Fodor's Expert Review Les Bords de Mer

Entering this dazzling little hotel is like walking straight into the surf, perched as it is right over the Marseille waterfront with every one of its (tiny) rooms overlooking the turquoise-blue Mediterranean. A 10-minute walk from the Vieux Port, 20 minutes on foot to the famous bouillabaisse restaurants at the Vallon des Auffes, and next to a popular beach, the hotel feels farther from the city center than it actually is. The building, designed to look like a chic 1950s beachfront resort, has two pools—one on the rooftop along with a sundeck—a compact spa, a fitness room, and a top-notch restaurant conceived by one-star Marseille chef Camille Gandolfo. When the summer crowds hit the beach, you'll appreciate its private sunning terrace.