Guided tour · 2.5 hours
Lille: Scavenger hunt and beer tasting in Old Lille
Join a beer-themed scavenger hunt in Old Lille. Your game includes discovering the city, the history of Lille beer, and tastings!
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Lille sits closer to Ghent than to Paris, and it eats that way. The city's default dining room is the estaminet, a Flemish tavern with hop garlands over the bar, enamel signs on the walls and a menu built on carbonade flamande, potjevleesch, welsh and chicons. Beer does the work wine does elsewhere: farmhouse bieres de garde from the surrounding countryside, house pours from Celestin in Vieux-Lille and Le Singe Savant in Moulins. Maroilles turns up everywhere, melted over chicken, folded into flamiche, cut with a glass of genievre. On Sunday morning the city walks to Wazemmes, where the stalls fill Place Nouvelle Aventure. On the first weekend of September the Braderie takes the streets and restaurants pile mussel shells outside their doors to compete for the tallest heap. Alongside all that, a young bistronomic scene has grown up around Bloempot and Le Braque, cooking Flanders produce with tweezers rather than a stew pot.
Peak seasonSeptember to November, when mussel season peaks and the Braderie fills the streets, plus...
Dining hoursLunch 12:00-14:00, dinner 19:00-22:00
TippingService is included by law
Food festivals coming up in Lille
All Lille food festivalsBook food experiences in Lille
Guided tour · 3 hours
Sunday Food Tour, Discovering Lille
A gourmet tour of 6 spots to discover Lille! Enjoy small portions from Vieux Lille's best savory and sweet spots. Fun facts and good vibes with our fantastic guides!
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Guided tour · 2 hours
Lille Beer Tour
A guided zythological walk that will take you from specialized bars and wine merchants to micro-breweries to discover the know-how and the brewing revival that is shak...
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Signature dishes in Lille
The plates that define eating in Lille.
Carbonade flamande
Beef braised slowly in dark northern beer, sweetened with brown sugar and thickened by a slice of mustarded pain d'épices dropped into the pot. Served with frites.
Where Chez Raoul Estaminet, Estaminet Au Soyeux, Estaminet La Vieille France, La Ducasse, Le Barbu d'Anvers, Le Porthos
Where to eat Carbonade flamande in Lille →Potjevleesch
Four white meats set cold in a lightly vinegared jelly and eaten straight from the pot with hot frites, which melt the jelly into a sauce as you go.
Where Estaminet Au Soyeux, La Petite Table, L'Estaminet du Welsh, Au Georges V, Le Porthos
Where to eat Potjevleesch in Lille →Welsh
Cheddar melted down in beer and poured over toast spread with mustard and a slice of ham, then browned hard under the grill and buried under frites.
Where L'Estaminet du Welsh, Au Georges V, La Ducasse, Estaminet Chez Ronny, Le Barbier qui Fume (Place Rihour), Les Compagnons de la Grappe
Where to eat Welsh in Lille →Moules-frites
Mussels steamed open in white wine, shallot, parsley and butter, served in the pot with a paper cone of frites kept separately so they stay crisp.
Where Aux Moules de Lille, Brasserie La Chicorée, Le Lys
Where to eat Moules-frites in Lille →Merveilleux
Two dry meringues joined with whipped cream, coated all over in more cream and rolled in chocolate shavings, sometimes topped with a candied cherry.
Where Aux Merveilleux de Fred (Rue de la Monnaie), Aux Merveilleux de Fred (Wazemmes), Aux Merveilleux de Fred (Gare Lille Flandres)
Where to eat Merveilleux in Lille →
Waterzooï
A pale stew of chicken or fish and cut vegetables in a broth bound with egg yolk and cream. Ghent's dish, adopted across French Flanders and still on Lille cards.
Where Le Lys
Where to eat Waterzooï in Lille →
Cramique
A Belgian enriched brioche loaf studded with raisins, sliced thick and eaten with butter at breakfast or with an afternoon coffee. Sugar-pearl versions exist too.
Where Aux Merveilleux de Fred (Gare Lille Flandres), Boulangerie Brier, Banana Drama
Where to eat Cramique in Lille →Restaurants to know in Lille
A handful of the places we send friends to when they are in Lille.
