Bakery€Lille-CentreTue-Sat 06:00-20:00; Sun 06:00-18:00; closed MondayWalk-in onlyClassic and organic breads
Boulangerie Mathieu on Rue du Molinel in Lille bakes everything on site, classic and organic breads under a counter of tartes au sucre and framboisier.
Tip: The tarte au sucre is the northern one to try, not the lemon meringue everyone photographs.
Worth the queue: Tarte au sucre
Bakery€Vauban-EsquermesDaily 07:00-20:00Walk-in onlyRegional viennoiserie and gluten-free breads
Boulangerie Papillon on Rue Nationale in Lille runs a bakery, a snack counter and a juice bar together, open seven days from 07:00 to 20:00.
Tip: Gluten-free breads sit alongside the regional viennoiserie, which is rare in a Lille bakery.
Worth the queue: Macarons
Bakery€Vauban-EsquermesDaily 07:00-20:00Walk-in onlyBreads and viennoiserie
The Rue Jacquemars Giélée branch of Boulangerie Papillon in Lille keeps the same seven-day 07:00 to 20:00 service as the Rue Nationale shop.
Tip: Continuous service means you can get a proper lunch here at 15:00 when kitchens have shut.
Worth the queue: Croissant
Bakery€€Vieux-LilleTue-Sat 07:00-19:30; Sun 07:30-13:30; closed MondayWalk-in onlySourdough and organic breads
Vianney Degruson bakes sourdough and organic breads on Rue Saint-André in Lille, with viennoiserie laminated in AOP butter and a counter of galettes.
Tip: Their bread supplies other Lille kitchens, including the banh mi counter on Avenue du Peuple Belge.
Worth the queue: Pain d'épices
Bakery€€Vieux-LilleMon-Sat 07:30-19:30; closed SundayWalk-in onlyRegional pastry
Boulangerie Brier on Rue Esquermoise in Lille bakes the regional canon, cramique au sucre, palet de dame and a vanilla-filled gaufre of its own.
Tip: This is the cheaper place to try a gaufre fourrée before you queue at the famous one up the street.
Worth the queue: Gaufre fourrée à la vanille
Bakery€€Lille-CentreDaily 07:00-20:00Walk-in onlySourdough breads and stuffed viennoiserie
Mamatte on Place Rihour in Lille bakes sourdough and stuffed croissants, with a savoury counter and large cakes, seven days a week from 07:00.
Tip: The Mademoiselles pastries and the cinnamon roll go first. Come before 11:00 at a weekend.
Worth the queue: Croissant fourré