Beyond Bouillabaisse: Diving into Marseille’s Multicultural Stew
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Marseille, France
- 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Explore the diverse cultural flavors of Marseille on an immersive small-group walking tour. This delightful experience is perfect for curious travelers seeking to indulge in the authentic tastes of the city. Enjoy insights into Marseille's rich culinary history and traditions as you follow your food-loving guide through markets, shops, and street food stalls. Featured bites include an Algerian delight, a Provencal biscuit, and the city's iconic aperitif.
- Enjoy a small tour group size of maximum seven people
- Visit Marseille eateries not found in any guidebook
- Feast on two full meals throughout the culinary tour
- Get insider restaurant suggestions for the rest of your visit
What's Included
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Snacks
- Breakfast
- Lunch
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Place des MarseillaisesPl. des Marseillaises, 13001 Marseille, France
At the top of the monumental staircase, “Escalier de la Gare Saint-Charles”, leading from Boulevard d’Athenes at Place des Marseillaises up to the main level of the train station. You will see two large lion statues. Your guide will be waiting for you just beside the lion on the left.
End point
- Old Port of Marseille, France
This tour does NOT return to the original point of departure. It ends in the Vieux-Port.
Itinerary
1
Gare de Marseille Saint-Charles
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Église Saint-Vincent de Paul
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
La Canebiere
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
4
Marche de Noailles
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
5
Vieux-Port
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 7 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
What an outstanding tour and food experience. We explored places that we would have never go on our own, we learned about the local culture, the immigration and the evolution of Marseille. Chloe, our guide, was the best. Amazing, relaxed and knowledgeable. Definitively something to do in every city from now on!
Reviews
5.0
based on 223 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Severine was wonderful. She's very good with the history of Marseilles. My only comokaint would be that it was too hot for it to last so long.
Wow - Coco brought this fascinating city to life. The food and details about all the neighborhoods were so interesting and fun. Fabulous experience and so enjoyable. Coco was great
My husband and I took this tour with Severine. There were no other people on our tour, so it turned into a private tour. It was one of our favorite tours we have ever taken. We saw the city while gaining knowledge of the culture, people, and history. The pace was perfect. We sampled so many different types of food and drinks. She was able to modify to meet our desires. The people in the establishments knew Severine, so it was very nice to see the relationships which had been established. For people who our on a cruise ship like we were - it was easy to grab a taxi at the pier and Severine helped us get the taxi at the end. They took us directly to the ship. The total cost of the taxis was $50 Euros. I highly recommend you take this tour.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear how special the experience was with Séverine and that it turned into such a memorable, personalized tour. It’s great to know the pace, variety of tastings, and her local relationships made the day stand out — and that the logistics worked so smoothly for your cruise schedule. We truly appreciate the recommendation and are so glad this was one of your favorite tours.
Coco was our guide on this absolutely fabulous food tour - with a smattering of history thrown in. She shared with us locally owned hidden gems from coffeehouses to street food vendors to food markets to bakeries to a chocolate shop to a spice market to a second story bar all within the Old Port of Marseille. Her knowledge of all the foods we sampled was extensive and very fun to learn while savoring every morsel and drop. I’m glad we did it the first day here because we have all the establishments we will be going back to - whatever the meal or snack.
Coco gave us a little architectural history of each area while we were walking, adding just a little more flavor to our experience. After the tour she sent us other restaurants to add to our list. A most delightful day.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for such a detailed and thoughtful review! It’s fantastic to hear that your first day in Marseille was filled with both culinary delights and cultural discoveries.
Coco will be thrilled to know that her knowledge and enthusiasm made such a strong impression. We take pride in working with guides who not only know the city’s flavors inside and out but also love sharing the history, traditions, and hidden corners that give each neighborhood its character. Your note about revisiting the spots you discovered is exactly the kind of lasting connection we hope guests take away.
We’re so glad your day left you well-fed, inspired, and ready to explore more. When you get a moment, check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the new Marseille stamp you’ve earned!
This was hands down one of the best tours we have done. Coco was a fantastic guide, her knowledge of Marseille and passion for the city was wonderful and the food we got to eat was amazing - a huge variety from all different cultures of the city. Would highly recommend!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We’re thrilled that you had a fantastic time exploring Marseille with Coco. We take pride in working with guides who are knowledgeable, passionate, and love sharing the rich culture and culinary diversity of their city. It’s wonderful that you enjoyed the variety of foods and the multicultural flavors—that is exactly what we aim for. Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see all the stamps you’ve collected. We hope to welcome you back for another delicious adventure soon!
