Going mostly by the pictures, I booked the New Hotel of Marseille for 2 nights on my recent visit. The long shot photo of a sleek pool with the comfy lounges sold me.

It’s been a cool, gray and somewhat rainy summer in Paris and all I wanted was some sun to warm my body and a pool to swim in.

The New Hotel of Marseille is located in a quiet area called Le Pharo right by the water and only a fifteen-minute walk to the Vieux Port.
It falls into the boutique hotel category, which is a fairly new concept for France, a generic been-there-done that one over 10 years ago for New Yorkers.

The front of the hotel was in a converted 18th century building called the Institut Patsteur (probably a research lab) and the lobby was stark with a distinctive whiff of knock-off Philippe Starck design. It was minimalist with a touch of whimsy – an ornate white milk glass chandelier.

Up the black slate stairway was the open and airy lounge/restaurant with generic modern designed couches and chairs in shades of pale gray and red with pink throw pillows. The area extended out to the pool that has a dark wood plank floors, long slim rectangular pool, and well padded cushy chaises. Because the pool area is on the second floor, there is a beautiful view of the sky and city and the highlight is Fort St. Nicholas from 1660, now a National Heritage building.

I had dinner at the hotel’s Victor Café with nouvelle Provencal cuisine prepared by a young chef Jerome Pollo.I chose the 29 euro 3-course menu. It started with slices cantaloupe and honeydew, local ham, and Port wine. The cantaloupe was much sweeter than the honeydew and the combination of the three flavors balanced well. Veal medallions in a honey sauce were excellent and the small roasted potatoes were done to perfection. Grilled figs on a shortbread cookie with house made pistachio ice cream were refreshing. Even though the figs were on the tart side, the ice cream added enough sweetness to make it dessert, and not a fruit course. A nice touch from the chef was Victor’s Potager, a fresh herb garden in the entranceway to the hotel where he picks fresh herbs to prepare the food.

My room was comfortable and pleasant with the usual amenities for this kind of hotel: extra thick mattress, soft high thread count sheets, flat screen television, mini-bar with gourmet treats, and thick, plush towels. The best part was the olive oil soaps and toiletries made in Marseilles, which is famous for it’s soap. I looked to raid the maid’s cart to stock up on the soap to take home, but I was outsmarted and apparently the hotel doesn’t have them. I guess toiletry thieves like me are common.

I recommend the New Hotel of Marseille if you like simple, modern and comfortable.

New Hotel of Marseille
71 boulevard Charles Livon
13007 Marseille
Tél : +33 4 91 315 315

View more photos of Marseille on the right sidebar under Photo Albums

I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour
includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.

I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.

Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com