The story
La Mercerie is the first permanent restaurant of a trio who made their name with nomadic pop-ups. Chef Harry Cummins, a Londoner who fell for France, trained alongside Anthony Demetre in London and Gregory Marchand at Frenchie in Paris before founding The Paris Popup with Laura Vidal in 2012. Julia Mitton later joined, and together they opened La Mercerie in Marseille in 2019. The restaurant quickly earned recognition: the World Restaurant Awards named it a Best Newcomer, and Michelin now includes it among its Recommended addresses.
Cummins’ cooking is rooted in a relentless search for the finest seasonal produce. The midday menu offers a choice of two or three courses (€36–€39) or a single plate (€28), providing an accessible introduction to his style. In the evening, the “Feed Me” menu is a five-course surprise built around market availability (€68). A “Wine Me” pairing (€45) adds half glasses selected by the team, overseen by Laura Vidal, named Best Sommelier of the Year 2020 by Gault&Millau. The wine list favours living wines from passionate, environmentally conscious growers, with a changing selection by the glass. Truffle supplements appear when the season allows.
La Mercerie is designed for all occasions. At the counter, you sit directly in front of the chefs, able to watch and chat. The terrace on Cours Saint Louis catches the sun and the neighbourhood’s lively pulse. The dining room, with a view of the open kitchen, offers a calmer, convivial setting. The atmosphere is relaxed, unpretentious, and welcoming – a place where you can come alone, with a partner, or in a group. Modern Cuisine, in its truest sense, is served here: precise, ingredient-led, and driven by curiosity earned from years of cooking across the world.
Recognition
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