Savoring an aperitif at sundown as the fiery sun sinks into the big blue has been a sacrosanct ritual in seafaring Marseille since time immemorial. However, the bar scene has evolved far beyond sailors chugging back bottles of cheap wine portside. As southern France’s grittiest, giddiest city has morphed into a metropolitan trendsetter, the drinking scene is reaching heady new heights – on its rooftops.
Experience Tuba – The Best New Opening in Town
When the roof you’re drinking on safeguards a mosaic by French street-art king Invader, you know you’re in the right place. Trendy, eco-conscious Tuba struts its achingly cool stuff in a 1960s diving club in the fishing hamlet of Les Goudes in Marseille’s 8e arrondissement. With tables on rocks by the water, sassy cocktails and shared plates (raw fish!) served with brilliantly creative sauces, Tuba is the city’s summer headquarters for gourmet A-listers. Expect more sea views to die for (celestial sunsets!), original tapas served in pizza boxes, and signature cocktails combining artisan spirits with thyme, rosemary, ginger, and other gloriously eclectic homemade syrups.
La Caravelle – Incredible Views from a Classic Bar
Once upon a time, decades before Marseille joined the ‘cool city’ ranks, La Caravelle was the city’s original “bar with million-dollar views.” On the portside fringe of Le Panier, the 1920s restaurant-bar offers a romantic window on the Vieux Port from its second-floor balcony. The retro nautical décor, jazz concerts, and vintage charm remain enchanting, with its bijou balcony being one of the most contested seats in town for watching sunset skies blaze pink behind the iconic Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde.
Dine in the Sky at Ciel
Downtown Marseille is hardly a skyscraper city, which makes Ciel (meaning ‘sky’ in French) all the more exciting as it popped up on the 7th floor of one of the city center’s highest buildings in the summer of 2021. Adorned with canvas sails and twinkling fairy lights, the rooftop restaurant serves mesmerizing city views alongside top-notch pizza and pasta crafted by an Italian chef. Aperitivo highlights include deep-fried artichokes, aromatic San Daniele ham cured for 16 months, and parmesan tempura. The best seat in the house? The Instagram-loved wooden swing on the terrace.
Party Late into Summer Nights at R2
R2 features retired shipping containers turned into ethnic street-food stands, offering cocktails with attitude and views of the sea and port. From Wednesday to Sunday, DJs spin diverse sets (electro, disco, rock) for a lively crowd. Up to 1500 night owls dance the night away on peak nights at this wildly popular open-air bar and dance club, located on the rooftop of Les Terrasses du Port, a contemporary shopping center in the revitalized 19th-century docks of La Joliette.
Relax at Les Réformés
When the relentless throng of shoppers on La Canebière gets too much, escape to Les Réformés. Tucked away on the rooftop of the Arteplex multi-screen cinema, this restaurant-bar offers seasonal French cuisine paired with small plates to share over drinks and weekly live jazz or DJs. Enjoy the picturesque views of the twin-spired Église St Vincent de Paul from the rooftop terrace.
Enjoy Drinks Above the City at Bar Julis
This alfresco cocktail bar in Jardin de la Colline Puget offers views over beautiful Marseille. The garden is a five-minute climb from Quai de Rive Neuve and features the dazzling gold-tile mosaic “Oh Bonne Mère!” by Invader. Once seated, enjoy signature cocktails like the feisty Ginger Julep paired with Mediterranean tapas crafted by chef Paul Langlère from the adjoining neo-bistro.
Cultural Experience at La Friche La Belle de Mai
To mingle with a local crowd, visit the experimental rooftop bar atop a revitalized tobacco factory in the La Belle de Mai neighborhood. The cultural center’s extensive roof terrace is accessible year-round, becoming lively between May and October with free movie screenings and electrifying world-music gigs, DJ sets, and dance parties.
Marvel at Vieux Port from Rooftop Hôtel Hermès
Ride the elevator to the top floor of this simple two-star hotel at Vieux Port to uncover its clandestine rooftop bar, a secret among locals. Open to non-hotel guests, the kitsch seating and faux pea-green lawn set the scene for enjoying cocktails, mixed cheese, and charcuterie platters with stunning views of boats bobbing in the Vieux Port below.
Bottomless Brunch at Rowing Club
Lounging by the city’s rowing club in the Jardin du Pharo area, this rooftop restaurant and bar offers good food and captivating sea views away from the bustling downtown. The refined Mediterranean menu includes seasonal dishes and a bottomless buffet brunch on Sundays.
Experience Luxury at Dantès Skylounge
Located on the seventh floor of the luxurious Hôtel Sofitel Marseille Vieux Port, Dantès Skylounge offers a magnificent panorama of the Vieux Port. Open to non-hotel guests, it’s the perfect spot to unwind over a Provence-inspired cocktail or pastis as you admire the vista of the city.
