Continue along here, and youโll reach Cours Julien. Once a no-go area after dark, this graffiti-emblazoned hilltop is now the cityโs cool creative quarter with hip bars, vintage shops, and one-off fashion boutiques.
Cours Julien itself has a popular Wednesday organic food market, a monthly flea market, and numerous trendy cafรฉs with outdoor terraces. Among the independent shops is La Licorne, a workshop-cum-boutique selling handcrafted Savon de Marseille (a distinctive olive oil soap thatโs been made in Marseille for over six centuries), and hip concept-shop Oogie LifeStore, with vintage and contemporary fashion, vinyl records, and a casual brasserie.
With its graffiti-covered faรงades, nearby rue de Trois Rois is worth visiting for hip hangouts like Waaw. Around the corner, Le Cabanon du Cours is a trendy little bistro specializing in hearty Marseillaise cuisine, as well as options like red mullet with Provenรงale sauce or Daube, a local stew of beef marinated in red wine. You should also try panisse (deep-fried chickpeas), a popular local street snack.
This hip quarter is also home to Mama Shelter Marseille. Open since 2012, it was second in a new family of hotels created in Paris by Club Med co-founder Serge Trigano, in collaboration with French designer Philippe Starck. Following Lyon, Bordeaux, and Istanbul, a sixth Mama Shelter opened in Los Angeles in February 2015.
Occupying the ground between budget and boutique, Mama Shelter is a chic and convivial hotel concept, designed to evoke a warm and communal feeling. Its restaurant, terrace, long bar, and open kitchen all share the same cool space, ensuring everyone intermingles. The restaurant includes a table d’hรดte-style sharing table, so solo travellers neednโt dine alone. Guaranteed to make you smile, quirky details include inflatable swim rings hanging above the bar, black chalkboard ceilings decorated with graffiti, and a huge table soccer painted a pretty shade of pink.
Mucem St.Jean-Lamy
The 127 guestrooms and suites are more understated, although an unusual in-room amenity are PVC masks of Looney Tunes characters like Daffy Duck and Tweety Bird, or superheroes like Batman and Spiderman. Cunningly used to filter the glare of bedside lamps, guests may also use these masks in more playful ways. Each room features a 27-inch iMac TV with photobooth and videobooth facilities for taking selfies, which guests can upload to the hotelโs social net- work, although optional, the wearing of masks is extremely popular in these pictures.
The iMacโs also function as a virtual concierge, and come loaded with a selection of free films, including free x-rated gay films, proving that Mama likes to provide shelter (and stimulation) to all her guests.
New from Summer 2015 is Mama Beach, where candy-colored loungers face the crystal-blue Mediterranean Sea. The beach clubโs rustic-chic restaurant serves sun-friendly fare including salads, burgers, and fried fish. Located 15-minutes by taxi from Mama Shelter, itโs also easily accessible via bus number 19.
You may also take bus 19 to Marseilleโs gay beach, Mont Rose. Ride the bus to its final destination, Madrague de Montredon, then continue on foot along avenue du Mont Rose, crossing a car park, to reach a flat outcrop of rocks. Facing west, itโs at its busiest late in the afternoon on summer weekends, when locals come to enjoy the option of sunbathing nude, then enjoy a beautiful Mediterranean sunset. Later on, the action shifts to the top of the hill, beneath the pine trees.
Although not an obvious choice for a seaside vacation, Marseille boasts a stunning coastline. Its beaches are more laid- back than farther along the coast in exclusive, expensive resorts like Saint-Tropez, Cannes, and Nice, but the real attraction is the 20m stretch of inlets and sea cliffs between Marseille and the picturesque coastal town of Cassis. These are the Calanques, a series of Mediterranean โfjordsโ formed by glaciers millions of years ago. Due to their unique geology and ecosystem, in 2012 the area was declared a protected National Park.
Boat trips visit the Calanques from Marseilleโs Vieux-Port, and although they provide dramatic views, and occasionally drop anchor to enable swimming, to truly experience the Calanques you should explore this rugged landscape on foot. There are numerous pre- marked hiking trails suitable for all abilities, as well as stunning and secluded beaches to discover.
Bay of Marseille
You can access the Calanques from Marseille by taking bus 19 to its terminus (just as if you were going to the gay beach), continuing via bus 20 to the pretty fishing hamlet of Callelongue. Situated on the waters edge of Calanque de Callelongue, here youโll find the excellent and surprisingly grand Restaurant La Grotte. The more intrepid can hike for one hour along the coast from here to Calanque de Marseilleveyre and discover rustic beach tavern Chez le Belge. Inaccessible by car, ingredients and essentials like fresh fish and local wine have to be delivered daily by boat or carried overland, so the food is simple but very satisfying.
A one-hour walk from Luminy University (terminus of bus 21), Calanque de Sugiton is another idyllic exampleโa few gay sun- bathers frequent the small naturist beach on the left side of the rocky coast.
