Marseille, FranceLe Pharo
Les Bords De Mer
Seaside modernist villa
Le Pharo Marseille, France
Renovated
2018
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Wellness LocalOutside the door
The house
Fontenille CollectionSeaside modernist villa
The hotel reimagines a seaside villa with bright mid-century lines, where daily life faces directly out to open water.
“Le Bords De Mer's simple rooms let the Mediterranean scenery outside shine.”
What it’s good at
Listed
Fresh Mediterranean seafood arrives with Marseille chickpea panisses and organic Luberon wines.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
Also in Condé Nast Traveler.
The style is light and bright, inspired by the optimistic modernism of the Fifties as well as the contemporary taste for unpretentious simplicity.
Right in the middle
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Plage des Catalans sits right below the terrace, and the historic Vieux-Port is a short walk along the Corniche.
The rooms
All nineteen rooms look directly out to sea, with minimalist white decor and views toward Château d'If.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
A heated lap pool stretches across the rooftop, and an indoor relaxation pool sits deep in the coastal bedrock.
The spa
Treatment cabins are hollowed directly from the coastal bedrock, beside a subterranean sauna and hammam.
Restaurant Les Bords de Mer
Chef Gein-Say Chau prepares local fish behind floor-to-ceiling glass, and terrace tables sit right above the water.
At the table
The rooftop bar serves Maison Ferroni cocktails and sharing plates beneath a shaded pergola facing the open sea.
How it began
Marseille architect Yvann Pluskwa rebuilt the property in 2018, transforming a weathered 1930s Art Deco hotel on the Corniche.
Marseille
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The app
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.