Why we picked this hotel
Les Bords de Mer is absurdly committed to the Mediterranean. Every room faces it, the restaurant hangs above it, the rooftop pool looks straight across it and the spa disappears into the rock beneath it. The sea isn't the backdrop here; it shapes the entire stay.
Hotel description
Perched directly above the Mediterranean on Marseille’s Corniche, Les Bords de Mer makes the sea almost impossible to ignore. All 19 rooms face the water, with pale woods and understated interiors giving way to balconies, passing boats and views towards the Frioul Islands. Catalans Beach is just below, while the Old Port remains close enough that you never lose the feeling of being in Marseille. Come for the rare combination of city and seaside. Swim at Catalans before breakfast, explore Marseille during the day, then return for the hammam, rooftop pool or dinner almost level with the water. On warm evenings, the roof becomes the place to stay put for sunset cocktails rather than head back into town.
Hotel location
This is great
Every room faces the Mediterranean
All 19 rooms and suites look directly onto the sea, making the water a constant part of the stay.
A rooftop swim above the sea
The heated outdoor swimming lane sits on the rooftop and is reserved exclusively for hotel guests.
A spa carved into the rock
The 300 m² spa is built into the rock, with a heated indoor pool, sauna, hammam and treatment rooms.
Dinner right beside the water
The restaurant serves Mediterranean-led cooking at one of the hotel’s most dramatically sea-facing spots, open daily for lunch and dinner.
The beach is two minutes away
Plage des Catalans is around two minutes on foot, making a proper city beach unusually easy to fold into the stay.
An Art Deco Marseille original
Formerly Le Richelieu, the 1930s seafront hotel was reworked by architect Yvann Pluskwa and reopened as Les Bords de Mer in 2018.
Our take on the stay
Plage des Catalans is literally two minutes away, yet you're still close to the Old Port. That's the unusual thing about staying here: you don't really have to choose between a Marseille city break and a beach weekend.
Curated by
Bob
What guests loved
Sea views from every room
The rooftop pool above the Mediterranean
Friendly, attentive service
Breakfast overlooking the water
Plage des Catalans two minutes away
Best for
Mediterranean waterfront • Food lovers • Design • Short stays • Weekend escapes • Swimming
Good to know
19 rooms and suites
Check-in from 16:00
Check-out until 11:30
Room sizes approximately 18–35 m²
Heated outdoor swimming lane, April–October
Heated indoor pool, sauna and hammam
Small fitness/cardio area
Restaurant and seasonal rooftop bar
Pets welcome at no extra charge
No on-site parking; nearby options available
Plage des Catalans 2 minutes on foot
Marseille Airport around 30 minutes by car
Amenities
Spa
Pet friendly
Sauna
Poolside bar
Free cots available for children
At the beach
Rooftop
About the destination
Marseille
Marseille is a Mediterranean port city of lively neighbourhoods, colourful markets, and a coastline shaped by rocky coves and clear blue water. Along the Corniche, seaside restaurants, swimming spots, and sweeping views towards the Frioul Islands reveal a more relaxed side of the city. Les Bords de Mer sits directly on the waterfront, offering an ideal base for experiencing Marseille with the Mediterranean quite literally on your doorstep.