Bouillant
Bouillant took over the old Café de la Paix on Rue Léon Gambetta in Lille, seventies furniture and orange paint over a sharp, unnostalgic market card.
OrderBoudin with marinated apples and almond granola.
Bleu Canard
Bleu Canard is a long narrow canteen on Rue Pierre Mauroy in Lille, floral wallpaper and moleskine banquettes around Ryo Nakamura's market cooking.
OrderCrispy pork breast with white peach.
Café Bellot
Café Bellot on Rue Jeanne d'Arc in Lille is a neighbourhood bar and bistro in one, chalkboard plates at lunch and natural wine into the small hours.
OrderPotato croquettes stuffed with smoked trout, in trout roe cream.
Beatriz
Beatriz brought contemporary Mexican cooking to Boulevard Jean-Baptiste Lebas in Lille, brick walls and zellige behind a counter of ceviche and tacos.
OrderThe dorade ceviche, for its tiger's milk.
Brigand
Brigand on Rue de l'Hôpital Militaire in Lille is blond wood and brick, a bistro of comfort cooking and natural wine run by a chef and sommelier pair.
OrderMussels in haddock cream, from the evening sharing plates.
Café Augustin
Café Augustin on Rue de Valenciennes in Lille is retro-chic, a long counter and wooden banquettes serving simple lunches and generous evening plates.
OrderDuck breast with sautéed courgette and blackberry pickles.
Where to eat by neighborhood
Vieux-Lille
The old Flemish quarter of gabled brick houses, where Rue de Gand lines up estaminet after estaminet and Rue de la Monnaie holds the bistronomic and starred rooms.
Best for: Estaminets, Fine dining, Pastry
Lille-Centre
Grand-Place, Place Rihour and the Rue Pierre Mauroy spine, where the big brasseries, the late-night terraces and the newer bistros all sit.
Best for: Brasseries, Moules-frites, Late night
Wazemmes
The market quarter southwest of the centre, working-class and North African in character, and busiest on Sunday morning around Place Nouvelle Aventure.
Best for: Markets, Street food, Cheap eats
Gambetta
The long Rue Léon Gambetta and Rue Solférino corridor between the centre and Wazemmes, where student prices meet a run of newer neighbourhood bistros.
Best for: Brunch, Bistros, Frites
Saint-Sauveur
The rebuilt quarter around Boulevard Jean-Baptiste Lebas and the Porte de Paris, now the address for a cluster of young natural-wine kitchens.
Best for: Natural wine, Seafood, Modern French
Moulins
A student and industrial quarter south of the centre, home to Le Singe Savant's taproom on Rue d'Arras and a spread of cheap, good kitchens.
Best for: Beer, Cheap eats, Bistros
Eat your way through Lille
Browse by price
Where to eat in Lille: editor-picked starting points
5 institutional venues to anchor a Lille food trip
- Bloempot · French regional, chef Florent Ladeyn
- Le Restaurant du Cerisier · Modern French, chef Guillaume Barengo
- Pureté · Modern French, chef Gérald Guille
- Ginko · Modern French
- Le Braque · Modern French, chef Damien Laforce
Signature Lille dishes
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Carbonade flamande
Beef braised slowly in dark northern beer, sweetened with brown sugar and thickened by a slice of mustarded pain d'épices dropped into the pot
-
Potjevleesch
Four white meats set cold in a lightly vinegared jelly and eaten straight from the pot with hot frites, which melt the jelly into a sauce as you go
-
Welsh
Cheddar melted down in beer and poured over toast spread with mustard and a slice of ham, then browned hard under the grill and buried under frites
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Moules-frites
Mussels steamed open in white wine, shallot, parsley and butter, served in the pot with a paper cone of frites kept separately so they stay crisp
-
Merveilleux
Two dry meringues joined with whipped cream, coated all over in more cream and rolled in chocolate shavings, sometimes topped with a candied cherry
Best Lille neighborhoods for food
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Vieux-Lille
The old Flemish quarter of gabled brick houses, where Rue de Gand lines up estaminet after estaminet and Rue de la Monnaie holds the bistronomic and starred rooms
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Lille-Centre
Grand-Place, Place Rihour and the Rue Pierre Mauroy spine, where the big brasseries, the late-night terraces and the newer bistros all sit
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Wazemmes
The market quarter southwest of the centre, working-class and North African in character, and busiest on Sunday morning around Place Nouvelle Aventure
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Gambetta
The long Rue Léon Gambetta and Rue Solférino corridor between the centre and Wazemmes, where student prices meet a run of newer neighbourhood bistros
Where to stay in Lille
A sample of Lille hotels from our booking partner, who list 241 here. Live prices and availability open on their site.
