Pros

  • In a historic mansion built in 1860 and reopened in 2014
  • On a quiet street a 10-minute walk from Vieux Port
  • Opulent interiors mix Old World glamour and conteporary chic
  • Rooms feature furniture by star designers such as Le Corbusier
  • In-room amenities include minibars, espresso-makers, and flat-screen TVs
  • Restaurant serving elaborate buffet breakfast and brunch (for a fee)
  • Stylish bar serving snacks and drinks with a wine cellar and terrace
  • Spa with atmospheric pool, unique showers, and couples treatment rooms
  • Private island owned by hotel available for meetings and events
  • Concierge service and staff well-reviewed by past guests
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
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Cons

  • On-site restaurant doesn't serve lunch or dinner
  • No business center or gym
  • Indoor pool is small
  • Fees for parking
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Bottom Line

The C2 Hotel Marseille is a unique luxury property inside a late-19th century mansion just 10 minutes' walk from Vieux Port. Restored architectural features and modern designer furniture combine to offer a dose of Old-World grandeur with a contemporary twist. The 20 rooms have smooth, streamlined decor with designer furnishings, and offer nice touches like free minibar snacks, tablet computers, and espresso-makers. The chic bar has a wine cellar and extends to a terrace, while the restaurant serves a highly rated breakfast buffet (for a fee). A standout spa features an underground indoor pool and three different types of showers, and the hotel even has a private island beach available for corporate events and guest visits in summer. Travelers could also consider the luxury InterContinental Marseille - Hotel Dieu, which has a Michelin star-awarded restaurant. 

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pool
  • Spa

Oyster Hotel Review

C2 Hotel

Scene

A 19th-century mansion updated with haute couture style drawing well-heeled guests

The designers of the C2 Hotel Marseille spent two years transforming this mansion into a luxury hotel. The result is a distinctive fusion of 19th-century pomp and 21st-century cutting-edge style. The hotel's collection of mid-century modern furniture by stars of 20th-century design, like Frank Lloyd Wright and Marcel Breuer, also set it apart. The landing of each of the five floors holds chairs by such designers. As for the building itself, its facade features well-maintained flowery stonework and iron balconies that recall its origins dating to 1860. The entryway is lined with brown marble and tall green curtains. Layers of decorative frosting define the lobby: Roman columns, crown molding, a grand piano, and a curly wrought-iron bannister. The breakfast room is similarly ornate with a frescoed ceiling and parquet wood floord. Such Old-World opulence is updated with modern glass chandeliers, black-and-white photos of jazz musicians, and modernist-era furniture. A spa, covered in electric blue tile, almost seems transplanted from another hotel. Spaces that were once hallways are now wading pools. The backyard wood terrace is covered with surrealistic patio furniture and accented with vertical garden walls. It's a style that speaks well to design-minded couples on a romantic getaway.

See More Scene

Location

On a quiet street within walking distance of Vieux Port

Located on the relatively quiet street of Rue Roux de Brignoles, the C2 is still within walking distance of the center of Marseille. Several restaurants and cafes are five to 10 minutes away from the hotel on foot. The docks of Vieux Port, considered the heart of Marseille and offering plenty of family-friendly activities, are about 10 to 15 minutes away from the hotel on foot. Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde, a cathedral that has a great view of the city, is a 12-minute walk from the hotel. Calanque de Morgiou, a picturesque part of the coast, is about 30 minutes away by car. In terms of public transportation, the nearest bus station is a two-minute walk away from the hotel, and a metro station (Estrangin Préfecture) is five minutes away. Travelers arriving at the Marseille Provence Airport should expect the trip to take about 25 minutes.

See More Location

Rooms

Sleek and mod rooms that only hint at the building's history

In contrast to the common areas of the C2 Hotel, which revel in baroque grandeur, the 20 guest rooms have smooth surfaces that only hint at the history underneath. Most of the dressers and closets, and some headboards, are natural wood with a matte finish. Mid-century modern chairs such as Arne Jacobsen's Egg chairs are used to punctuate the minimalist room decor with color and shape. There are luxe touches including minibars (with some free items), tablet computers, and espresso-makers (and tea kettles). Each room also has a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi. Some of the rooms also have balconies overlooking the street. 

The rooms range in size from Classic to Deluxe and Prestige. Some also tweak the design to include exposed brick or shiny white furniture. The Handicapped Room employs natural materials and paintings to create a folk art style that differs from all of the other rooms. Bathrooms are sleek with contemporary modern designer fittings and toiletries. Low-level rooms are shower-only; higher-category rooms also have separate tubs. 

