Marché aux Poissons

I popped down to the Marché aux Poissons on the Vieux-Port on a bright morning and left grinning (and a little fragrant) — what a scene. The market sits right on the Quai de la Fraternité and runs most mornings, roughly 8:00–13:00, where local fishermen sell their overnight catch straight off the boats — think sea bream, sardines, monkfish, mackerel and more depending on the season. Stalls are lively and honest: vendors gut and weigh fish on the spot, callers shout friendly prices, and gulls circle like tiny critics. The colours of the stalls, the briny air, and the clatter of knives and scales felt utterly authentic — a genuine slice of Marseille life rather than a polished tourist show. I loved watching a vendor fillet a fish with calm speed while chatting about the morning’s haul.

Nice fish market, not too large or crowded. Nice selection and retail sale. Depending on the season, you can find many options. I tried some amberjack, croaker and raw anchovies. Delicious and recommended. Go there around 8 or 9.

Prices seemed a bit on the higher end, the selection was a bit small. The fish seemed fresh although I would recommend coming there as early as possible since they did not have any ice to protect the fish from the sun. The earlier your come, the better quality you get

Verdict: A must go to. No visit to Marseille is complete without a visit to the Quoi where you see the fisher men selling fish. You can see the boats docking by the harbor as they transfer the fish to sell in the market. It is truly from the sea to the table. Many of the fish are still breathing and moving. The prices are reasonable, certainly for freshly caught fish. The experience makes you want to move to Marseille if you like to eat fish. There is a festive atmosphere as fishers sell, haggle, clean the fish, and laugh with the buyers.. Great experience.

Every day here there is a selection of fresh fish sold straight off the boat. Apparently the best day to visit is Friday, however I went on other days. What is sold and the amount of stalls varies per day, but there is always something to see.

Fresh fish and lot of choice. Prices are reasonable for french standards.

This market is not nearly as big as it’s made out to be. When we stayed in Marseille there were only a few stations at the old port selling fish. None the less, the atmosphere is cool and it’s nice to just wander the old port with a coffee in the morning.

Fun to see the catch of the day here. Small fishing boats coming in from the Mediterranean.