All in sip

community supported beer

When the desire to grow hops was thwarted by a lack of land, Part Faite’s owners, Gonzalo and Laure, came up with a clever plan. They gave seedlings to their neighbors, forty-seven to be exact, to cultivate them in their gardens and on their balconies in the Urban Hops Marseille Project. The fruits of these amateur growers’ labor was bottled as BHUM, the Bière Houblon Urbaine Marseille. It took a village, á la Hillary Clinton, to make this beer. As is fitting for this organic microbrewery that is centered on community.

le café throwback

Word of mouth is my favorite way of finding out about a new spot—a personal recommendation beats any guidebook. When said words come from la bouche of Marseille’s oldest, and best, coffee roaster, André Luciani, you know that a fine cup of café is bound to be had. And Monsieur Madame pours it in one of the most delightful settings.

a craft cocktail oasis

For a culture centered on epicurean enjoyment, the French have been slow to the cocktail game outside of Paris. Some say it’s because booze isn’t a traditional tipple. The lack of an essential ingredient, ice, is a factor, and with all that good wine, can you blame them? Others lament that the sugary concoctions of the 90’s (see: Sex On The Beach) have left a bad taste in France's mouth. Luckily, there's nothing but palate pleasers at Gaspard. 

good vibes, great coffee

In French, le café refers to both the drink and the place where you sip it. While the French excel at latter--it is as intrinsic to the country as bread with every meal-- the beverage itself is surprisingly awful for the gastronomically inclined Gauls. Luckily, the third wave of coffee and its small batch, indie goodness has hit France. In Marseille, that wave has crashed with Coogee.