The 5.5 hours allows us to have some time for tea and coffee, and to chat with our guide and fellow travellers. Great way to immerse into local culture and to learn about other people. Good way to explore different but still yet local food culture if you are not sure how to approach the mixed culture influence in Marseille, and wish to explore outside of French food or seafood alone.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad the 5.5 hours gave you time to enjoy tea, conversation, and a true immersion into Marseille’s rich, multicultural food scene. Our guides love creating space for connection and discovery beyond just the food.
We take pride in working with guides who help guests explore the diverse influences that make each city unique.
Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see your Marseille stamp — we hope to welcome you back soon for more flavorful adventures!
It is very unique and wonderful experience.
CoCo the guide is very knowledgeable talented and charming. We were really enjoying the tour. Highly recommended!
Olga
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much, Olga, for sharing your experience on our Beyond Bouillabaisse tour in Marseille! We’re delighted to hear that CoCo’s knowledge and charm made the tour so enjoyable. We take great pride in working with guides who bring the city’s rich multicultural stories to life with passion and expertise. That unique blend of flavors, history, and culture is exactly what we aim to offer. We hope to welcome you back for more amazing journeys soon! Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see all the stamps you’ve collected!
One of the best food tours we have experienced. Good balance between food, culture and history. Coco was a friendly and knowledgeable guide and super helpful with ideas for the rest of our stay.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re delighted to hear that your tour with Coco was such a great start to your Marseille visit.
We take pride in working with guides who combine friendliness with deep local knowledge, and Coco truly shines in sharing the city’s vibrant multicultural flavors alongside its rich history.
It’s wonderful that you found the perfect balance of food, culture, and history — that’s exactly the experience we aim to provide.
Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see your Marseille stamp — a tasty beginning to your journey!
Was a great day with Coco, learned a lot about the history of Marseille and ate a lot of delicious food. Highly recommend. It's a lot of walking but never too far without stopping to sit for a snack or meal. Don't eat breakfast, she arrives at the tour with pastries and first stop is coffee and croissant.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for your fantastic recommendation! We’re so glad to hear that Coco made your day in Marseille both delicious and educational. We take great pride in working with guides who know how to balance history, culture, and great food—making sure you’re well-fed and comfortable along the way.
That tip about skipping breakfast is spot on—pastries and coffee are always the perfect start!
Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see all the stamps you’ve collected during your culinary journey!
A special tour with a special person Séverine as our guide. We fueled our body and mind through her exquisite choice of delicacies, her knowledge and an exchange of experiences on things beyond Marseille. It's the kind of tour that I want to share with others but at the same time keep it secret
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that Séverine created such a special experience for you—feeding both body and mind is exactly what we strive for.
We take great pride in working with guides like Séverine, who bring not only deep knowledge but also a personal touch that makes every tour memorable and meaningful.
It’s fantastic that you enjoyed the rich multicultural flavors of Marseille and the shared stories that go beyond just food—that connection to culture and community is at the heart of what we do.
Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you’ve collected—and we hope you keep discovering hidden gems on your future travels with us!
We had such a wonderful time on this tour. We were able to try food that we probably would not have tried on our own. Severine was such a wonderful guide and we loved all the stories and history she taught us along the way! Definitely don’t eat beforehand, we had so much food!!
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted you had such a memorable time exploring Marseille’s diverse food scene with Severine. We take pride in working with guides who bring the city’s rich history and culture to life through their stories and passion.
We’re glad you enjoyed the unique flavors and the generous portions — definitely a good tip to come hungry!
Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website — your Marseille stamp is waiting to mark this delicious adventure!
What an outstanding tour and food experience. We explored places that we would have never go on our own, we learned about the local culture, the immigration and the evolution of Marseille. Chloe, our guide, was the best. Amazing, relaxed and knowledgeable. Definitively something to do in every city from now on!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for your fantastic feedback! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an outstanding discovery in Marseille. We take pride in working with guides like Chloé, who bring a relaxed, knowledgeable, and passionate approach to sharing the city’s unique culture and history.
That connection between food, immigration, and the evolution of Marseille is exactly what we aim to highlight, offering more than just a tour but a true cultural experience.
We’re honored that you’ll be looking for Culinary Backstreets tours in other cities—you’re in for many more memorable journeys!
Don’t forget to check your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamp you’ve earned from this delicious Marseille adventure!
