Cours Julien / La Plaine

The creative bohemian area with cafe culture and street art. Good during the day and early evening, but safety drops after 10pm especially on weekdays. Plan accordingly.

Street art everywhere, vintage shops, record stores, specialty coffee shops - Cours Julien is the bohemian alternative scene in Marseille. Young creative types hang out here: students, musicians, expats, digital nomads working from cafes. During the day and early evening it feels welcoming and relaxed. You'll see women sitting alone at Black Bird Coffee or Bulle2Café. Wednesday and Saturday mornings have markets with organic food vendors. The LGBTQ+ community is visible here with several gay-friendly bars, making it more progressive than most French cities outside Paris. The problem starts after 10pm, especially midweek. Some people report feeling unsafe due to drunk individuals, and locals say it can feel sketchy when it empties out. The artists and shop workers live in other neighborhoods, so the energy that makes it good during the day disappears at night. If you're going out in the evening, stick to weekends when bars like La Voie Maltée stay busy until midnight, and don't walk alone. Access via Notre Dame du Mont metro.