27 September 2021

TUBA CLUB MARSEILLE

Tuba Club is an intimate hotel and restaurant overlooking a small fishing harbor close to the Calanques Natural Park.

Former diving school

It’s still Marseille, but the taxi driver described it as the end of the world. A taxi ride of about 45 minutes (and about 75 euros) from the airport, along Marseille and the coast takes you to Les Goudes. There you’ll find Tuba Club in a former diving school. With only five rooms and a restaurant located on the rocks with a view over the azure blue water, this is the perfect address to escape the city. And discover the Calanques Natural Park.

Views

Tuba Club is a project by Greg Gassa (restaurateur) and Fabrice Denizot (film producer) who, together with interior architect Marion Mailaender, turned the former diving school into a stylish hang-out. The hotel and restaurant are barely noticeable from the street. Only a small door leads you, through the murals and installations of Emmanuelle Luciani of Southway Studio, to a long corridor that opens into the restaurant area. There you’ll immediately notice the view of the azure blue sea through the big (open) windows.

Pastis

I arrive mid-September and it seems like they are packing everything for the winter season. That makes it difficult to give an honest opinion about Tuba Club. The sunbeds are gone, the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and it’s hard to take pictures because nothing seems to have its place. Fortunately, the warm welcome from one of the staff members makes up for that: he gives me a Pastic as a welcome drink and prepared a ceviche for me so I could enjoy it after a long journey in the sun at their lovely terrace.

Inspired by cabanons

There are only five rooms, all with a sea view and inspired by cabanons, typical French fishermen’s huts. Don’t expect too much luxury: a lot of wood, sisal on the floor and some funny details such as the vintage lamps and the large, bright colored, taps.

Summer spot

I can imagine that Tuba Club is a happening place in the summer season, where both tourists and residents of Marseille like to come to start the weekend with a lunch/dinner with a phenomenal view. Or a dip in the sea. For those who stay the night, the sound of the sea will make you fall asleep easily.

Check out: www.tuba-club.com