Me, my wife and two adult children did this experience on June 10, 2025. Chloe was our guide. Our day began with a challenge. We left our cruise ship, took a public taxi and he dropped us off outside of port and said we just had to walk a block to get to where our guide was located. However, he charged us 20 euros and left us more than 2 miles away from our destination. Had to take another taxi to get us there. We arrived 5 minutes late, but the group waited for us. What surprised me about this tour was that it focused more on the various melting pot cultures of the city than traditional French food. We would've like more emphasis on traditional French food, but once we figured this out and Chloe explained why, we adjusted our mentality and the tour was excellent. Chloe was passionate and knowledgeable. She also share so much information about the cultural experience that made this tour so, so good. Needless to say we did not leave this tour hungry. We were eating all day. We ate everything from fish and wine and cheese to unique fruits and flowers from other cultures. One of the highlights for us was the tremendous mint tea we had in one of the side shops. We ate our way through various neighborhoods each with their own unique splendor. The people of our group were so so nice. We felt like we were all friends just enjoying the day together. This was truly a remarkable, great experience. I don't know if there are other tour guides with this tour, but you really really should get Chloe. She is the best. She was fun, dynamic and answered all of our questions. The food was tremendous and we left with tired feet and full bellies! I like food but I almost had to give in. Excellent way to experience the city. Thank you!
Response from Host, Jun 2025
Thank you so much for sharing your detailed experience with us! We’re sorry to hear about the taxi mishap at the start, but glad it didn’t dampen your spirits or the day’s adventure.
Chloe sounds like an incredible guide—passionate, knowledgeable, and able to turn the unexpected into a truly memorable experience. It’s great that you embraced the multicultural focus of the tour, which really reflects the vibrant soul of Marseille today.
We’re thrilled you enjoyed the incredible variety of food, from fish and wine to those unique fruits and flowers, and especially that refreshing mint tea moment. It’s wonderful that the group felt like friends by the end—that’s exactly the kind of atmosphere we hope to create.
Thank you for the glowing recommendation of Chloe! We hope to welcome you and your family on another Culinary Backstreets journey soon.
This was a fabulous food tour, one of my favourites to date. The food was fantastic, and so were the non-food aspects of the tour. Alexis (our guide) was the best part of the whole day. I would highly recommend.
Response from Host, May 2025
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the "Beyond Bouillabaisse" tour and that Alexis made your experience extra special. We take pride in working with passionate guides like Alexis, who truly bring the culture and flavors of the city to life. It’s wonderful that you appreciated both the food and the cultural insights during the tour — that’s exactly what we aim for!
Don't forget to check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see all the stamps you’ve collected! We hope to welcome you on another tour in the future!
Very worthwhile experience That says it alll nothing more to say. Excellent overview of Marseille . Take this tour
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad you enjoyed Beyond Bouillabaisse and felt it gave you a great overview of Marseille — that's exactly what we hope to deliver.
Don’t forget to check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the Marseille stamp you’ve collected — and we’d love to welcome you on another tour soon!
This is my favorite food tour to date. The food was phenomenal (it was A LOT of food). It balanced out great because we did a good amount of walking and Coco made it so enjoyable with explaining history of the city as well as the food. 11/10
Response from Host, Feb 2025
Thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear that Beyond Bouillabaisse: Diving into Marseille’s Multicultural Stew is your favorite food tour to date. Coco is such an excellent guide, and we’re so glad that her passion for both the history of the city and its food made your experience truly special. It’s great to know that the balance of delicious food and walking kept things just right!
Your 11/10 rating means the world to us, and we’re so grateful for your feedback. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable Culinary Backstreets tour soon!
Don’t forget to check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see all the stamps you’ve collected!
Looking forward to your next adventure with us!
A top food tour and much more! Our guide Severine (hope I’ve spelt her name correctly!), is great company, and knows so much about Marseille its history, people and foods. Highly recommended.
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We’re so glad to hear that you had a top experience on the 'Beyond Bouillabaisse' tour with Severine. We take pride in working with guides like her, who not only have deep knowledge of the city’s food culture but also its rich history and vibrant people. It’s wonderful to know you had such a great time exploring Marseille through its culinary diversity. Don’t forget to check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see all the stamps you’ve collected! We’re grateful for your support and highly appreciate your recommendation!
I went on this with my mom and our guide was amazing!! She knew so much about the cuisine, culture and the city! We tried foods we would not have otherwise and left very full! Really appreciate her taking such good care of us! Thank you!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you and your mom had such a wonderful time on our Marseille tour. Our guides truly love sharing the city’s culinary and cultural gems, and we’re so glad you enjoyed discovering new flavors and exploring Marseille with such great care.