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Features

Breakfast buffet, spa with underground pool, meeting space, and island access

For a relatively small hotel, C2 has a lot of amenities. The breakfast buffet is impressive with menu items such as pastries, fruits, salmon, cold cuts, and cheese, but some guests consider it overly expensive and recommend eating outside of the hotel. The spa offers massages and facials in two separate treatment rooms, including one for couples. It also has a hot tub, steam room, and three different showers including a Waterfall version. The indoor pool is mostly for wading in and cooling off, but it has a dramatic underground setting with blue lighting. For businesspeople, there's a small conference space of 237 square feet. Anyone who wants to plan an impressive event should consider the hotel's island, which has a stone fort with about 2,000 square feet of conference space built into it, plus more outside. Guests can also visit the island and sunbathe on its private beach, owned by the hotel, during summer months. Meals can be catered on the island, as well. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Self- and valet parking are available for a fee. 

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Things You Should Know About C2 Hotel

Also Known As

  • C2 hotel

Address

48 rue Roux de Brignoles, Marseille 13006, France

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

C2 Hotel

Scene

A 19th-century mansion updated with haute couture style drawing well-heeled guests

The designers of the C2 Hotel Marseille spent two years transforming this mansion into a luxury hotel. The result is a distinctive fusion of 19th-century pomp and 21st-century cutting-edge style. The hotel's collection of mid-century modern furniture by stars of 20th-century design, like Frank Lloyd Wright and Marcel Breuer, also set it apart. The landing of each of the five floors holds chairs by such designers. As for the building itself, its facade features well-maintained flowery stonework and iron balconies that recall its origins dating to 1860. The entryway is lined with brown marble and tall green curtains. Layers of decorative frosting define the lobby: Roman columns, crown molding, a grand piano, and a curly wrought-iron bannister. The breakfast room is similarly ornate with a frescoed ceiling and parquet wood floord. Such Old-World opulence is updated with modern glass chandeliers, black-and-white photos of jazz musicians, and modernist-era furniture. A spa, covered in electric blue tile, almost seems transplanted from another hotel. Spaces that were once hallways are now wading pools. The backyard wood terrace is covered with surrealistic patio furniture and accented with vertical garden walls. It's a style that speaks well to design-minded couples on a romantic getaway.

See More Scene

Location

On a quiet street within walking distance of Vieux Port

Located on the relatively quiet street of Rue Roux de Brignoles, the C2 is still within walking distance of the center of Marseille. Several restaurants and cafes are five to 10 minutes away from the hotel on foot. The docks of Vieux Port, considered the heart of Marseille and offering plenty of family-friendly activities, are about 10 to 15 minutes away from the hotel on foot. Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde, a cathedral that has a great view of the city, is a 12-minute walk from the hotel. Calanque de Morgiou, a picturesque part of the coast, is about 30 minutes away by car. In terms of public transportation, the nearest bus station is a two-minute walk away from the hotel, and a metro station (Estrangin Préfecture) is five minutes away. Travelers arriving at the Marseille Provence Airport should expect the trip to take about 25 minutes.

See More Location

Rooms

Sleek and mod rooms that only hint at the building's history

In contrast to the common areas of the C2 Hotel, which revel in baroque grandeur, the 20 guest rooms have smooth surfaces that only hint at the history underneath. Most of the dressers and closets, and some headboards, are natural wood with a matte finish. Mid-century modern chairs such as Arne Jacobsen's Egg chairs are used to punctuate the minimalist room decor with color and shape. There are luxe touches including minibars (with some free items), tablet computers, and espresso-makers (and tea kettles). Each room also has a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi. Some of the rooms also have balconies overlooking the street. 

The rooms range in size from Classic to Deluxe and Prestige. Some also tweak the design to include exposed brick or shiny white furniture. The Handicapped Room employs natural materials and paintings to create a folk art style that differs from all of the other rooms. Bathrooms are sleek with contemporary modern designer fittings and toiletries. Low-level rooms are shower-only; higher-category rooms also have separate tubs. 

See More Rooms

Features

Breakfast buffet, spa with underground pool, meeting space, and island access

For a relatively small hotel, C2 has a lot of amenities. The breakfast buffet is impressive with menu items such as pastries, fruits, salmon, cold cuts, and cheese, but some guests consider it overly expensive and recommend eating outside of the hotel. The spa offers massages and facials in two separate treatment rooms, including one for couples. It also has a hot tub, steam room, and three different showers including a Waterfall version. The indoor pool is mostly for wading in and cooling off, but it has a dramatic underground setting with blue lighting. For businesspeople, there's a small conference space of 237 square feet. Anyone who wants to plan an impressive event should consider the hotel's island, which has a stone fort with about 2,000 square feet of conference space built into it, plus more outside. Guests can also visit the island and sunbathe on its private beach, owned by the hotel, during summer months. Meals can be catered on the island, as well. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel. Self- and valet parking are available for a fee. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Basic Television

  • Beach

  • Beauty / Hair Salon

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pool

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Spa

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.