Les Trois Forts

The story

Les Trois Forts, Marseille – Modern Provençal Cuisine by Chef Sylvain Touati

A Chef’s Return to his Roots

After honing his skills in several starred kitchens, Sylvain Touati returned to his native Marseille—specifically the Endoume neighborhood he calls home. At Les Trois Forts, the restaurant within the Sofitel Marseille Vieux Port, he crafts a Modern Cuisine that is deeply anchored in Provençal tradition. For Touati, “cooking is a link between people, a way of life. When people are sitting around a table, the moment is suspended.” That philosophy translates into a menu that celebrates the best of the region, from the sea to the land.

The Table Overlooking the Vieux Port

Perched above the Old Port, Les Trois Forts offers a setting that matches the precision of the cooking. The dining room is elegant, with large windows framing the iconic view of the forts that give the restaurant its name. It is a place where guests gather around what the chef calls the “Grande Provence”—a culinary expression of the region’s bounty, prepared with modern technique and respect for the ingredient.

A Menu of the Season

The menu changes weekly, driven by market availability and the chef’s inspiration. Recent offerings include Camargue oysters poached in sea water with watercress cream and vanilla shallots, pan-fried duck liver with ginger broth and chestnut honey-glazed turnip, and Mediterranean red mullet with fennel and citrus. Meat dishes feature farmhouse veal chop with a winter mushroom tart, and lamb roasted with wild thyme. A tasting menu in four moments allows diners to experience the full arc of Touati’s vision, with optional wine pairings selected from the best regional producers.

Even the vegetables receive the same care: a winter vegetable pie with candied celery, pear, and black truffle, served with a beetroot jus, is a standout. The cheese selection comes from artisan affineur Lemarié, with seasonal condiments.

A Michelin-Recommended Address

It is this consistent quality and clarity of purpose that earned Les Trois Forts a Michelin recommendation. The restaurant is a destination not just for hotel guests, but for anyone seeking an authentic taste of modern Marseille. The cuisine is confident, the ingredients local, and the welcome genuine.