Charming Hideaway at the Entrance to a French Fishing Village

At the entrance to the fishing village of Les Goudes, a 40-minute drive south of Marseille facing the Mediterranean, sits Tuba Club. Housed in a historic seaside building with a relaxed restaurant and sun-drenched terraces, it has become a beloved hideaway for locals and travelers who discover it.

Originally built about a century ago as a cabanon (a small cabin or fishing shed), the building operated as a small hotel called Les Roches Blanches in the 1940s, later became a nightclub in the 1970s and served as a diving club in the 1980s. Over the years it welcomed notable ocean figures and divers who helped shape its maritime legacy.

“The place had the ideal backstory for us to reinvent something great and powerful,” says Greg Gassa, the current co-owner. After Marseille was named European Capital of Culture in 2013, Gassa and his partners saw an opportunity to channel new energy into the city and to revive this distinctive seaside spot.

In 2000, Gassa and his partner Denis Denizot, collaborating with French interior designer Marion Mailaender, began restoring the building’s identity as a modest hotel and social seaside shelter. They gradually transformed the property into a characterful retreat: restoring the diving school vibe, adding a lounge, refurbishing guest rooms, and creating a bar and terraces with uninterrupted views of the Mediterranean. Reopened in 2021, Tuba Club has reclaimed its role as a place to disconnect from the bustle of Marseille.

Today Tuba offers five historic rooms and four suites, each with sea views. The accommodation follows a minimalist aesthetic influenced by Le Corbusier: simple, natural materials—driftwood, plywood paneling, white linens and rope lamps—combine to create understated, comfortable cabanons. In addition to the original rock-perched rooms, three new suites and a duplex were added to enhance the guest experience.

Throughout the property, recycled furniture and found objects give each space its own personality. Many pieces were sourced at flea markets in Avignon and Marseille: a canopy bed repurposed from a boat, lamps that resemble submarine scopes, buoy necklaces hanging from the ceiling and a shell-covered chest. Instead of plush bathrobes and slippers, guests find beach gear—flippers, a snorkel and a mask—ready for seaside exploration.

Overlooking the sea, the living room features a large Togo sofa and a relaxed layout that invites lingering. Mirrors reflect the bright sky, historic black-and-white photographs line the walls, deck chairs and recycled-buoy lamps add charm, and quirky accents such as a “Poulpe Fiction” coffee table and old clay octopus traps reinforce the nautical character.

At the back of the salon, a discreet kitchen serves coffee, breakfast and can host small private events. Tuba also launched a 12-guest Chef’s Table led by chef Sylvain Roucayrol, who collaborates with guest chefs on occasion. Rooted in a passion for seafood, Roucayrol builds menus around what local and regional fishermen bring in, celebrating freshness and seasonality.

Signature dishes include whole barbecued fish—sea bream, red tuna, yellowtail, sea bass, turbot or John Dory—and Mediterranean lobster, all sourced directly from nearby fishing boats and simply grilled to highlight their flavor.

For lunch, Roucayrol draws on his Catalan roots with a sharing-focused menu: tapas-style plates, sandwiches shaped like a bikini and flatbreads topped with red tuna are among the offerings designed for convivial dining.

This summer Tuba introduced a Pastis Bar, featuring Marseille’s classic anise-flavored aperitif in several variations, including the traditional Pastis 51. The bar also serves creative cocktails such as the Sormioule—vodka blended with thyme, rosemary, ginger beer and lime—and the Basil Boli, a gin-based drink with Mediterranean tonic, fresh basil and cucumber syrup inspired by local football culture.

The new rooftop terrace above the rocks is home to Bikini’s, a restaurant and bar. The bar counter was fashioned from an old boat hull, and Marion Mailaender designed the restaurant with turquoise tables and armchairs reclaimed from a former beach venue, updated with a black-and-white gingham motif. Bikini’s welcomes guests throughout the day and into the evening.

Guests can borrow or rent Tuba’s yellow paddleboards and canoes, and Beuchat snorkeling gear is available to rent, buy or borrow. Private rooftop yoga classes, a pétanque court, guided hikes in the nearby calanques and a detoxifying hammam add to the list of activities for relaxation and exploration.

Committed to sustainability, Tuba Club has eliminated plastic straws, disposable cups and individually wrapped soaps, and avoids cleaning products with problematic compositions. With the opening of the villa suite, the property continues its dedication to upcycling vintage furniture, favoring second-hand pieces, custom-made construction and partnerships with local artisans and artists.

Tuba Club is open from April to October. Double-occupancy room rates for October begin at €230 per night.