A culinary journey to Martigues
Take advantage of a stopover in Martigues to treat yourself to a real culinary journey! During a romantic dinner at a restaurant, a stroll through the aisles of the Provençal markets or in search of a well-deserved gourmet break... Taste local flavors that are as exquisite as they are surprising. We reveal our advice and good tips for trying the best addresses in La Venise Provençale.
Multifaceted, Martigues is sought after both for the quality of its local fishing and for its local products with sweet and original flavors. Take a seat and imagine yourself... Sitting on the terrace at the water's edge under perfect sunshine, the salty smell of your plate titillating your nostrils. In Martigues, it is not uncommon to see dishes based on fish - and especially bottargue. A must-have to savor, summer and winter alike.
Poutargue, Martégal caviar
Prized in the world of gastronomy, Poutargue is an exceptional product. It is a refined dish with an extremely iodized taste. Its taste is all the more appreciable for our palate when we savor it in thin strips, grated or in shavings. But actually, why is it such a popular product in Martigues? Because the pockets of Poutargue are fished in the Martigues canal!
Poutargue is made in one of the last Calen in France, here on the banks of Martigues. No fuss, it's a small fishermen's hut which still practices traditional fishing with boats and nets. Fishermen catch mullets during their summer migration from the Etang de Berre to the Mediterranean Sea. And luckily, that’s precisely when the female mullets have their pockets full of eggs. The pockets are cleaned, immersed in salt water, flattened then dried... Ready to be enjoyed.
Where can you eat Poutargue in Martigues?
- If you are a lover of good cuisine, you can enjoy butter toast and Boutargue pasta in the restaurants of the Island district: the Le Miroir restaurant is located in the heart of the Miroir aux Oiseaux, offering a picturesque and enchanting setting. The restaurant La Cocotte de l'Île located on Place de la Libération promises a moment of relaxation and delicacies. On the other side of the majestic La Madeleine church, L'endroit brasserie offers dishes that are both simple and good.
- If you like being behind the stove, you can buy Poutargue directly from the source, at Calen de Martigues (La Halle car park). Without fixed times, you just have to go there directly.
→ We give you all our advice and good tips for properly preparing your Boutargue.
Taste exploration at local markets
It is at the fish market on the Port of Carro (every morning) that you can buy the best fish. From 8:30 a.m., the sailors who have gone fishing return to the port to sell their catch directly on the market stalls. Sea bream, sea bass and tuna are offered depending on the catch of the day. The fishermen also supply the restaurants of Martigues, including those present in the port of Carro. The opportunity to discover all the specialties such as the famous octopus with Aïoli de Dora, at La Caravelle.
Strolling through the aisles of the Provençal markets will give you a taste of the country. Olives, spices, olive oil and sausages will tickle the desire to continue this taste exploration. It is at the Martigues producers' market (from April to October) that you can taste the bushes of Rove de Bernard, the melons and tomatoes fresh from the ground and the special breads made with organic flour from our artisan baker from Saint -Julien-les-Martigues.
Our recommendations
- We advise you to go to the fish market first thing in the morning or risk seeing the stalls empty. The quantity of fish and breeds exhibited depend on the catch of the day. If you do not have the opportunity to go to Carro, we advise you to visit La Criée de Martigues. Close to the city center, La Criée also sells fresh fish from local fishing.
- It is in Marseille that you can taste the best bouillabaisses. However, Martigues and the Côte Bleue are not left out. Pistou soup, grilled fish and bouride will take you on a journey. The La Caravelle restaurant is one of the most unusual places in Martigues. Located on the Mediterranean Sea, La Caravelle is timeless. With a warm welcome and home cooking, you can order a real fisherman's plate with an excellent soup accompanied by monkfish tail, mussels, prawns and potatoes.
- If producers offer limited quantities on the markets, do not hesitate to go directly to them. Go to the Saint-Julien farm to visit a goat breeder to taste delicious goat cheeses. Fresh cheeses, ash cheeses, elderflower yogurt, bottle of milk, egg and bush creams... You will be won over.
