Aix-en-Provence
Run by committed oenophiles Francois and Vincent, this trove of rare and delightful bottles aims to cover the many French styles and terroirs, paying…
Must-see shopping in Bouches-du-Rhône
Aix-en-Provence
No spot in Aix revs up your taste buds more than the city’s premier food market, where trestle tables groan each morning under the weight of marinated…
Marseille
Pick up a set of handmade boules (complete with matching carry bag), plus plenty of other souvenirs of France’s iconic game. There’s also an indoor court…
Aix-en-Provence
Bibliophiles rejoice: this brilliant Anglophile bookshop has a huge selection of English-language books for sale (among works in other languages) and a…
Bouches-du-Rhône
Among France’s top chocolatiers, using Provençal herbs and plants – lavender, rosemary, violet and thyme – with unexpected flavours such as Earl Grey.
Marseille
Every Wednesday morning the farmers market along cours Julien squawks with life, colour and accordion music as traders flog mounds of organic vegetables,…
Marseille
If you only have time to visit one shop in Marseille, make it this one. Run by the same family since 1827, France’s oldest hardware store remains a one…
Marseille
Opened in 1781, this is the oldest bakery in Marseille; it's been passed down between three families, and it still uses the original 18th-century oven. It…
Marseille
This artisanal beer shop sells a top notch selection of ales, IPAs, lagers, stouts and the like from across France as well as Canada, Italy, the UK, the…
Marseille
Quirky and stylish homewares, kids' toys, patisseries, fine chocolate and even a small contemporary art gallery: there's a surprising variety of delights…
Marseille
Owned by a designer and an architect, Unity has plenty of suitcase-fillers for the modern aesthete. Painted skateboards by Boom-Art, Pantone coffee mugs,…
Marseille
Not your ordinary hair salon, Cut & Mix multitasks as a record store, bookshop and event space. Sociable owners Floriane and Christophe even host…
Marseille
Another of Marseille’s fine soap sellers, selling unusual perfumes like chocolate, verveine and aniseed.
Marseille
Soap-making in Marseille has been traced by some to the 14th century, but much of the stuff for sale at the city’s markets is made elsewhere. That’s not…
Bouches-du-Rhône
A delectable grocery and fine food emporium, made out to resemble a traditional village shop, and owned by the same people who run the Moulin à Huile du…
Marseille
Head to the boutique of Santons Marcel Carbonel (within the Musée du Santon) for tiny kiln-fired figures – or santons (from santoùn, meaning ‘little saint…
Bouches-du-Rhône
Aside from other prizes from the day's catch, Poissonnerie du Golfe is the place for clam-like tellines. Buy a kilo or so of the pink nail-sized bivalves,…
Marseille
As the street-art daubed walls of this concept store and gallery suggest, it showcases the work of local underground artists. As well as posters by eBoy…
Aix-en-Provence
This pretty, orderly little shop sells delicious artisanal jams – including unexpected flavours like gooseberry, lavender, strawberries in champagne and…
Bouches-du-Rhône
This cooperative moulin (mill) in Maussane-les-Alpilles produces 200,000L of silken Vallée des Baux-de-Provence AOC oil per year – usually sold out by mid…
Bouches-du-Rhône
Brother-and-sister-run olive-oil mill located 4.5km southwest of St-Rémy, with tastings and homemade tapenade, fruit juice and jam.
Marseille
An adopted Marseillaise, Virginie Monroe creates delicate, affordable necklaces, earrings, brooches and bracelets from bronze, gems, enamel and glass.
Bouches-du-Rhône
A hybrid boutique-gallery showcases fashion, jewellery, shoes, furniture and more by local designers. It also hosts Provençal art exhibits.
Bouches-du-Rhône
At Mouriès, 6km southeast of Maussane, pop in for a tasting of exceptional oils milled at Moulin Coopératif.
Bouches-du-Rhône
Thrilling cheese shop with a 12th-century ripening cellar and cheese and charcuterie plates.
Marseille
Fresh food, clothing, cheap gadgets and more on a large square. On Friday it’s flowers.
Bouches-du-Rhône
Biscuits made using ancient Roman, Renaissance, alpine and Arlésien recipes.
Marseille
From bold, graphic necklaces to dainty leaf-shaped earrings and bracelets, all of the metal and leather creations from this pretty petite boutique are…
Aix-en-Provence
This calissonnier specialises in Aix’s sweetest treat: small, diamond-shaped chewy calissons, made of almond meal, citrus peel and wafer. They were first…
Marseille
A bit touristy, perhaps, but if you’re keen to sample some of 75 different varieties of Provence’s favourite aperitif – the aniseed-flavoured firewater…
Pays d’Aix
Rampal-Latour's century-old factory recalls the time when soap-making was big business in Salon (now the real manufacturing is done elsewhere, on modern…
Bouches-du-Rhône
In a prime position just back from the quai, Poissonerie du Port sells plats aux coquillages (shellfish platters), red mullet, racasse or whatever's been…
Marseille
For cosmetics and artisanal soap, au naturel or scented with olive oil, fig or wilder Provençal fragrances, hit this iconic savon de Marseille (Marseille…
Marseille
Baker José Orsoni specialises in making the city’s signature biscuits, the orange-perfumed navettes de Marseille, as well as macarons and canistrelli …
Marseille
This vast mid-19th century complex of shipping warehouses, derelict by the 1990s, has been redeveloped and now includes shops, boutiques and galleries.
Marseille
Located one block south of La Canebière, this multicultural market has around 30 stalls selling fruit, veggies, fish and dried goods.
Marseille
A true trove of maps – whether it's local plans you need, or something more far-flung.
