Over the last few years, I’ve been lucky enough to visit Marseille several times, which has really allowed me to rediscover the Phocaean city and appreciate it more and more. I’ve already shared a comprehensive article with my tips for visiting the city. This time, it’s all about relaxing: I’m sharing my selection of hotels and accommodations in Marseille that I’ve had the opportunity to test myself during my visits.
Table of Contents
My hotel recommendations in Marseille
Below, I offer a selection of hotels that we had the opportunity to test with the favorite photographer during our last visits to Marseille.
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The Mama Shelter Marseille
The Mama Shelter group currently has 22 urban hotels across 20 cities and 12 countries (as of early 2026)! So, we went to test the one in Marseille. As in all the brand’s establishments, there are common features: a festive atmosphere (with DJ sets on weekends) and a casual vibe, an on-site restaurant, and very comfortable bedding in the rooms. This 3-star Marseille address is a bit set back from the Old Port (about a 20-25 minute walk), but it is located near the Cours Julien district, which we discovered on this occasion and liked a lot (young, trendy, arty, urban, and with quite a few nice sunny terraces for warmer days).
The hotel is ultra-welcoming and you feel good there quickly (we spent 3 nights there). The buffet breakfast is well-stocked and varied, featuring a selection of local products, fresh juice stations, and loose-leaf tea from Palais des Thés (which is rare enough to be noted). Our room was functional and bright, overlooking an interior courtyard at the back of the hotel as well as the hotel’s restaurant (so if you come on a weekend, you have to accept that the festive atmosphere might be slightly audible, but it quiets down after midnight anyway). In short, we had a great stay at this Mama Shelter and it made us want to check out the other hotels in the brand!
Tested in 2023
Mama Shelter Marseille ☆☆☆
64 Rue de la Loubière, 13006 Marseille
Rates: room from €100
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The Mercure Canebière Vieux-Port
This 4-star hotel is located in the heart of Marseille and faces the famous Avenue de la Canebière where the tram now runs. It is quite new as it opened its doors in July 2019. My room overlooked the Avenue de la Canebière, and you know (if you’ve been following me for a little while) that I am very sensitive to noise. Well, I found the windows were quite well soundproofed (an important point if you face the main street with the tram). The buffet breakfast was also very good and varied.
Tested in 2023
Hôtel Mercure Marseille Canebière Vieux-Port ☆☆☆☆
48 La Canebière, 13001 Marseille
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The Nhow Marseille
In 2018, the favorite photographer and I stopped in Marseille once again to discover the brand-new hotel of the NH chain, which I have already mentioned several times on the blog: the Nhow Marseille Palm Beach, which has been open since September 2018 after more than 8 months of renovations. I had already had the opportunity to discover several NH Collection hotels in Spain, in Madrid and Barcelona, and this time it was an opportunity to discover the Nhow range of the brand, which is more design-focused and lifestyle-oriented.
The Nhow Marseille takes advantage of its relative isolation to offer a quality all-in-one hotel. It blends decorative styles inspired by the sea (what else!) with a very pleasant interior design signed by Italian Teresa Sapey but also by Marseille architects Claire Fatosme and Christian Lefèvre. Sometimes, you get lost in the vastness of these buildings where none of the rooms look completely like another. It’s a beautiful invitation to wander around and stay in the comfort of this 4-star hotel.
Located on the Corniche Kennedy facing the sea, between the Old Port and the Prado district, the hotel has 150 rooms, a swimming pool, a spa, a restaurant, a rooftop, meeting rooms, in short, all the facilities for a quality stay. It also offers its guests a magnificent panorama of the Frioul Islands and the Château d’If. The establishment is located 15/20 minutes by transport from the Old Port (there is a bus that passes in front of the hotel and can be very convenient for getting around). In all the spaces of the hotel, there is an urban touch, artistic and decidedly trendy with a very contemporary design that I really liked.
I also really liked the setting of the Cactus Bar, which plunges us into an exotic garden where it’s great to sit down and drink a little Tequila or a good Mezcal (if you have read my articles on Mexico, you know how much I appreciate this liquor!).
For the record, the location of this hotel is quite legendary as it was occupied by a thermal spa in the 19th century linked to the Roucas Blanc spring that naturally gushes out in this location. You can actually still see this spring today in the heart of the hotel, and I find it quite cool that the hotel decided to keep it visible.
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Our room 130
Our Premium room was standard in size but super functional, sober, and very bright. The hotel rooms generally have a very nice small balcony that overlooks either the pool or the sea (or both!), which is a very pleasant view to wake up to in the morning. I also really liked the very useful open wardrobe with multiple functions, which allows you to perfectly store all your belongings (and your suitcase, which is unfortunately not the case in all hotels!!!!) but which my favorite photographer forgot to photograph (men and practical sense…).
Of course, as you can see, we resumed our good habits and took advantage of this stay to take some photos of us jumping on the bed (the setting was very suitable for it, I thought!). Moreover, once again, I must give a special mention to the bedding of this hotel (as with the other NH hotels I have had the opportunity to test), which is remarkable!
