The Vibe: Encapsulating this two sided city: the once gritty urbane and the lightness of the French Riviera. Hipsterville, Marseille style.

The Area: Perched on the prized Corniche waterfront, almost leaning out over the sea in the southern part of the city overlooking Roucas Bay – site of the 2024 Olympic sailing competition. The nearest beach (Prado) is a 10-minute walk, the city’s Vieux Port a 30-minute bus ride.

The DNA: The iconic 1974 Palm Beach Hotel – which also was operated as a Sofitel and and a Pullman – has gotten a complete make-over by nhow Hotels, the luxury lifestyle segment of NH Hotels. A cliffside lobby sets the artsy tone for the rest of the hotel, tumbling down in terraces towards the spa (which has operated since the 1850s), pool deck and glistening Mediterranean. The nhow Marseille wonderfully catches gritty urban, groovy 1970s and sun-kissed beach resort vibes. The urban beach vibe works best in the buzzy bars and restaurant, with the Mediterranean cuisine matched by the views from the terraces. The Sky Bar located on the third floor has a chandelier made up of 4000 steel sardines, created for Sciabetti by English artist Frances Bromley and is the protagonist of the place.

Suite-Me-Up: Bedrooms are predominantly white, with splashes of yellow-and-black graffiti-daubed walls and jokey jellyfish lampshades. Most come with balconies or terraces, overlooking the pool deck, a sailing school and the curving bay framed by mountains. With its bold street art and whisky bar, the split-level, 130m2 Penthouse Suite is the place to party, if you want to wow the cool crowd.

Seen: archilovers

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 150 rooms & suites (25-41m2) (269-441 sq ft) • hotel opened: 2018 • interior design: Claire Fatosme & Christian Lefèvre, Teresa Sapey + Partners • parking possible on-site (charged) • pets allowed on request • 24-hour front desk • wheelchair accessible