France’s second city might not be known as cocktail destination yet, but these seven cocktail bars shouldn’t be missed on any trip to Marseille
At what point did Marseille take over from Cannes and Saint Tropez to become the French Rivera’s coolest destination? Talk to former denizens and Francophiles from one or more generations ago and stories of a dangerous port town (that once had an excellent football club) where you should be on constant guard will fill year ears and endlessly work to deflate any wanderlust for the capital of the Bouches-du-Rhône département. Yet, walk its streets (be mindful that it’s a city that still requires research) and you’re likely to find the kind of natural wine shops, once model-owned cafes, seafood restaurants, and flat brim cap-sporting advertising androids that rival any of Europe’s other hip destinations. But while the revitalization of Marseille has been going on for some years now, it’s only recently that good cocktail bars began to become part of its scene.
In good news for you, we were just there, and if you’re still reading at this point, I guess you somewhat trust us–which you should because we honestly drink at a lot of places, but more importantly because we actually went around to the best bars in Marseille and asked their staffs where we could find great cocktails.
Climb the steps of Marseille’s Good Mother (Notre-Dame de la Garde), drink its wine, go hiking and swimming in the Calanques, and enjoy these cocktail bars, so hopefully more continue to pop up.
The Best Cocktail Bars in Marseille
CopperBay Marseille
Part of what’s made Marseille a go-to in recent years is the hip crowd moving south from Paris for the better prices and superior weather, which is partially the case for CopperBay Marseille–the Riviera extension of the popular Parisian bar (which now has two Paris locations). Located near many of the city’s best cocktail bars, hippest hotels, and steps from the stairs leading to the Good Mother, the bar brings a combination of complicated cocktails and detail-oriented design to the port city.
What to Order: Milky Bay
If you’re a fan of clarified, milk punch cocktails (like much of the cocktail community seems to be these days), then this blend of pisco and overproof rum should get the job done. The addition of velvet falernum gives an added creaminess to the drink, while lemon juice adds a refreshing tart touch.
Coquetel Club
Located in the quickly gentrifying 6th arrondissement, Coquetel Club is a favorite of the bartending crowd and one of the first bars recommended by most local mixologists. In reality, it’s a place for gin & tonic fans and those looking to explore different spins on an Old Fashioned. Its menu of French gins can be paired with a variety of tonics, syrups, liqueurs, and garnishes; while its various Old Fashioned cocktails can be enjoyed with rum, whiskey, or tequila.
What to Order: Rhum Old Fashioned.
Considering they have an entire menu of Old Fashioned options, this is definitely the way to go. And since you’re in a French port city, maybe consider something from Martinique or a rhum agricole, which should give your drink a more earthy flavor than the molasses-based rums most of us are familiar with.
Gaspard
Located just a few blocks from the Old Port and also near CopperBay, Gaspard doesn’t have a menu most nights. Instead, visitors are forced to trust bartenders to create something that you’ll like. Mezcal plays a major role in cocktails here, and drinks tend to run on the acidic side, rather than sweet and may even offer a touch of spice.
What to Order: N/A
Those looking for wine can always choose to go that way, but Gaspard is a place to trust your bartender, which should work out, especially for mezcal fans.
Paloma
Opened by longtime drink figures Marine Lamour and James Drury, Paloma finally brings Cours Julien a cocktail bar worth stopping at. Named after the famed tequila and grapefruit cocktail. Drinks are made from local and seasonal products and paired with tapas dishes.
What to Order: Paloma
While the Miss Van (a dirty, olive-topped Negroni is certainly a crowd-pleaser), the bar’s namesake cocktail is a win for those who’ve never tried it or for anyone just looking for something refreshing on a warm Mediterranean evening.
Carry Nation
Also located within Marseille’s 6th arrondissement, this underground, Prohibition-style speakeasy is reservation-only and produces an assortment of events throughout each week. From French whiskies to rum festivals to evenings featuring classic cocktails, Carry Nation brings mixed drinks fans a first-rate destination for a variety of pours. On top of its great cocktail selection, the bar also offers a spirits book with over 300 different bottlings.
What to Order: Whisky Sour
France has grown dramatically as a whiskey market over the last decade, becoming a top consumer of both single malt Scotch and Bourbon, as well as producing some very good whiskies of its own. And, luckily, Carry Nation remains a place for whiskey-focused classics and if you end up at the bar on a night when it’s serving its usual menu, there are few better choices than its Whisky Sour.
Caribou
Caribou sits just steps from Marseille’s Old Port, making it one of the most ideal locations in the entire city for grabbing a drink. The space is best known for its food, but recently updated its drinks menu to bring visitors a wide variety of classics and in-house creations. The cocktail list is massive, which is rather unique in a city that still remains wine-focused.
What to Order: Ti’ Zombie
Made with a mix of various rums from across the Caribbean, the combination of the classic French island Ti’ Punch and the infamous tiki cocktail, the Ti’ Zombie isn’t for the faint of heart, but for those looking for a certain-style of vacation buzz, it’s the perfect pour.
Apotek
One of the newer bars on this list, Apotek looks to push cocktail boundaries by delivering drinks that lean towards the herbal and vegetal. You can expect a variety of inventive combinations, like drinks that manage to make pastis, pineapple-infused rum, lemon, cucumber, and falernum work together. The bar also offers surprise events, like taco nights and sake cocktail weeks.
What to Order: Something You’d Never Expect to Work Together
While the above is not the name of any cocktail on Apotek’s ever-evolving menu, it remains a symbol at the heart of many of its drinks. By that we mean, this is the kind of place where it’s worth taking a chance on something new and giving the bartenders a chance to surprise you.
