Les Bords de Mer

Les Bords de Mer simply means “the seaside,” and as a name for this particular hotel, it’s perfectly descriptive: it’s set right on Marseille’s waterfront, with all of its 19 rooms facing directly out to sea, so close that you could practically dive into the harbor from your balcony. (Note: do not do this.) It’s got, in some ways, the best of two worlds: the ocean views and Mediterranean exposure that make the Côte d’Azur a perennially desirable destination, and close access to Marseille, one of France’s most diverse and vibrant cities — it’s five minutes’ walk from the Vieux-Port and the old town center.

The style is light and bright, inspired by the optimistic modernism of the Fifties as well as the contemporary taste for unpretentious simplicity. Those sea views mean these rooms are a good deal more calming than the typical urban boutique hotel. And the restaurant’s dining room and terrace are blessed with similarly impressive views, to say nothing of the heated rooftop swimming pool. It’s a rare hotel that provides something of a resort experience — complete with a spa, as well as day trips by boat to the coastline’s famous calanques — right in the middle of a lively and inspiring city.