Hôtel Amista, located in the heart of Marseille’s vibrant Noailles district, is a charming boutique property that breathes new life into a historic 19th-century building. Formerly known as the Hôtel Saint-Louis, it was completely reimagined by the Ginto hotel group. The name “Amista” translates to “friendship” in Provençal, reflecting the warm, welcoming spirit the hotel strives to provide every guest.
The hotel’s architecture is a local landmark in itself, featuring a striking facade adorned with ornate lion heads, gargoyles, and classic wrought-iron balconies. Inside, the design—curated by Dorothée Delaye—blends authentic Provençal character with a refined, retro aesthetic. Think of it as an upscale family home, filled with carefully selected decorative pieces and an atmosphere that feels both intimate and stylish.
The hotel is also home to Louison, a lively bistro-style restaurant and bar. With an interior inspired by vintage apothecary counters, it serves as a cozy spot for locals and travelers to meet. It’s the perfect place to grab a drink or a meal after a day of exploring the nearby sights.
Its location is unbeatable for those wanting to experience the real Marseille. You are just steps away from the iconic Vieux-Port (Old Port) and the bustling, historic Canebière. From this central base, you can easily walk to the medieval crypts of the Abbey of Saint-Victor or catch a boat to discover the breathtaking Calanques National Park, making it an ideal starting point for any Mediterranean adventure.
Expert reviews
“The stuccoed façade, wrought-iron balconies and ‘mini-museum’ of this charming hotel pay homage to its 19th-century origins. Each of the rooms is unique – from the ‘Kenya’ (dedicated to Satao, a Kenyan elephant killed by poachers in 2014) to the ‘Yorkshire’, inspired by an English cottage – and a few have little balconies.”
What guests liked
- Friendly staff
- Great location
- Free Wifi
- Great breakfast
Location
Recent guest reviews
27 April 2026
Verify the location and stay elsewhere
After spending well over an hour driving down narrow streets we could not find Hotel Amista using both the cars navigation and both our phones.
No one answered our calls and when we attempted to cancel the stay trough Bookings it was denied.
27 March 2026
A charming and welcoming hotel close to the old port.
Great location, 10 minutes walk from the rail station and close to the old port.
It's a very pretty hotel (rooms and common parts), the bedroom was very comfortable and the staff were just so nice ...
very friendly and welcoming and nothing was too much trouble.
The bathroom, whilst beautifully appointed and decorated, was very small.
Street noise just seemed to go on all night.
6 March 2026
Attentive Staff, Healthy Breakfasts Cooked to Order, Beautiful Design
Staff are wonderful here and really care about guests’ comfort. My room was upgraded when I arrived and the staff left a handwritten note welcoming me to the hotel. The room was beautifully designed and extremely comfortable—perfect for a romantic getaway or just a relaxing stay. The bar was lovely for a quick dinner and breakfast was high quality and actually healthy and nourishing. Location was walkable near sights and also not too loud. This was a 10/10 experience for me.
This place was great and I hope to stay again when I return to Marseille.
24 February 2026
Charming boutique hotel.
Charming great harbor location. Rooms nicely decorated and comfortable. Excellent staff and breakfast
Limited facilities
12 January 2026
Great couple days in Marseilles
The neighborhood is lively, but not loud. Everything is close. The staff were wonderful and helpful
9 January 2026
Fantastic - comfortable, friendly, central, super staff
Recently renovated hotel - very comfortable bed and a great shower. Quiet rooms. Super helpful staff.
No complaints
9 January 2026
I hope to come and stay longer. Such friendly and helpful staff!
All staff were just absolutely lovely, friendly, helpful!
Nothing
3 January 2026
Great little hotel. I would highly recommend
Great location, lovely staff.
Very clean and very comfy bed with lovely buttery sheets!
Overhead lighting in bedroom too bright.
15 December 2025
Beautiful Horel in Marseille
Hotel decorated beautifully. Staff friendly at reception and located centrally in Marseille. There is a lift which is helpful if you have cases.
When we started there was work being done on the stair case, sometimes with loud drilling and men sat on the stairs all day doing the repairs. I don’t think the hotel should have had the floors open until the guest areas were complete. The price was not reduced due to this inconvenience.
Also no mini fridges in the room to keep water cold.
14 December 2025
Quaint hotel, well located to Vieux Port.
Beautifully decorated and clean. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the Bistrot attached to the hotel was very, very good.
It was a bit of a challenge to reach by car, but we were able to be dropped off and picked up only about 100m away.
3 December 2025
A very nice weekend. I would return.
Staff was extremely pleasant and helpful. Rooms were clean. Hotel is well situated near the Vieux Port but away from the busier crowds. I found it quiet and comfortable
Rooms are small but that’s rather par for the course here.
12 October 2025
Beautiful hotel in a great location!
We had the most magical stay at Hotel Amista! The staff were so friendly and welcoming, it was our honeymoon and they left us a little bottle of champagne to enjoy which was a wonderful surprise. They also suggested a delicious restaurant for us to try on our last night. The room was comfy and decorated beautifully! Will absolutely stay again when next in Marseille!
11 October 2025
This will be a lovely hotel when teething problems are over
The hotel is newly refurbished and the room was lovely. The balcony was small and we did not sit on it but it was good to be able to open the balcony door. the staff were attentive and kind. The breakfast which was served in the cafe next door was tasty and offered freshly cooked eggs each day. It was easy to get to the old port from the hotel.
Unfortunately, there were lots of problems with the lift and as we were on the fourth floor it was crucial. Someone had to come most days to repair it and it usually got done fairly quickly. Water leaked under the shower door but I expect this could be rectified. Workmen were still working on the stairs
9 October 2025
Very chilled and pleasant
Location design staff and excellent breakfast
26 September 2025
I'd go back to Marseille just for this hotel
The breakfast was delicious and very reasonable! The hotel is in a great location, walking distance to some historic sites like the old port, close to Panier and 30 minutes to the beach! The staff were truly the highlight tho, so warm and friendly and always ready to help and offer recommendations.
We loved it all! The hotel staff were fantastic and dealt with any hiccups expertly and promptly. No complaints!
20 September 2025
Super nice, modern and tasteful hotel in a great location.
Very modern and tasteful rooms, very spacious, very nice staff, great locations
The price is a little high for one night also considering there was a lot of construction going on and we always had to push past workers which felt uncomfortable.
19 September 2025
It’s the opposite of a corporate business hotel, it simply beautiful.
Beautifully designed rooms with lovely details and wooden floors. Everything has been sensitively considered. Loved the Smeg kettle and tea mugs. Felt like home. Staff were so helpful. Delicious breakfast. Highly recommended.
Due to construction nearby, taxis didn’t want to pick up or drop off close to the hotel.
Hotel facilities
Food & Drink
- - Restaurant
- - Bar
- - Breakfast in the room
- - Special diet menus (on request)
- - Wine/champagne (additional charge)
- - Coffee house on site
Services
- - 24-hour front desk
- - Luggage storage
- - Concierge service
- - Daily housekeeping
- - Pet basket
- - Pet bowls
Outdoors
- - Terrace
- - Sun terrace
- - Outdoor furniture
General
- - Non-smoking rooms
- - Family rooms
- - Lift
- - Safety deposit box
- - Soundproof rooms
- - Heating
- - Non-smoking throughout
- - Air conditioning
Miscellaneous
- - 24-hour security
- - Key card access
- - Security alarm
- - Smoke alarms
- - CCTV in common areas
- - CCTV outside property
- - Fire extinguishers
Reception services
- - Invoice provided

More photos

6 June 2026
Great location, nice staff but the bar closes too early