Gastronomic immersion in the heart of nature
For a totally immersive experience, we invite you to the Aïoli Caganis farm located in the heart of the Saint-Pierre-les-Martigues plain. Total change of scenery! In addition to being able to buy fruits and vegetables locally, and using organic farming, Fanny and Christophe have made it a warm and welcoming place. Shade sails, picnic tables and bales of hay are required. As a couple or with friends, chef Julien will concoct a complete menu from starter to dessert. The particularity ? The daily menu also depends on the harvest of the day. Here, nature is king. From the field to the plate, the seasonal dishes parade before your eyes in a perfectly mastered presentation. The products are fresh, finely cooked and the flavors have original notes.
Our good advice
The Ô Ragoustiero farm restaurant welcomes you on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday evenings by reservation. The farm also hosts a producers' village (the first Saturday of the month - from April to September) with the possibility of tasting the farm's dishes at lunchtime.Want to choose other meals from the producer?
- During the national event “Salon à la ferme”, you can have lunch at the Saint-Julien-les-Martigues farm. Cooked by a chef for the occasion, you can taste the products picked on site (chickpea salad, kid stew, egg cream, etc.). And what's more, the farm is affiliated with the Paysan & Co association, you can also enjoy organic artisanal bread as well as wine from Thierry Seren, peasant baker.
- As part of the Vine and Wine Festival, each year the cooperative cellar of Saint-Julien-les-Martigues offers you a walk in the vineyards followed by a winegrower's meal which is always a great success.
Local specialties to take home
We bet you'll want to introduce our local products to your friends and family? Go to the Martigues Tourist and Leisure Office shop where you can discover a selection. Depending on the season, you can buy pots of lavender, rosemary or garrigue honey. At Christmas, you can extend the experience by offering nougat, crunchies and marshmallows made with honey. You can also buy bottles of wine produced by the Saint-Julien-les-Martigues wine cellar. Rosé, red or white, certain vintages have been rewarded at the Paris International Agricultural Show and at the Aix-en-Provence Fair.
In the streets of Martigues, we advise you to stop at the artisan chocolatier Les Perles de l'étang for a sweet break. There you will find the two most delicious specialties of Martigues: Tomettes made with almonds, milk chocolate and anise; and the Perles de l'étang made with candied cherries, alcohol and almond paste dipped in chocolate. A few meters from the shop, you can sit on the terrace of master ice cream maker Gelateria Arnaldo. From classic perfumes to original flavors, this artisan from Italy knows how to put his personal touch to give La Venise Provençale its full meaning.
Tell me more
- The products in our store are carefully chosen to favor local players. This is how you can buy honeys from Georges (a beekeeper from Martigues), fruit juices and wines from the Saint-Julien-les-Martigues wine cellar and craft beers from the Kataclysm microbrewery located just a few meters away. of the. Consult the list of local products, currently available at the Martigues Tourist Office shop.
- For 30 years, Jean-Bernard Poitevin has been working with local products around chocolate and small sweets. Marshmallow bears, crispy balls, spreads, bars and caramels... So many reasons to treat yourself without feeling guilty.
- Marco participated in the Gelato Festival World Master in 2024, one of the most prestigious ice cream competitions in the world. He thus represented Martigues with the perfume “Mariage de vins”, a sorbet with Sorrento walnuts, candied pears, pear crumble and Provence honey.
Live culinary experiences in Martigues
Take advantage of your visit to Martigues to take part in our major annual events around taste traditions. In June, it is in Carro that the Festival Committee invites you to share a brasucade, mussels cooked over a wood fire. The mussels are incorporated into a marinade prepared and kept secret by the elders. The little mussel festival is a unique event in the Southern region. It is also labeled Marseille Provence Gastronomy (MPG). From the month of July, it is in the streets of the city center that you can enjoy long tables under the plane trees to savor grilled sardines, grilled fish and other seafood specialties. A real treat ! Finally, it is with great pleasure that tourists and locals welcome Fisheries Week each year in August. For 4 days, the fishermen go to sea and return to port only in the evening to honor the famous fish weigh-in. The party continues on the port with a giant tuna playing with music.
→ Discover the events scheduled during your visit to Martigues in our Agenda.