Eklo Hotels Lille
With a stay at Eklo Hotels Lille in Lille (Fives), you'll be within a 5-minute drive of Lille Grand Palais ...
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Residhotel Lille Vauban
A stay at Residhotel Lille Vauban places you in the heart of Lille, within a 15-minute walk of Wazemmes Cov...
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B&B Hotel Lille Centre Grand Palais
With a stay at B&B Hotel Lille Centre Grand Palais in Lille (Lille Centre Ville), you'll be within a 10-min...
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Best Hotel Lille
With a stay at Best Hotel Lille, you'll be centrally located in Lille, just a 4-minute walk from Wazemmes C...
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Hotel Lille Europe
A stay at Hotel Lille Europe places you in the heart of Lille, within a 5-minute walk of L'Aeronef and Henr...
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Comfort Hotel Lille Lomme
With a stay at Comfort Hotel Lille Lomme in Lille (Lomme), you'll be a 2-minute drive from Lomme Urban Park...
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The People Hostel - Lille
A stay at The People Hostel - Lille places you in the heart of Lille, within a 15-minute walk of Hospice Co...
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ibis Lille Lomme Centre
With a stay at ibis Lille Lomme Centre in Lille, you'll be 2.8 mi (4.5 km) from Citadel of Lille and 3.1 mi...
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Hotel CALM Lille
With a stay at Hotel CALM Lille, you'll be centrally located in Lille, within a 10-minute walk of Old Stock...
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Ibis Lille Centre Gares
With a stay at Ibis Lille Centre Gares, you'll be centrally located in Lille, within a 10-minute walk of Eu...
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Appartement Gare Lille Europe
With a stay at Appartement Gare Lille Europe in Lille, you'll be just steps from Euralille and L'Aeronef. F...
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Studio Hypercentre Proche Gares et Métro
With a stay at Studio Hypercentre Proche Gares et Métro in Lille (Lille Centre Ville), you'll be within a ...
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Also compare: Zen Hotels in Lille from USD 67/night · Holidu in Lille from USD 69/night · LateRooms in Lille
Stays are listed by our booking partners, not editor picks. We earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Map of Lille
Every restaurant, cafe, market and bar we cover in Lille, pinned. Click a pin for the page.
When to come hungry in Lille
Peak food season: September to November, when mussel season peaks and the Braderie fills the streets, plus April to June. Many small rooms close for two or three weeks in August.
Local dining hours: Lunch 12:00-14:00, dinner 19:00-22:00. Estaminets often serve non-stop from 12:00, and kitchens in Vieux-Lille stop earlier than they do in Paris.
Tipping: Service is included by law. Rounding up the bill or leaving a couple of euros for good service is welcome and never expected.
Lille food, FAQ
What food is Lille known for?
Lille's signature dishes include Carbonade flamande, Potjevleesch, Welsh, Moules-frites, Gaufre fourrée. See our signature dishes chapter for where to eat each.
What are the best food neighborhoods in Lille?
TableJourney editors map Lille by district. Vieux-Lille, Lille-Centre, Wazemmes, Gambetta are among the strongest for food, each with its own guide.
Where should I eat fine dining in Lille?
Editor picks in Lille include Le Restaurant du Cerisier, Pureté, Ginko, plus the full fine dining chapter on TableJourney.
Are there food tours in Lille?
TableJourney covers 4 editor-picked food tours in Lille, with what each shows you and how much to budget.
Does Lille have good vegetarian or vegan food?
TableJourney's Lille dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free, halal venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.