Aparthotel Le Couvent, Marseille
Expert reviews
“Marseille’s most discreet hotel might be Le Couvent. Occupying an unmarked 17th-century stone building, the sprawling mansion-like space has no restaurant, spa or other amenities — just 10 stylish contemporary apartments outfitted with vintage pieces, art and books.”
Featured in New York Times’ 36 hours in Marseille.
What guests liked
- Top location
- Comfortable beds
- Free Wifi
- Friendly staff
All you need to know
In the heart of Marseille’s historic district, a renovated seventeenth-century convent opens its doors to temporary visitors to Marseille just behind the Old Port, alongside the Place de Lenche, near the Museum of La Vieille Charité. Le Couvent Marseille is located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur area, close to the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations and the Les Terrasses du Port Shopping Centre. The aparthotel is 2.2 kilometres from Fausse Monnaie and 2.3 kilometres from Plage de Maldorme. Marseille Provence Airport is 26 kilometers away from the hotel.
The structure of the building dates back to the seventeenth century and was once a royal foundry before being taken over by the Jesuits. It is a former convent and reappeared in the city of Marseille’s heritage following the French Revolution. Nowadays, the hotel owners are deciding to open the convent to guests for insight into the heritage after several years of hard effort.
The convent currently has fully equipped apartments following a complete makeover. The beautifully planned, furnished and decorated nine luxury apartments make it an amazing place to stay for tourists. A fully furnished kitchen with a microwave, a dining space, a flat-screen TV, a washing machine, and a private bathroom with a shower and hairdryer are included in each unit. Moreover, the hotel has the best places in Marseille nearby. You may dine in one of Marseille’s best restaurants or go to the creeks, the Château d’If, or the Pointe Rouge Metro beaches.
Hotel deals & lowest price guarantee
We partner with Booking.com and Hotels.com. Both booking websites offer the lowest price guarantee, so you can be certain you will always get the best deal for this hotel. If you have seen a better price elsewhere, you need to contact the booking website, and they will refund you the difference immediately. You can price match right up until the day before check-in.
Location
Recent guest reviews
Jean-francois
9 May 2023
Very good
Lovely and very amenable host. Location is excellent. Room is in a converted convent. Spacious and quiet. Excellent for couples.
TV didn't work but didn't really matter.
Howard
11 April 2023
Great location and comfortable apartment. Need to improve on details.
Location was excellent.
We were without hot water for showering for first day. We were left standing outside the property with another client for 20 minutes before someone came to the door to let us in.
Caroline
14 November 2022
I would recommend
The property is beautiful, quirky and spotlessly clean. I loved it. The location was fantastic. Everything there on your doorstep.
I found it a bit pricey. I spent 3 nights in October and it cost around £450 UK sterling or 500 euros for those 3 nights. I could have gotten a nearby hotel room a good bit cheaper. But I can't fault the apartment. It was fantastic.
Roy
2 November 2022
Unusual, quirky, quiet, spacious and comfortable aparthotel accommodation in central location.
Le Couvent is on the edge of the Panier district and a few minutes walk from the northern quay and bustle of the Vielle Port. Panier is the oldest part of town and is now very boho chic; artisan shops, super epic graffiti (in a city of already epic graffiti) and numerous small restaurants running disproportionate areas of outdoor tables. Yet our room was blissfully quiet. Breakfast in your room is very easy, with an excellent boulangerie and adjacent patisserie just down the Rue Caisserie. Other breakfast options are also available locally. On arrival, the proprietor provides a list of good local places to eat and advice on finding a decent enough supermarket for the other breakfast basics 6 minutes walk away. A taxi from (mainline train and bus station) Gare Ste Charles will get you there in 5 minutes. Having got to know the city, we got back to GSC at the end of our stay via public transport; the bus on Rue Caisserie and the metro system will get you there for under 2 Euros each.
No much. The rooms are cavernous, tastfully and very comfortably furnished and quiet. (See above.) Our particular room had a broken click-clack waste in the wash basin and a hair dryer that didn't work. But neither were dealbreakers for us. The building itself is accessed up a steep side street. Once inside, there is no lift. If hauling your case, (or yourself,) up over 50 steps to the top floor, (around 30 to the 1st floor) is not your idea of a holiday; book somewhere else. We could live with this and were rewarded with a lovely stay. Our room overlooked a kindergarten playground. Conceivably that might get a bit noisy at times. But it was half term when we were in town. We never saw a single child.
Gina
28 October 2022
would definitely stay there again, loved it
fabulous location, spacious, clean, helpful staff/management, quiet but central.
only a view of a dark alley out of only one window. We had mosquitoes at night, a net around the bed or a screen on the window would help.
Pippa
25 October 2022
Exceptional
Central. Quiet at night. Clean, comfortable, classy. Lovely conversion.
V steep steps down to bathroom. Possibly a little tricky for elderly/ infirm!
