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5 bars for a pastis with a view
With around 230 days of sun per year, Marseille is the ultimate destination for an outdoor drink.
Check out our pick of the best spots to enjoy the local aperitif with views on the Mediterranean Sea.
MuCEM
7 promenade Robert Laffont, 13002 MarseilleRudy Ricciotti’s architectural gem is in perfect harmony with its surroundings – marvel at the play of light and shadow on and around the museum’s intricate metal structure.
And with a sublime sea view, its bar is the ideal spot for watching boats come and go from the Vieux-Port.
Pastis €4
BAR DANTÈS – SOFITEL
36 boulevard Charles Livon, 13007 MarseilleExpect attentive service in sleek surrounds at this polished hotel bar, with a panoramic view over the Vieux-Port, MuCEM and Fort Saint-Jean.
The good news? No need to be a hotel guest to enjoy a drink here – but watch out for the steep prices.
Pastis €7
FRICHE BELLE DE MAI
41 rue Jobin, 13003 MarseilleThis former factory site turned cultural centre has one of the best views over Marseille.
From the end of May through to August, head up to the deckchair-strewn roof terrace for food trucks, live music and open-air cinema – perfect for those lazy summer evenings.
Pastis €2.50
LE CAFÉ DE L'ABBAYE
3 rue Endoume, 13007 MarseilleThis neighbourhood drinking hole might not look like much from the outside, but when it’s time for after-work drinks, those in the know flock to its small terrace, which soon fills up on balmy summer evenings.
The big draw? The views over the Vieux-Port and imposing Fort Saint-Jean.
Pastis €2.50
20 000 LIEUX SOUS LA BIÈRE
12 Boulevard Alexandre Delabre, 13008 MarseilleNicknamed ‘the bar at the ends of the Earth’, this friendly spot is set on the edge of one of Marseille’s natural wonders, the Calanques National Park.
The half-hour taxi ride from the Vieux Port is well worth it: head here for a cheeky pastaga (pastis) or one of its specialty beers, as the sun sets over the Mediterranean.
Pastis €2.50
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