trendy hangout in Marseille. Located in the Joliette district in the new “Voûtes de la Major” area, this night club is a few meters away from the beautiful Major Cathedral. This is the new hype place to be in Marseille. There is a very good quality sound and the decoration is modern and stylish. You can also have a drink on the nice espalanade outside the discotheque.
Trolley Bus
Dance all night away at the Trolley Bus! Open from midnight until 6 pm, it is one of the most famous night clubs in Marseille. This old wartime bunker creates a very peculiar atmosphere. You will get to choose between three different dance floors: the “Dame Noire” (Black Lady), the Whisky Bar and the Arty Party. They offer different styles of music, atmospheres, and decoration. It also welcomes live performances.
U-percut
If you enjoy jazz music, electro music, and hip-hop, then you must go to the U-percut for a great night out experience! This concert hall is right in the city center of Marseille. Have a drink and try the tapas made of quality products. This highly creative place exhibits different artists’ works. This is a very rich place, culturally speaking where different arts mix to the sound of music. The atmosphere is very festive. You will surely have a great night there.
Pelle-Mêle
The “Pelle-mele” is an iconic jazz bar in Marseille. It holds its name from its creator, Jean Pelle. In French, “pele-mele” refers to a mix of varied elements. Indeed, this bar has been welcoming jazz artists from different background since 1979. It is still the place to be if you want to enjoy a live jazz concert. You will discover their performers as well as new talents. And if you get a little hungry, the bar also offers tapas!
Conclusion
Let us sum up things, here in this article we went through a brief introduction of Marseille along with a brief introduction of city attraction. We also went through different activities and place to enjoy the nightlife. Such activities provide a great source of entertainment for tourists and locals as well.
We then went through a comprehensive list of bars available in the city. These exotic and swanky bars are just awesome and worth visiting. No doubt, Marseille has some of the classic and cozy bars to cater to your boozing needs.
To fulfill your food craving we also looked at a list of bar-restaurants which provide delicious and exotic culinary experience along with a touch of booze. This delightful and amazing combination of food and booze pushes the limits of Nightlife entertainment and adds a great value to your journey. And finally, we explored a detailed list of nightclubs of the city that provide premium nigh-time entertainment for your optimum satisfaction.
Make sure to give a try the above recommendation which will add value to your tour, so that you won’t regret yourself choosing bad options.
Video To Watch To Discover
Does Marseille have good nightlife?
Marseille has a dynamic live music and club scene. The best areas for nightlife are Place Thiars and Cours Honoré-d’Estienne-d’Orves in the Vieux Port, and Cours Julien, a square lined with cafés and bars west of the port.
Which French city has the best nightlife?
Paris, the city of lights, is known for its tasteful nightlife. There is a wide range of cool brasseries and nightclubs where you can spend a charming night with your partner. One of the best nightlife cities in France, it becomes even more lively when the sun goes down.
