Hidden Hideaway at the Entrance to a Charming French Fishing Village

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

Originally built roughly a century ago as a cabanon (a small cabin or fishing shed), the property has worn many lives: a modest hotel called the Roches Blanches in the 1940s, a nightclub in the 1970s and a diving club in the 1980s. Over the years it welcomed notable visitors from the maritime world, reflecting its close relationship with the sea.

“The place had the ideal backstory for us to reinvent something great and powerful,” says co-owner Greg Gassa. In 2013, after Marseille was named European Capital of Culture, Gassa and his partners felt the city’s renewed energy would inspire new concepts and a fresh coastal hospitality scene.

In 2000, Gassa and his partner Denizot, along with French interior designer Marion Mailaender, began a careful restoration that honored the site’s past as a small hotel and diving hub. They revived the diving school atmosphere and added a small lounge, refurbished guest rooms, a bar and two terraces with sweeping Mediterranean views. Reopened to guests in 2021, Tuba Club once again offers a calm escape from Marseille’s busier neighborhoods.

Today Tuba features five historic rooms and four suites, all facing the sea. The design follows a minimalist, Le Corbusier-inspired aesthetic: natural materials, driftwood accents, plywood paneling, white linens and rope lamps. In addition to the original cabanons perched on the rock, three new suites and a duplex were added to enhance the stay experience.

Throughout the property, secondhand furniture and distinctive finds from regional flea markets create a warm, lived-in feel. Examples include a canopy bed made from an old boat, reading lamps that recall submarine scopes, buoy necklaces hanging from ceilings and a chest encrusted with shells. Instead of plush bathrobes and slippers, guests are offered flippers, a snorkel and a mask—an honest nod to the sea.

Overlooking the lower terraces, the communal living room welcomes guests with a large Togo sofa and deck chairs for lounging. Mirrors reflect the blue sky while historic black-and-white photographs line the walls. Recycled-buoy lamps and a whimsical Poulpe Fiction (Pulp Fiction) coffee table, along with old clay octopus traps, add maritime character to the space.

At the rear of the salon, the kitchen serves coffee and breakfast and can host intimate private events. Tuba Club also opened a 12-seat Chef’s Table led by Chef Sylvain Roucayrol, who celebrates seafood and works with guest chefs on occasion. Chef Roucayrol adapts dishes to the catch brought in daily by local fishermen.

Signature dishes include whole grilled fish—sea bream, red tuna, yellowtail, sea bass, turbot or John Dory depending on the day—and Mediterranean lobster when available. The seafood often arrives straight from the nets to the grill, preserving freshness and flavor.

The lunch menu leans toward sharing plates with tapas-style dishes, flatbreads topped with red tuna and sandwiches shaped like a bikini—a playful nod to the seaside setting and Catalan influences in the cuisine.

This summer the Pastis Bar was added, celebrating Marseille’s anise-flavored aperitif in several variations, including the classic Pastis 51. The bar also serves cocktails such as the Sormioule—a refreshing summer drink blending vodka with thyme, rosemary, ginger beer and lime—and the Basil Boli, a gin-based cocktail with Mediterranean tonic, fresh basil and cucumber syrup named in tribute to local football heroes.

The new rooftop terrace above the rocks hosts Bikini’s restaurant and bar. The bar’s counter is fashioned from an old boat hull, while designer Marion Mailaender furnished the restaurant with turquoise tables and repurposed armchairs covered in black-and-white gingham. Bikini’s welcomes guests during the day and into the evening.

Outdoor gear and activities include yellow paddleboards and canoes for guests, Beuchat snorkeling equipment available to rent or borrow, private rooftop yoga classes, a pétanque court, guided hikes through the nearby calanques and a detoxifying hammam.

Sustainability is central to Tuba Club’s operations: plastic straws, disposable cups and individually wrapped soaps have been eliminated, and cleaning products are carefully chosen. With the addition of a villa suite, the property continues its focus on vintage upcycling—selecting secondhand furniture, commissioning custom pieces and supporting local artisans and artists.

Tuba Club operates seasonally from April to October. Double-occupancy room rates for October start at €230 per night.