52 corniche Kennedy, 13007 Marseille

Les Bords de Mer

Name: Les Bords de Mer
Address: 52 corniche Kennedy, Marseille, 13007, FR
Price range: From 259 EUR
Rating: 8.7

Hotel-restaurant 4-star with pool and spa in Marseille

Presentation

Hôtel Les Bords de Mer: a 4-star boutique hotel on the rocks of Plage des Catalans, in Marseille

Perched at the tip of Plage des Catalans, directly on the rocks overlooking the Mediterranean, Hôtel Les Bords de Mer belongs to the collection of Domaines de Fontenille, led by Guillaume Foucher and Frédéric Biousse. This historic 1930s building — formerly home to the Hôtel Richelieu — was entirely reimagined by Marseille-based architect Yvan Pluskwa to become a nineteen-room four-star hotel that preserves its Art Deco identity while offering impeccable contemporary comfort. The interior, conceived by Guillaume Biousse, evokes an optimistic 1950s modernism: soft pastel tones, natural woods, white terrazzo flooring and pale grey stoneware in the bathrooms. A deliberately understated palette so that the Mediterranean, visible from the ground floor all the way up to the rooftop, remains the true protagonist of the space.

Location in the 7th arrondissement of Marseille: Corniche Kennedy, Vieux-Port and calanques nearby

The hotel is situated in the seventh arrondissement, at the start of the Corniche Kennedy, which runs alongside the property and makes it easy to reach the city's various neighbourhoods. The Palais du Pharo is four hundred metres away, the Vieux-Port is within walking distance, and the calanques are a short drive away. The Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée (MuCEM) is approximately nine hundred metres away. The Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, the Cathédrale de la Major, the Panier district, the Musée d'Histoire de Marseille, the Musée Cantini and the musée d'art contemporain complete an exceptional cultural landscape easily accessible from the hotel. Les Vallons des Auffes, a small traditional fishing port nestled in a nearby calanque, offers a picturesque atmosphere with its colourful fishermen's huts and seafood restaurants. The Château d'If, visible from the rooms, can be reached by boat from the Vieux-Port, as can the Îles du Frioul for a nature escape featuring wild coves, hiking trails and preserved Mediterranean wildlife.

19 sea-view rooms: balconies, terraces and panoramic views of the Îles du Frioul and the Château d'If

All nineteen rooms face the sea, each offering a unique vantage point over the Îles du Frioul, the Château d'If or the bay of Marseille. Several categories are available: Supérieure Mer rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, Deluxe rooms with one or two balconies, Executive categories with shaded terraces, and a Junior Suite featuring a particularly generous covered terrace that can accommodate an extra bed. Even in the most compact rooms — numbers fifteen, sixteen and seventeen — the vast floor-to-ceiling window running parallel to the bed creates a sensation of floating above the water, reminiscent of the atmosphere of a ferry cabin. Each room is equipped with a private bathroom with shower, air conditioning, a flat-screen television and free Wi-Fi. Beige linen curtains gently filter the Mediterranean light. Room service allows guests to enjoy breakfast or a selection of dishes on their balcony or terrace, looking out towards the horizon.

Design and contemporary art: Bouroullec furniture, works by Berni Searle, Arnaud Vasseux and sepia photographs

The furniture was selected with particular care so that each piece contributes to the overall harmony without drawing the eye away from the sea: chairs by the Bouroullec brothers, a praying mantis lamp by Rispal, clean lines and refined design. Above the headboards, sepia photographs sourced by Guillaume Biousse evoke family outings by the water. Contemporary art punctuates the common areas and rooms with works by South African artist Berni Searle — including a photograph from the *Seeking Refuge* series displayed in the reception — as well as pieces by Jonathan Callan, Laurent Millet, Constance Sorel and Marseille-based artist Arnaud Vasseux.

Restaurant Les Bords de Mer: creative cuisine by chef Chester Tsai, inspired by Provence and Asia

The restaurant unfolds just above water level, behind a vast floor-to-ceiling window that bathes the tables in light at every hour of the day. Chef Chester Tsai, drawing on an international career spanning Paris, New York, London and Singapore, reinterprets Provençal terroir and the finest local seafood through the lens of his Filipino and Taiwanese heritage. His menu changes four times a year in tune with the seasons. Among his signature dishes: Filipino ceviche with a coconut vinegar marinade, red chilli, garlic and pickles; prawn and mango tartare with a Thai-inspired Tom Kha sauce; seared cuttlefish with satay emulsion; and supreme of chicken with lemongrass and a ginger condiment. Pastry chef Gabriella offers, among other creations, a lemon and hazelnut praline cremeux with Timut pepper. The wine list showcases bottles from Domaine de Fontenille, a regional selection and the finest French vintages, with many wines available by the glass and expert guidance from the staff. The restaurant is open to hotel guests and outside visitors alike.

Rooftop bar on the 2nd floor: Provençal cocktails, fusion tapas and sea urchin tastings from November to March

Open Thursday to Monday, the second-floor rooftop bar welcomes all guests with signature cocktails evoking the scents of Provence, vintages from the collection's vineyards and wine tastings. Chef Chester Tsai offers reimagined Provençal tapas with Asian influences: the famous Marseille panisses, marinated tuna bao, sea urchin tarama and dynamite — a duo of green chilli and comté wrapped in brick pastry. Every Saturday and Sunday from early November to late March, the hotel celebrates the sea urchin season on this rooftop, an oursinage tradition deeply rooted in the identity of the establishment.

300 m² spa carved into the rock, infinity pool reserved for guests and private rooftop on the 5th floor

The spa at Les Bords de Mer spans over three hundred square metres at sea level, entirely carved into the rock of the corniche. This mineral space of blonde stone and natural wood, with its openings onto the sea and its subdued lighting, houses treatment and massage rooms, a sauna, a hammam and a heated indoor relaxation pool. The treatment protocols are by Susanne Kaufmann, a brand renowned for its natural products. The spa is open every day from seven in the morning until eleven at night. A fully equipped fitness room completes the wellness offering. On the fifth floor, a rooftop reserved exclusively for hotel guests features a heated infinity lap pool and a sun terrace offering breathtaking views over the Baie des Catalans and the Îles du Frioul. The main terrace overlooks the bay with a panorama stretching as far as the eye can see, although the proximity of the Corniche Kennedy may be noticeable during peak traffic hours.

Practical information: rates, accessibility, breakfast and 24-hour reception

The reception desk operates around the clock and staff are on hand to advise guests on travel and sightseeing in the area. The property is accessible to guests with reduced mobility. Rates start from two hundred and thirty euros in low season. A buffet or continental breakfast is served each morning, either in the light-filled restaurant or via room service in the room, facing the sea.

A few activities and discoveries near this hotel

Explore the Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée, less than a kilometre away, for an immersive journey through Mediterranean history and cultures

Climb up to the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde and enjoy a panoramic view over the entire city and the sea

Set sail from the Vieux-Port for an excursion to the Îles du Frioul or the calanques

Wander through the Panier district to discover its picturesque alleyways, galleries and quintessentially Marseille atmosphere

Attend a show or concert at the Théâtre du Silo or the Opéra de Marseille, both reachable within minutes

A summary of some positive reviews found online

Guests highlight the unique sensation of being immersed in the sea offered by the rooms, thanks to the panoramic view from the bed or the terrace

Many appreciate the discreet and attentive team, always available without being intrusive

The spa is frequently described as a soothing space, perfectly integrated into its natural surroundings with an atmosphere conducive to complete relaxation