Pros

  • Fantastic views of the waterfront and Notre-Dame de la Garde cathedral
  • Within easy walking distance of historic hot spots and public transportation
  • Delicious, fresh seafood at the on-site restaurant
  • Hip, bright, and relaxed ambiance with retro 50s-esque and Parisian salon decor
  • Huge, comfortable beds
  • Suites are conveniently large for families
  • Elegant meeting room has a balcony overlooking the port
  • Free Wi-Fi
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Cons

  • No on-site parking
  • A bit pricey for a its class of hotel
  • Fitness center is tiny and has few machines
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Bottom Line

Facing the Old Port, a suite at La Residence hovers around the same price as a basic room at the five-star hotel down the street, but the view across the harbor makes the higher price worth it. The upscale, 50-room La Residence is right in the center of Marseille’s historic hot spots, within easy walking distance of just about everything, including a Metro stop. Large suites nicely accommodate families, while standard rooms combine retro 50s-inspired decor with modern amenities. Although the breakfast is nothing spectacular, the restaurant serves tasty, fresh seafood dishes and the large boardroom with port views is ideal for business travelers.    

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Amenities

  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Pets Allowed

Oyster Hotel Review

Hôtel La Residence du Vieux Port

Scene

Fresh and colorful, with retro 1950s style

Situated in a boxy, eight-story building facing the port, the hotel is not much to see from the outside but inside it's bright, artistic, and colorful. Lime green elevator doors, candy apple-red chairs, and a multi-color sectional couch decorate the library room and lobby. The lobby also has a large flat-screen TV, and the walls are painted with colorful murals of jungle ferns -- a somewhat zany but interesting look overall. The restaurant and guest rooms each have a solid-color painting, as well as cheerful, red and blue furniture, doors, and accent walls. The restaurant is spacious with a breakfast section, small wooden bar, and plenty of patio seating where guests enjoy the sea breeze and port scene on warm days. The property's casual, upbeat vibe tends to attract couples and families on vacation, though business travelers do come through for the 18th-century-style function room with a balcony. 

See More Scene

Location

So close to the port that guests could jump in and swim

The hotel is across the street from the "Vieux Port" of Marseille with other hotels and many shops and restaurants up and down the road on both sides. Nearly every historical sight is within a 20-minute walk, including Notre-Dame de la Garde cathedral. The bus and Noailles Metro stop are about a 10-minute walk away. By car, the main train station and cruise terminal are each about five minutes away, and the airport is 25 minutes away.    

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Rooms

Retro-chic decor, and many rooms with tremendous views

It’s definitely worth paying extra for a room facing the port, as views across the water to Notre Dame de la Garde, which is magically illuminated at night, are stunning. The higher the floor the better, as rooms on lower levels can be subjected to street noise. Like the rest of the hotel, the colors in the rooms are zippy -- red, blue, and yellow -- and the style is retro 1950s. Suites have more muted, sophisticated colors and furnishings, as well as large living rooms with patterned area rugs. Each room has a minibar, flat-screen TV, and safe. Beds are plush and comfortable, and bathrooms are spacious and bright with shower/tub combos, L'Occitane bath products, and glossy, black-and-white checkerboard tile. Most rooms have small balconies, and all have free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. 

See More Rooms

Features

Free Wi-Fi, a seafood restaurant, and stylish meeting spaces

Breakfast is not included, but is a lovely spread of fresh fruit, yogurt, and fresh breads and pastries. The Parisian bistro-style restaurant, Le Relais 50, serves fresh, creatively prepared seafood dishes, such as ceviche and seasonal soups. There is a tiny fitness center comprised only of hand weights, a stationary bike, and a treadmill. The hotel has an 18th-century-inspired board room available for rent, as well as a colorful and hip “biblioteque" lounge, which guests can just relax in, or book for private meals or events. There's a private parking lot down the street that guests can use for a fee. There is free Wi-Fi in the rooms and throughout the hotel.

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

Hôtel La Residence du Vieux Port

Scene

Fresh and colorful, with retro 1950s style

Situated in a boxy, eight-story building facing the port, the hotel is not much to see from the outside but inside it's bright, artistic, and colorful. Lime green elevator doors, candy apple-red chairs, and a multi-color sectional couch decorate the library room and lobby. The lobby also has a large flat-screen TV, and the walls are painted with colorful murals of jungle ferns -- a somewhat zany but interesting look overall. The restaurant and guest rooms each have a solid-color painting, as well as cheerful, red and blue furniture, doors, and accent walls. The restaurant is spacious with a breakfast section, small wooden bar, and plenty of patio seating where guests enjoy the sea breeze and port scene on warm days. The property's casual, upbeat vibe tends to attract couples and families on vacation, though business travelers do come through for the 18th-century-style function room with a balcony. 

See More Scene

Location

So close to the port that guests could jump in and swim

The hotel is across the street from the "Vieux Port" of Marseille with other hotels and many shops and restaurants up and down the road on both sides. Nearly every historical sight is within a 20-minute walk, including Notre-Dame de la Garde cathedral. The bus and Noailles Metro stop are about a 10-minute walk away. By car, the main train station and cruise terminal are each about five minutes away, and the airport is 25 minutes away.    

See More Location

Rooms

Retro-chic decor, and many rooms with tremendous views

It’s definitely worth paying extra for a room facing the port, as views across the water to Notre Dame de la Garde, which is magically illuminated at night, are stunning. The higher the floor the better, as rooms on lower levels can be subjected to street noise. Like the rest of the hotel, the colors in the rooms are zippy -- red, blue, and yellow -- and the style is retro 1950s. Suites have more muted, sophisticated colors and furnishings, as well as large living rooms with patterned area rugs. Each room has a minibar, flat-screen TV, and safe. Beds are plush and comfortable, and bathrooms are spacious and bright with shower/tub combos, L'Occitane bath products, and glossy, black-and-white checkerboard tile. Most rooms have small balconies, and all have free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. 

See More Rooms

Features

Free Wi-Fi, a seafood restaurant, and stylish meeting spaces

Breakfast is not included, but is a lovely spread of fresh fruit, yogurt, and fresh breads and pastries. The Parisian bistro-style restaurant, Le Relais 50, serves fresh, creatively prepared seafood dishes, such as ceviche and seasonal soups. There is a tiny fitness center comprised only of hand weights, a stationary bike, and a treadmill. The hotel has an 18th-century-inspired board room available for rent, as well as a colorful and hip “biblioteque" lounge, which guests can just relax in, or book for private meals or events. There's a private parking lot down the street that guests can use for a fee. There is free Wi-Fi in the rooms and throughout the hotel.

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Pets Allowed

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Swim-Up Bar

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.