ReportageAt the dawn of a second deconfined summer, French destinations are full of attractions. In the Phocaean city, room 604 of the New Hôtel Le Quai is the starting point for a sunny escape.
A stone’s throw from La Canebière, the New Hotel Le Quai claims its discretion behind a 19th century facade.e. Renovated and reopened in 2020 by Caroline and Camille, daughters of Georges Antoun, the president of the New Hotel group, the establishment, which was once a guesthouse, is dressed in wood. The large room on the ground in geometric designs receives at breakfast time, while the minimalist reception counter welcomes at any time with reserved kindness.
On the floors (6, for 48 rooms), the felted corridors, with graphic striped carpets and raspberry walls, lead to the rooms whose atmosphere evokes the Provencal holiday homes of the 1970s. As a headboard, a rug jute wall mural exoticizes the 604, on the sixth floor, nicknamed the “Rose” because of its dominant color – even if the bedspread is in pale gray gauze and the pillows are white. The racy furniture (Pierre Paulin) rubs shoulders with artists’ objects and decoration in natural and raw materials, and the mixture takes quite well. The turquoise colored zelliges in the bathroom reinforce the holiday feeling.
From the wooden terrace – railing and wrought iron armchairs (Bourroullec for Hay) -, the view plunges on the Old Port, the roofs and the mountains in the distance, the “Bonne Mère” (Notre-Dame de la Garde basilica) , Fort Saint-Nicolas, Fort Saint-Jean. The bells of the Saint-Ferréol les Augustins church punctuate the ballet. The port wakes up with the fishermen who dock and sell their booty. A few hawkers settle on the quai des Belges which comes to life. At the end of the day, singers resume (at the microphone) the standards of French song – Venice is so sad or Capri is over… But here, it’s Marseille.
At 270 m: embark for the islands
By embarking for the Frioul archipelago (departure next to Norman Foster’s Ombrière), we offer ourselves an exotic ride for € 11.10 round trip: first, the pleasure of approaching by boat Fort Saint-Jean, MuCEM and Château d’If. Then that of embracing with the gaze a breathtaking view, when entering Marseille by the sea. After having docked on the island of Ratonneau (the most built), direction the Berry dike, which connects it to Pomègues the wild, to swim in a small cove of the limestone island-rock, and imagine yourself in the Cyclades.
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