We take pride in working with guides who go above and beyond to make every tour memorable and special.
Don’t forget to check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see all the stamps you’ve collected – and we hope to welcome you back for another delicious adventure soon!
This was a great way to discover the variety of cultures and people that had immigrated to the city though the lens of food. All the food was fantastic and we went to restaurants and ate food that we never would have otherwise. Severine was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the city. Overall a very enjoyable experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thanks so much for your feedback! That is exactly what we are going for. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed the walk, and hope that you will join us again soon in one of our cities. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected.
Incredible. This was my first Culinary Backstreet Tour and it certainly won’t be my last. Sevrien is an amazing host. Her love for Marseille came out on every stop. I learned so much and saw so many places I would not have gone to. And the food-wow!!!! I feel like I should have fasted the day before in preparation. We had a great group and felt like I made a bunch of new friends. This tour is the reason one travels!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thanks so much for your feedback! That is exactly what we are going for. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed the walk, and hope that you will join us again soon in one of our cities. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected.
Coco was such a knowledgeable and wonderful guide through the diverse and unique shops in Marseilles. We ate so many different and wonderful bites of the cultures found in the city. Highly recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thanks so much for your feedback! That is exactly what we are going for. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed the walk, and hope that you will join us again soon in one of our cities. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected.
Severine was a marvelous guide for our culinary tour to so many different amazing places. It was a bit rainy during part of our tour but she expertly pivoted and made the day seamless. I may go again when I’m back in Marseille next year!!
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you very much for your great feedback and leaving us a 5-star review, this is exactly what we’re going for! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our tour with the amazing Severine! We take pride in working with great people like her who are very knowledgeable and extremely fond of the cities they live in. We hope to see you again soon in one of our cities. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected. All the best!
We had a fantastic time with our guide Severine! She took us to wonderful places that we would never have experienced without her. We tried so many different kinds of food and got to explore beautiful neighborhoods. In addition to the excellent food we got to sample, we had an amazing time getting to know Severine. She is a lovely person and we enjoyed spending the day with her.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thank you so much for a wonderful review! We are really happy to hear that you enjoyed the walk. We take pride in working with people like Severine who are very knowledgeable and extremely fond of the cities that they live in. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected. We hope to see you again soon in one of our cities.
Fun event. Coco was a great guide. Food we ate was mediocre working class food. I enjoyed the shared experience.
Coco was very knowledgeable. Bring comfy shoes. It was a pleasant experience. Was able to taste foods from different cultures.
Response from Host, May 2024
We are glad to hear you enjoyed the walk! Please reach out to us directly if you think we can do anything better as your feedback is very important to us and we take it very seriously. We look forward to hearing from you , and having you with us again soon.You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected.
Doing the tour with coco, was like walking around the city with a friend! She had so many interesting stories to share - about food but also about the city and the everything in general, would totally recommend! We did the tour on our first day and it was a very good to already know some places around for the following days!
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you very much for your great feedback and leaving us a 5-star review, this is exactly what we’re going for! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our tour with the amazing Coco! We take pride in working with great people like her who are very knowledgeable and extremely fond of the cities they live in. We hope to see you again soon in one of our cities. You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected. All the best!
I enjoyed seeing the ethnic grocery stores…so much variety of food, wine, spices and salts. Coco told us about many events and festivals that celebrate different food cultures and welcoming new immigrant chefs. Fabulous, diverse tour with so many tastings!
Response from Host, May 2024
We are glad to hear you enjoyed the walk! Thank you very much for leaving us a 5-star review! We look forward to having you with us again soon.You can check out your Culinary Backstreets Passport on our website to see the stamps you have collected.
Coco was a wonderful guide —knowledgeable, flexible, and fun. We tried so many delicacies while learning about the beautiful city of Marseille.
Not as expected. Lacking balance - Lots of breads and vegetarian type items. Not enough meats and seafood. Nor sit down, restaurant, casual dining experiences.
We actually snacked on a strangers car hood at one point.
A group of 5 probably shared MAYBE $50 worth of “food” and that’s on the high end. Not worth the expense in my opinion
This was the most amazing tour. We were only in town for the day with the cruise ship but I want to come back. We were able to see and taste the rich history and cultures that make Marseille all that it is. BOOK THIS TOUR. You will not be disappointed.
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