Fodor's Expert Review Balady

Expressive of the melting pot that is Marseille, this bakery and lunch counter (by the same team behind the Egyptian restaurant La Cantine de Nour) presents a delicious melange of Mediterranean flavors and fragrances that extends from the Maghreb to the Middle East. Stone walls, mismatched chairs, copper pots, and a long marble counter brimming with delights create an atmosphere as irresistible as the food: tender feetir (spinach galette); manaisch bread glistening with olive oil and flecked with tomatoes, coriander, thyme, and onions; fresh salads; and a tantalizing selection of homemade breads and pastries, many hot from the oven. Come for a homemade fruit juice, Turkish coffee, or classic mint tea and a pastry, then stay for lunch. Open all day, it's the perfect spot to watch the world go by at a sidewalk table.