Villa M Marseille: a family weekend overlooking the racecourse
A room overlooking the races, games for kids and grown-ups alike, a spa and a Mediterranean table: we spent a family weekend at Villa M Marseille, in the 8th arrondissement. Here's the full story.
From the room, the view stretches past the palms of Borély racecourse to the Mediterranean. · Sonia Deslys
Inside, the light pours in. Architects Friedmann & Versace have gone all in on the South of France: wood, velvet armchairs, ceramics, tall plants and small frames on the walls, just like in a family home. You want to sit down straight away. In fact, plenty of locals do, even without staying the night.
That's the whole idea here: to be a hotel, yes, but also a place to spend time, open to everyone. People come for lunch, a workout, the spa or a few hours of work. We came for all of it.
A room facing the Borély racecourse
The hotel has 138 rooms and suites. Ours is understated: a big white bed, navy cushions, sand-coloured curtains and photos of Marseille on the walls. At the far end, a bay window opens onto a balcony and palm trees. And behind the palms lies the track. From the room, the Borély racecourse stretches all the way to the Ferris wheel, with the sea close by. On race days, you watch the show from the balcony: the horses racing past, the noise rising from the stands.
Dinner and lunch: Mediterranean cooking overlooking the races
In the evening, the restaurant takes on a different mood. Pleated lampshades, burnt-orange banquettes, rattan armchairs: it feels like a 1970s villa on the Riviera.
In the kitchen, two chefs work side by side: Emmanuel Perrodin, a well-known name in Mediterranean cooking, and Jules Girandon, a young chef from the new generation. Their menu speaks of Marseille without turning it into a postcard. Expect Mediterranean sharing boards, a bouillabaisse for the table… For dessert, Bricoleurs de Douceurs is in charge of delighting your taste buds, just as they do so well in their pâtisseries around Marseille.
The restaurant is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner, and the kitchen serves non-stop from breakfast to dinner. At lunchtime, we recommend the big terrace, in full sun, facing the racecourse. It's open to non-residents too.
A kid-friendly hotel: games for the whole family
It's always the question when travelling with children: what do we do between meals? Here, the answer is simple. There's a choice of games, arcade games included, and we spent a long time playing together, with no screens in sight.
The hotel calls itself kid-friendly and dog-friendly: nobody rolls their eyes when a child gets a little loud in the lobby.
Waking up and breakfast: a buffet open to all
In the morning, you open the curtains and the sun floods in. The palm trees, the track, and already a few runners around Parc Borély.
Breakfast has been redesigned around a large buffet, also open to non-residents. There's fresh fruit, pastries and juice. On top of the buffet, you can order dishes à la carte, cooked to order with seasonal produce.
Deep Nature spa and sport: feel good without having to stay the night
If you're staying an extra day, save some time for the spa. There's an outdoor pool, a jacuzzi, a hammam and a sauna.
If you'd rather get moving, the sport and wellness area offers boxing, kickboxing and fitness. The idea: everyone goes at their own pace, with no competitive pressure. And it's all open to you even if you're not a hotel guest.
As we left, we told ourselves we'd be back. Not necessarily for a night, either: for brunch, a boxing session or lunch on the terrace on a race day.
Practical information
Address
Villa M Marseille, 17 place Louis Bonnefon, 13008 Marseille, France
Phone
+33 (0)4 91 72 90 00
Restaurant
7 days a week, lunch and dinner
Website
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