Marseille’s Top 5 Food & Drink: A Delicious Guide

Marseille, that older port city sitting on France’s Mediterranean coast, boasts a eating-and-drinking scene that’s every bit as captivating as its historical harbor and sunny shores. Forget those, say, “polite” Parisian restaurants; in Marseille, flavors exist big, tastes exists bold, and the air absolutely buzzes with a life. That’s your sneak peek to the very best of Marseillaise eating experiences. Get ready, perhaps, to excite your tastebuds and find those absolute must-tries that help define the soul of the city. Read our full review: Best Restaurants in Marseille Full Review and Details

1. Bouillabaisse: That Iconic Fish Stew

You really can’t talk about food over in Marseille without giving some thought to bouillabaisse, maybe the area’s most well-known dish. But here’s a thought, bouillabaisse isn’t just your average fish stew; instead it’s an experience, maybe, it could even be viewed as a symbol, in some respects, of Marseille itself. Prepared, that is, with several varieties of fresh, locally caught fish, that also might include shellfish, all simmered with aromatic herbs, tomatoes, and a splash of pastis, you know, that anise-flavored liquor that the south of France kinda goes crazy for. Typically, too, it is served in two parts: first comes a rich, saffron-infused broth, followed a little later by the fish, which you then enjoy along with rouille, that vibrant saffron and garlic mayonnaise that kind of turns it up to eleven.

Where to try it: Any harbor-side spot around the Vieux-Port will boast about serving up their ‘authentic’ bouillabaisse, right? A fair amount can be, pretty bluntly, tourist traps, of course. But, for a more refined—and authentic—experience, a really great bet might be to seek out restaurants a bit further from the main drag. Those could be more likely to treat the dish and also their customers a little bit more respectively, if that makes sense. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Best Bouillabaisse in Marseille)

2. Panisse and Socca: Street Food Stars

Want to go wander along those colorful streets? And maybe, also, find something yummy while you’re at it? Well then, pay pretty close attention, because panisse and socca may well be your calling. Socca, that is, tends to be a thin pancake made from chickpea flour, baked until, almost, it takes on a lovely golden, ever so slightly crispy texture. It’s usually cooked in a large pan and, that is, then cut into wedges, often just simply seasoned with a little cracked black pepper. You can find it just about everywhere there! Panisse, however, tends to be, also, crafted with chickpea flour, just in a different sort of a way; it is usually cut into rectangles or maybe even strips and then is deep-fried, becoming incredibly delicious and also fairly moreish. Think of it, almost, like some sort of distant, kinda savory cousin of french fries.

Where to try it: Loads of vendors all around Noailles market do fantastic socca, typically hot and straight out of that oven. For those panisse fans, maybe find a vendor that deep-fries those golden treats fresh to experience them really at their peak of deliciousness. You’ll often get them served up in a paper cone, almost like a snack to nibble away at while on the go, which might suit you if, almost, your mission revolves around trying to get across as much of the city as humanly possible! See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Panisse and Socca in Marseille)

3. Navettes: A Sweet Treat Steeped in Tradition

Time, almost, for something sweet, right? Navettes are little, boat-shaped cookies flavored almost exclusively with orange blossom water. It gives them a very different, very appealing sort of aroma, as a matter of fact. What’s extra neat may be how incredibly tied-in they become to Marseille’s cultural identity. Said cookies, though, often play an important part during Candelmas celebrations (February 2nd) and might just be gifted, very thoughtfully, as little symbols relating back to a religious event which took place around a long time ago. So they make terrific gifts.

Where to try them: Just visit the Four des Navettes, it’s, like, the city’s oldest bakery, kinda operating way, way back ever since 1781. These individuals only sell Navettes (though there can be varieties of Navettes) and visitors kinda queue up away outside that door. If, somehow, those queues might seem like something that don’t suit you that much, basically plenty more bakeries citywide are going to be producing and selling Navettes, especially around February, actually. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Buy Navettes in Marseille)

4. Pastis: The Local Apéritif

Pastis does tend to be a kind of anise-flavored spirit, basically an apéritif enjoyed all through that south area of France. Generally, actually, it gets served up by getting diluted with quite a bit of cold water: water, actually, kind of causes that drink just transform, really almost magically, turning all kind of a cloudy, pale yellow. Many appreciate Pastis slowly, right before food consumption while perched within a bistro’s patio, in all likelihood enjoying it in those sunny days. Often they might sip the stuff right alongside some tapas such as tapenade, that super tasty olive spread. That can almost be the total Marseillaise experience!

Where to try it: Any bistro or bar in that city really can be serving up Pastis. So consider giving yourself a wander around le Panier area and then pick something which seems incredibly welcoming so you might just linger for one quite calm little Pastis at ease. Don’t forget! You pour Pastis just very carefully using that marked glass, next top it using water to suit preferences. See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Pastis in Marseille)

5. Wine from Cassis: A Coastal Delight

Just slightly to the east of Marseille does lie Cassis; here they are making mainly crisp, really refreshing whites. Think, that is, mineral, so also very aromatic—just great paired to a local plates of seafood that have had flavors inspired somewhat by those Mediterranean flavors that one just enjoys in so many parts there. Visit their wineries so you may take your touring all along that coast where just you find beautiful surroundings accompanying excellent vinos! It really does seem wonderful.

Where to try it: Several dining spots all across that Vieux-Port may have wines from Cassis on any listings that get brought there—so please ask your servers. If maybe that vineyard tour would appeal a bit, allow that short ride straight out into Cassis that they would most definitely cherish; those can be readily found online or across any information stand placed by visitors somewhere very nearby too!! See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Cassis Wine Tours)

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