Room rates: from €130 for a standard room
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The pool and Phytomer spa
Between a holiday club and a classy hotel, the Nhow Marseille offers many activities and services, including the saltwater pool or its small “Eau de Marseille” spa (which is nonetheless paid for guests), where you can find different pools, jacuzzis, and a hammam, as well as the possibility of getting a massage. As for the pool, we really appreciated this 22-meter-long pool, naturally heated to 21°C thanks to the saline water from the spring that feeds it, which I mentioned earlier.
The spa is also one of the hotel’s assets with its indoor pool, fitness area, jacuzzis, hammam, herbal tea area, and massages provided with Phytomer products. By the way, the spa is also accessible to people who are not guests of the hotel. For my part, I had the opportunity to test the hotel’s signature massage, the Nhow, during my stay and I must say that it is really extremely pleasant and relaxing.
Spa rates and hours: Open every day from 10 am to 8 pm – €15 for 1 hour, €20 for 90 minutes
Nhow massage 30 min €65, possibility of doing a duo treatment
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The Les Bains Restaurant
From a gastronomic point of view, we are well served as well, with bars and the Les Bains restaurant, which offers Mediterranean cuisine skillfully prepared by young chef Benjamin Mathieu. And then it’s a pleasure to have lunch on the terrace when the weather is nice, obviously!
Restaurant opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm – Dinner Tuesday to Saturday 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Daily menu: €27 starter + main course or main course + dessert – €35 starter + main course + dessert
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Breakfast
For breakfast, the choice is varied as in all NH hotels, I must say. We have the possibility to eat just as well in the French or international style. Moreover, we can specifically choose the ingredients for our omelet so that it is prepared in the kitchen, and we owe this notably to the Spanish origins of the brand. In short, small touches, a wide choice, and an idyllic setting for sunny days make it a very good hotel breakfast.
breakfast until 10:30 am on Saturday and until 11 am on Sunday / until 10 am on weekdays
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The hotel’s tips
- a rich and varied artistic and cultural program throughout the year (info on the hotel’s Facebook page)
- free high-speed Wi-Fi
- a Nespresso coffee machine in the rooms (which is always very practical)
Tested in 2018
Thanks to the Tout Un Monde agency and the Nhow Marseille for this beautiful welcome.
Nhow Marseille ☆☆☆☆
200 Corniche Président John Fitzgerald Kennedy 13007 Marseille
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Hôtel la Maison Montgrand
This hotel located a few steps from the Old Port is the ideal place to recharge your batteries in a peaceful setting in the heart of Marseille’s city center. The place offers a charming 3-star boutique hotel with 37 rooms, a concept store, but also a restaurant and a tearoom where you can have lunch or just have a drink, sheltered from the Marseille bustle. In short, it is a very beautiful address that I highly recommend if you are planning to take a little getaway to Marseille.
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Our classic double room
Small but super functional, we felt very good in this little cocoon, and the favorite photographer loved taking reflection photos (especially of jumps) in the large light bulbs in the room.
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Lunch on the terrace at the hotel restaurant
The restaurant has a charming secret terrace to enjoy the sunny days (in October it was still very pleasant). It is open only for lunch and offers a nice menu featuring salads, main courses, all prepared with fresh products.
On the menu: Italian-style beef tartare (€20); toast and butternut squash soup (€15); for dessert, the house offers notably the pastries from Bricoleurs de douceurs but also homemade desserts.
Restaurant Maison Montgrand
Prices: lunch sets between €19 and €25
The restaurant is open Monday to Saturday from 12 pm to 3 pm
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Breakfast
Still on the terrace, because we wanted to make the most of it until the end! Well, don’t ask me why I’m making that face; I must have been finishing my night while sleepwalking…
Tested in 2018
Hôtel la Maison Montgrand ☆☆☆
35 rue Montgrand 13006 Marseille
Room rates: between €90 and €180 per night
My guesthouse recommendations in Marseille
Below, I share a selection of guesthouses that we had the opportunity to test with the favorite photographer during our last visits to Marseille.
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Maison Boa guesthouse
This small guesthouse (there are only 2 rooms) located in the heart of the historic Panier district is a very beautiful address, cozy and decorated with taste. I stayed in the “La Fugue” room.
The little extra: a superb terrace at the very top of the guesthouse to have breakfast with a superb view over the rooftops of Marseille!
Tested in 2018
Chambres d’hôtes Maison Boa
7 rue des Mauvestis
Rates: €83 for 1 person for 1 night / €88 for 2 people / €95 for 3 people
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Les Citronniers Guesthouse, hosted by Sabine and Jean-Noël
I stayed in this guesthouse in 2016 with my colleague during a business trip to Marseille and I recommend this address if you have a small budget and are looking for a warm welcome. Sabine and Jean-Noël are a charming and welcoming couple.
Tested in 2016
Chambre d’hôtes Les Citronniers
150 boulevard de la Libération 13004 Marseille
midday and evening Tuesday to Saturday and Sunday evening
Rates: between €70 and €100 per night for 1 room
I hope that with all this, I have made you want to discover or rediscover Marseille, and if you too have your own great addresses and tips for this destination, don’t hesitate to share them in the comments!
Find all my articles on Marseille below:
⇒ All my articles on Marseille
⇒ All my articles on the PACA region
MY ARTICLES ON MARSEILLE
⇒ Getaway to Marseille (2017)
⇒ Stay at Nhow Marseille (2018)
Photo credits: Nicolas Diolez Photos are not royalty-free, photographer authorization is required before any use
