Martigues has its canals, its Ile quarter, its waterside terraces. All pleasant enough. But if you want a seaside restaurant near Martigues with an actual ocean view, you need to drive fifteen minutes to the Cote Bleue. Between Sausset-les-Pins and Carry-le-Rouet, the coast is lined with terraces that face the open Mediterranean.
The Cote Bleue: 15 minutes from Martigues via the coastal road
When staying in or visiting Martigues, the Ile quarter's colourful lanes and canals are tempting for dinner. But the Cote Bleue coastline, a fifteen-minute drive along the D5, delivers what Martigues itself cannot: terraces perched above sandy shores, facing the open sea, with the Mediterranean filling the foreground.
The drive from Martigues follows the Etang de Berre before reaching the coast. Past Carro and La Couronne, the landscape is completely different. Cote Bleue calanques replace the flat lagoon shores, maritime pines crowd the roadside. Sausset-les-Pins is the first fishing port where seafront restaurants line the Avenue Jules Ferry.
Sea-facing terraces: the Cote Bleue advantage for Martigues locals
The difference between a Cote Bleue restaurant and one in Martigues comes down to what you see from your table. In Martigues, you look at canals or the Etang de Berre. On the Cote Bleue, nothing stands between you and the horizon. The air smells of salt, the light hits harder, the sunset goes straight into the water.
In Sausset-les-Pins, Le Spot seats 78 guests on a terrace overlooking the harbour and the sea. The atmosphere is that of a relaxed brasserie. Families from Martigues gather on Saturday lunch, couples return for weekday evening aperitifs. The restaurant opens at 8am and serves until 11pm, making it one of the few in the area covering the full day.
Plancha-grilled fish and seafood: the draw from Martigues
Martigues has its own seafood restaurants. Tables in the Ile quarter serve bouillabaisse and grilled fish. But plancha cooking, as practised on the Cote Bleue, delivers a different texture: fish is seared at very high heat for a few minutes, creating a golden crust while keeping the flesh tender inside.
At Le Spot, fish and seafood arrive from local fishermen. The whole plancha-grilled sea bream (27EUR), whole sea bass (26EUR) and the octopus-cuttlefish-prawn trio in parsley sauce (36EUR) are among the most ordered dishes. Razor clams on the plancha (13EUR for 12), garlic-parsley tellines (13.50EUR) and cuttlefish in parsley sauce (13EUR) round out a firmly Mediterranean menu.
Oysters are another staple for Martigues residents heading to the Cote Bleue. The 3-oyster formula with a glass of wine at 10EUR works well as an aperitif, while the 12-oyster platter at 21EUR makes a generous starter.
Seaside brunch from Martigues
Seaside brunch was not a thing on the Cote Bleue ten years ago. Now it is part of the local routine. From Martigues, families drive the D5 on Sunday mornings to Sausset-les-Pins, eat on a terrace, then walk along the harbour.
Le Spot serves brunch Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 11am. Salted-caramel or Nutella pancakes (11EUR for 3), avocado toast with cured ham and guacamole (17EUR), and Eggs McSpot with bacon and cheese (12EUR) are the most popular choices. Waffles (8EUR) or salted-caramel French toast (8EUR) suit lighter appetites. Juices are squeezed to order (5EUR for one fruit, 6EUR for two).
Sunset cocktails: another reason to leave Martigues for the evening
The sea-facing aperitif is something of a local sport on the Cote Bleue. Martigues residents who know the area come for the sunset. From the terraces of Sausset-les-Pins, it drops into the Mediterranean. In Martigues, the canals face a different direction and the sun disappears behind rooftops.
Le Spot's cocktail and spritz bar does most of its business at this hour. Saint-Germain Spritz (13EUR), Hugo Spritz (13EUR), classic Aperol Spritz (11EUR) sell the most on the terrace. For cocktails, the classic mojito (9.50EUR) and fruit mojito with strawberry, raspberry or passion fruit (12EUR) are the steady sellers. Those who skip alcohol can order virgin mojitos or coladas at 7EUR.
From the Ile quarter to Sausset harbour: a food-lover's route from Martigues
The most scenic drive from Martigues passes through Carro and La Couronne. Leaving central Martigues via the D49 then the D5, you first cross Carro, a former fishing village now prized for its waterside fish restaurants. Some Martigues residents stop there for an aperitif before continuing to Sausset-les-Pins.
La Couronne, with its beach and limestone cliffs, marks the transition between the Etang de Berre and the open sea. From there, the road follows the shore to Sausset-les-Pins, where the harbour and restaurant terraces welcome visitors. The full journey from the Ile quarter takes about fifteen minutes by car, twenty along the coast road.
Set menus and budget: seaside dining without overspending
Prices on the Cote Bleue tend to be more reasonable than at the tourist-heavy spots in Martigues. At Le Spot, the 25EUR weekday lunch formula includes a glass of wine, the daily special, dessert and coffee. That kind of deal at a restaurant with a sea-view terrace is not easy to find.
For dinner, figure 30EUR to 45EUR per person with starter, main, dessert and a glass of wine. The menu runs from chicken Caesar salad (21EUR) to Asian-style beef tartare (26EUR), through Le Burger du Spot (24EUR with chips and salad), clam linguine (26EUR) and pastis-flambeed prawn linguine (28EUR). The 300g rib-eye with Bearnaise at 28EUR is the most ordered steak. The full menu is online.
Practical information for visitors from Martigues
Journey: Martigues centre (Ile quarter) to Sausset-les-Pins: 15 minutes via the D5, 20 minutes via the coast road (D49 through Carro/La Couronne). Free parking in Sausset-les-Pins.
Hours: Le Spot is open daily from 8am to 11pm. Brunch Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 11am. Set menu at weekday lunchtime.
Booking: recommended at weekends and in summer (June-September). Call +33 4 42 87 35 77 or use the online contact form.
Our Cote Bleue restaurant guide covers more addresses between Marseille and Martigues. For tourist information about Martigues itself, the Martigues tourism office lists events and neighbourhoods to visit.