Marseille has always been one of the most important ports in the Mediterranean over the centuries, the continuous contacts between traders and sailors from different countries have given life to a city so cosmopolitan that Dumas called it the "meeting point of the whole world". The area that best reflects this mélange of cultures is certainly Notre-Dame-du-Mont and the place I want to introduce you to is right in the heart of this neighborhood half known to tourists.
Walking among the tables of the rooms overlooking the central square you will notice a (actually unattractive) white sign with a blue lettering which reads “La Mer Veilleuse”. Crossing the threshold, however, you will be rewarded by a warm and welcoming atmosphere: a place with warm colors and scents of spices will win you over. You will find combinations of extravagant food and drink, such as cous-cous and amber craft beer: the owner, Bacel, is in fact of Tunisian origin and in everything he does there is always something that evokes his homeland. Rolls in vine leaves, humus and yoghurt sauce they are never lacking, but the Merveilleuse is much more than a simple restaurant-bar: it is an "associative cultural café", a place for exchange and meetings, born from the desire to promote cultural and artistic initiatives. And then, while sipping one of the fragrant teas you can lose yourself in reading a book, then admire the art exhibition set up by a Senegalese artist and finish the evening dancing at samba rhythm.
Point of meeting place of local artists and not only that, this place with a thousand faces offers a vast program, ranging from afternoon language courses to concerts which combine music and dances from distant countries. What are you waiting for? To get to the heart of Marseille life, a stop at La Mer Veilleuse is a must!