Although remarkably small for a city of this size, Marseilleโs gay scene still offers something for everyone. The only gay venue in the Vieux Port area, LโEndroit is a small, tradition-al-style gay bar. Attracting a younger crowd, Play Bar is a small but sleek choice that gets busy around midnight. Le Trash Bar is a men-only cruise bar with guest DJs, a dark room, flirtatious theme nights, and live porn shows at weekends. Cargo International Sauna Club is large and modern with a Turkish bath, a Finnish sauna, small swimming pool, Jacuzzi, bar, relaxing cabins, and play areas. Open since 1991, Marseilleโs one and only gay dance club The New Can-can has been partying for 25 years, and although open throughout the week, it is best during weekends. There are also occasional gay soirรฉes hosted by Crazy Time, transforming the shipping containers of Dock De Suds with themed dรฉcor and a show with hot go-go dancers and performers (check their Facebook page for details).
Rather like a good bouillabaisse, Marseille is a perfectly balanced melting pot of history, modernity, culture, diversity, and sexuality โ itโs so tasty and tempting that youโll want to come back for more.
HOTELS
Mama Shelter Marseille, 64 rue de la Loubiere, Marseille. Trendy and affordable design hotel with 127 rooms in the hip Cours Julien neighbourhood. Thereโs also a beach club, reachable by bus or taxi. www.mamashelter.com
Radisson Blu Marseille Vieux Port, 40 Quai de Rive Neuve, Marseille. Contemporary 4-star hotel with 189 stylish rooms, swimming pool, and fitness centre, overlooking the Vieux Port. www.radissonblu.com
Sofitel Marseille Vieux Port, 36 Boulevard Charles Livon, Marseille. This luxury 5-star hotel enjoys an enviable position overlooking the Vieux Port. 134 elegant rooms and suites. www.sofitel.com
ATTRACTIONS
Calanques National Park. Easily accessible from Marseille by bus or car, this beautiful coastal park has a rugged landscape of dramatic Mediterranean โfjordsโ. Some of its coves and beaches are gay frequented. www.calanques-parcnational.fr/en
Chรขteau dโIf. Lying just off the coast of Marseille, this island fortress dates from the 16th century, and was made famous by the novel The Count of Monte Cristo. www.if.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/
MaMo, Centre dโart de la Citรฉ Radieuse, 280 Boulevard Michelet, Marseille. A new exhibition and arts space, located on the roof of one of Le Corbusierโs most renowned buildings. www.mamo.fr
MuCEM, 7 Promenade Robert Laffont, Marseille. Open since 2013, this new landmark museum examines the history and culture of Mediterranean civiliza- tions from the Neolithic period to the present day. www.mucem.org
Bouillabaisse
EATING & DRINKING
Le Cabanon du Cours, 13 rue Vian, Marseille. Trendy little restaurant close to Cours Julien, specializing in Marseillaise cuisine. www.lecabanonducours.fr
Manolo, 12 rue du Panier, Marseille. Hip little cafรฉ bar in the historic old centre of Marseille, with mis- matched chairs and tables spilling out into the street in summer. facebook.com/barmanolomarseille
Restaurante La Grotte, Calanque de Callelongue. Located in a pretty fishing hamlet in the Calanques, this restaurant and pizzeria has lovely outdoor terraces and grand interiors. www.lagrotte-13.com
Waaw, 17 rue Pastoret (corner of rue de Trois Rois), Marseille. Popular graffiti-covered hangout in Marseilleโs hip Cours Julien neighbourhood. www.waaw.fr
SHOPPING
La Fรฉe Trouvetout, 27 rue du Panier, Marseille. A small shop in the historic Panier neighbourhood, selling vintage items, brocante, and souveniers. www.lafeetrouvetout.fr
La Licorne, 34 Cours Julien, Marseille. A workshop-cum-boutique where they make and sell the famous handcrafted Savon de Marseille soaps. www.savon-de-marseille-licorne.com/en
Maison Empereur, 4 rue des Rรฉcolettes, Marseille (small boutique at 13 rue du Panier). Founded in 1827, a renowned hardware and homeware store with lovely vintage interior and a stock of decadent daily essentials. www.empereur.fr
Oogie LifeStore, 55 Cours Julien, Marseille. Marseilleโs premier concept store has vintage and con- temporary fashion, vinyl records, and a cafรฉ with terrace overlooking the fountains of hip Cours Julien. www.oogie.eu
GAY VENUES
Cargo International Sauna Club, 9 rue Moustier, Marseille. Large, modern gay sauna with Turkish bath, Finish sauna, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, bar, relax cabins, and play area. www.cargo-spa.com
LโEndroit, 8 rue Bailli de Suffren, Marseille. Small, traditional-style gay bar, located moments from the Vieux-Port. www.lendroitrestoclub.fr
The New Cancan, 3 rue Sรฉnac de Meihan, Marseille. Founded in 1991, Marseilleโs one-and-only gay dance club is busiest and best at weekends. www.newcancan.com
Play Bar, 133 rue Breteuil, Marseille. A small, sleek gay bar, popular with a younger crowd. Itโs best at weekends from midnight. www.playmarseille.fr
Le Trash Bar, 28 rue de Berceau, Marseille. Men- only cruise bar with DJs, dark room, theme nights during the week, and live porn shows at weekends. www.letrashbar.com
