18 Quai du Port, Marseille, France | (251) 219-4428
Fantastic views of the waterfront and Notre-Dame de la Garde cathedral
Within easy walking distance of historic hot spots and public transportation
Delicious, fresh seafood at the on-site restaurant
Hip, bright, and relaxed ambiance with retro 50s-esque and Parisian salon decor
Huge, comfortable beds
Suites are conveniently large for families
Elegant meeting room has a balcony overlooking the port
Free Wi-Fi
No on-site parking
A bit pricey for a its class of hotel
Fitness center is tiny and has few machines
Facing the Old Port, a suite at La Residence hovers around the same
price as a basic room at the five-star hotel down the street, but the
view across the harbor makes the higher price worth it. The upscale, 50-room La Residence is right in the center of
Marseille’s historic hot spots, within easy walking distance of just about
everything, including a Metro stop. Large suites nicely accommodate families, while standard rooms combine retro 50s-inspired decor with modern amenities. Although the breakfast is nothing spectacular, the restaurant serves
tasty, fresh seafood dishes and the large boardroom with port views is ideal for business
travelers.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Fresh and colorful, with retro 1950s style
Situated in a boxy, eight-story building facing the port, the hotel is not much
to see from the outside but inside it's bright, artistic, and colorful. Lime green elevator doors, candy apple-red chairs, and a multi-color sectional couch decorate the library room and lobby. The lobby also has a large flat-screen TV, and the
walls are painted with colorful murals of jungle ferns -- a somewhat zany but interesting look overall. The restaurant and guest rooms each have a solid-color painting, as well as cheerful, red and blue furniture,
doors, and accent walls. The restaurant is spacious with a breakfast section,
small wooden bar, and plenty of patio seating where guests enjoy the sea breeze and port
scene on warm days. The property's casual, upbeat vibe tends to attract couples and families on vacation, though business travelers do come through for the 18th-century-style function room with a balcony.
Location
So close to the port that guests could jump in and swim
The hotel is across the street from the "Vieux Port" of
Marseille with other hotels and many shops and restaurants up and down the road
on both sides. Nearly every historical sight is within a 20-minute walk, including Notre-Dame de la Garde cathedral. The bus
and Noailles Metro stop are about a 10-minute walk away. By car, the main
train station and cruise terminal are each about five minutes away, and the airport is 25 minutes away.
Rooms
Retro-chic decor, and many rooms with tremendous views
It’s definitely worth paying extra for a room facing the port, as views across the water to Notre Dame de la
Garde, which is magically
illuminated at night, are stunning. The higher the floor the better, as rooms on lower
levels can be subjected to street noise. Like the rest of the hotel, the colors
in the rooms are zippy -- red, blue, and yellow -- and the style is retro 1950s. Suites have more muted, sophisticated colors and furnishings, as well as large living rooms with patterned area rugs. Each room has a minibar, flat-screen TV, and safe. Beds are plush and
comfortable, and bathrooms are spacious and bright with shower/tub combos, L'Occitane bath products, and glossy, black-and-white checkerboard tile. Most rooms have small balconies, and all
have free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning.
Features
Free Wi-Fi, a seafood restaurant, and stylish meeting spaces
Breakfast is not included, but is a lovely spread of fresh fruit, yogurt, and fresh breads and
pastries. The Parisian bistro-style restaurant, Le Relais 50, serves fresh, creatively prepared seafood dishes, such as ceviche and seasonal soups. There is a tiny fitness center comprised only of hand
weights, a stationary bike, and a treadmill. The hotel has an 18th-century-inspired board room
available for rent, as well as a colorful and hip “biblioteque" lounge, which guests can just relax in, or book for private meals or events. There's a private parking
lot down the street that guests can use for a fee. There is free Wi-Fi in the rooms and throughout the
hotel.