Andrew
11 October 2022
Good location, nice appartment
Good location, spacious, large bed
Nothing really
Suman
11 October 2022
Enjoyed our stay used kitchen and dishwasher to prepare a meal with easy cleanup.
Nice large apartments with amazing location to the port and museums. staff was great and provided recommendations for restaurants and nearby activities. wi-Fi is great.
Was a bit of a wait to get into the building. Check in instructions say to message when you’re there or to call but make sure to ring the doorbell for us someone was inside. We arrived around 1pm and they let us have the room early.
Househk
10 October 2022
Very pleasant stay. I would go back.
Excellent location. Very spacious room (suite 2), well appointed kitchenette, super comfy bed. Many food/where to go recommendations at check-in.
The opening of shower sliding door is very (very) narrow. The room doesn't have a lot of natural light. Some cleaning details could be improved.
Christine
6 October 2022
loved it!
really good location, very clean and well equipped
Pierre
3 October 2022
Exceptional
The place is amazingly well located - all building well renovated - the small apartment are spacious enough - well equipped. Very quiet even in the middle of the city. In addition great bed. Charming place The Lady owner is very helpful
The place is difficult to access especially with suitcase
Patricia
26 September 2022
Loved the location, the air-conditioning was much appreciated (just the right amount).
We didn't know of any breakfast, but we liked making coffee and having a small refrigerator for milk yogurt..
The stairs were a bit daunting, but we made it up them!!!
Ludovic
26 September 2022
Very good
Atypical hotel in a former covent. Beautiful design, great neighbourhood
Difficult access to the place, no lift.
Jane
13 September 2022
Living in such an historic property was special.
In the historic centre you will find magnificent, ancient buildings, atmosphere, traditional people and trades.
But also in the historic quarter you will find steps, stairs, steep cobbled streets. We knew this and it cannot be changed.
Anna
4 September 2022
Comfortable space in a great location
Excellent location, very comfortable facilities- had everything we needed. Being a former convent the building had a lot of character. Would definitely stay here if in Marseille again.
One plate in the kitchen had been put away without being cleaned before our stay- this was pretty minor though. Also would be good to warn guests before their arrival about the performance space down stairs- we got told off for talking while coming down the stairs when we didn’t know a performance or rehearsal was taking place. Again, a fairly minor thing.
Stabile
22 August 2022
Very good
the position, the kindness of the owners
the rooms are not all furnished like in the pictures
Clare
22 August 2022
Would recommend this for a stay in Marseille
The apartment was situated close to the Old Port and in the old district of Marseilles so was ideal and it felt quite safe. The staff communicated well with me about locating the apartment and were helpful with information on where to go to eat. I could have phoned them at any point during my visit if I needed anything. The apartment was very spacious and well equipped. The bed was comfy and the shower was walk-in and spacious. The linen was clean and plentiful. The apartment was no. 10 and had adequate ventilation as it was very hot outside.
The apartment was on the top floor so quite a few stairs to get the bags up and down. The air-conditioning could be improved to be more effective. There were dirty cups and glasses in the cupboard. No sponge for washing up so had to buy one. The ceiling light in the kitchen/lounge didn't work so had to use my phone light to get in. This apartment had no doors and the shower was in the bedroom so more suitable for a couple.
Jennifer
2 August 2022
Fabulous
Accommodation was very clean and comfortable.
It was a little hard to find at first but after we found its location we were very happy with the near distance to the port.
Cheryl
29 July 2022
Stunning accommodation in great location
Stunning property, very artistic, great location. Lots of restaurants within close proximity - we ate at Barrio 28 (a stones throw from the property) would recommend.
Stairs to the accommodation (didn't bother us but may others) No air-conditioning just fans so can get very hot.
Pat
28 July 2022
Exceptional
The location was excellent
Lack of air conditioning
Kristaps
27 July 2022
Fabulous
Good location, bigger room than we booked.
A few ants, nothing bad, but my wife was distraught about them.
Rosette
26 July 2022
great place, great location, spacious and clean!
great location super close to the old port, spacious and very lovely flat, very nice decoration and very clean.
the only downside is that there was no AC in our room, only a fan but it wasn’t enough to be honest, especially nowadays with all the heatwaves we’re experiencing.
Rob
4 July 2022
Beautiful accommodation created by people who care.
The ‘feel’ of Le Couvent is fabulous. it’s a credit to the owners. Beautifully restored. Elegant and yet welcoming. Fantastic location in La Panier and one of the areas most significant buildings. The shower is fabulous.
N/A
Marilyn
4 July 2022
Fabulous
The facilities, charm and location were exceptional. Well equipped, extremely clean and all amenities.
We were in a heat wave and despite having many fans it was very warm at night and a bit difficult to sleep with the heat and humidity.
Hotel facilities
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
Services
- - Private check-in/check-out
- - Strollers
Parking
- - Parking garage
Miscellaneous
- - Key access
- - Smoke alarms
- - Fire extinguishers
Reception services
- - Invoice provided
Yana
27 May 2023
Exceptional