Le Petit Nice is Marseille’s great seaside address. It stands on the rocks of the Anse de Maldormé, on the Corniche Kennedy in the Endoume district, where villas step down to the water and the sea is never out of sight. Two buildings house a collection of rooms and suites, and the hotel belongs to the Relais & Châteaux association, which tells you what to expect: quiet service, careful food and a setting that feels more like a private house by the sea than a city hotel. Room types include Executive rooms with sea views and terraces, a Junior Suite with a patio, a Romantic Suite and larger sea-view suites with a king bed. The grounds contain a garden, a terrace, a dock for swimming and water sports, and a seasonal outdoor pool that is open from March to November. A spa offers massages, a steam room and a Turkish bath, and reservations are required. The cooking has long been the reason people come: the hotel has two restaurants, Le 1917 and Le Petit Nice, the latter known for Michelin-starred seafood. It is a base for visitors who want the Mediterranean at the door, a special dinner and a calm evening after the busy city.
Location and getting around
The hotel is on the Corniche Kennedy, a one-minute walk from the coastal road and about ten minutes on foot from the Vallon des Auffes, with its fishing huts and seafood restaurants. The Catalan beach is a walk of around twenty minutes, and the Palais du Pharo and the Old Port area are a few minutes away by car or taxi.
Marseille Provence Airport is roughly forty minutes by car, and the Mucem and the centre are within a short drive. The hotel is not on a metro line, so a taxi or a bus along the Corniche is the usual way into town.
’ + ’Rooms and facilities: rooms range from Executive rooms of about 35 square metres to suites of up to about 75 square metres, most with sea views and some with terraces or patios. There are air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a gym, a garden, a terrace, a bar and lounge, a concierge and an electric-vehicle charging point.
Snorkelling and water-sports equipment are available around the dock, which suits visitors who want a swim straight from the rocks. Breakfast is continental and served from early morning to late morning, and charged separately unless included in your rate.
’ + ’Good to know: check-in is in the afternoon and runs late into the evening, with check-out before noon. Valet parking is available but limited, so reserve in advance if you are driving. Small dogs are accepted for a fee, with limits per room, and a city tax is charged per person per night. The hotel accepts cards only. Spa and restaurant reservations are strongly advised, particularly in summer. It is a good choice for couples, special occasions and travellers who value setting and food as much as the room itself.
Why stay here
- ✓Sea-view rooms and suites
- ✓Seasonal outdoor pool
- ✓Spa with steam room and Turkish bath
- ✓Two restaurants including a Michelin-starred table
- ✓Garden, terrace and bar
- ✓Dock and water-sports equipment
- ✓Valet parking (limited, charged)
- ✓Free Wi-Fi and air conditioning
Good questions
Where is Le Petit Nice Passedat?+
It is on the Corniche Kennedy in the Endoume district, about ten minutes on foot from the Vallon des Auffes and a short drive from the Old Port.
Does the hotel have a pool and spa?+
Yes, there is a seasonal outdoor pool open from March to November and a spa with massages, a steam room and a Turkish bath. Spa reservations are required.
Can I eat at the hotel?+
The hotel has two restaurants, Le 1917 and Le Petit Nice, the latter known for Michelin-starred seafood. Reserve ahead.
