Comptoir 44

The Parisian-style brasserie serves a regularly updated menu of French dishes, with a special emphasis laid on showcasing fresh, seasonal ingredients. Le Comptoir 44 serves simple, hearty dishes, along with sophisticated specials like foie gras and crêpe suzette.

• Web:

  www.comptoir44-lille.fr

• Address:

  44 Rue de Gand, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 21 03 63

• Opening hours:

  12:00-14:00 19:00-22:30 (Monday to Friday) 12:00-14:30 19:00-22:30 (Saturday, Sunday)

Estaminet Au Vieux de la Vieille

During the summer months, this atmospheric little eatery spills out onto the charming Place aux Oignons, where patrons tuck into hearty Flemish specialities. Cheese-lovers won't find themselves at a loss, and meals are welcome to be followed by a sweet crêpe or another local dessert.

• Web:

  www.estaminetlille.fr/auvieuxdelavieille

• E-mail:

  auvieux@estaminetlille.fr

• Address:

  2-4 Rue des Vieux Murs, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 13 81 64

La Chicorée

This atmospheric brasserie often stays open till the wee morning hours, entertaining guests with live music shows and fine food. It is a rather popular local dining spot, not least because of its great value French and Flemish cuisine. A "Chicorée" menu will set you back just over a dozen euros (includes starter or dessert, plus main).

• Web:

  www.chicoree.restaurantsdelille.com

• Address:

  15 Place Rihour, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 54 81 52

La Petite Cour

The pleasant, centrally located restaurant entices with good value menus featuring Belgian and Flemish specialities. When weather permits, make use of the restaurant's intimate outdoor courtyard seating.

• Web:

  www.lapetitecour-lille.fr

• Address:

  17 Rue du Cure Saint-Etienne, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 51 52 81

La Petite Table

The cosy old town restaurant offers a fusion menu of Flemish and international dishes, one of the most popular orders being the humble "Welsh" - essentially, toast smothered in cheese, with a few filling extras. Frequented by both locals and guests looking to experience northern French dining.

• Web:

  www.lapetitetable-vieuxlille.com

• Address:

  59 Rue de la Monnaie, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 55 60 47

Le Bistrot Lillois

For honest, authentic Lillois fare, try this unpretentious eatery that serves a combination of French and Flemish dishes. Be warned: the offerings of northern French cuisine are generally rather straightforward, built on the foundation of meat and potatoes, with the occasional curiosity in the form of – in this case – bone marrow.

• Address:

  40 Rue de Gand, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 14 04 15

Bar L'Illustration

This atmospheric bar in Lille's old town has, over the years, become a meeting place for the cultured elites, who rub shoulders with those outsiders who are lucky enough to stumble upon or learn of the place. The bar hosts live singers and serves a pleasant selection of drinks.

• Web:

  www.bar-lillustration.fr

• E-mail:

  bar.lillustration@voila.fr

• Address:

  18 Rue Royale, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 12 00 90

Bartown

Bartown serves – rumour has it – some of the best cocktails in the city, with generous servings of fruit mounted on top of some of their concoctions. The atmosphere is pleasant and relaxed, forged by the establishment's jovial regulars. Meat and cheese platters complement the drinks.

• Address:

  10 Rue Saint-Sébastien, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 21 16 97

Dernier Bar avant la Fin du Monde

This quirky bar is a find for any sci-fi, comic book, or even just pop culture enthusiasts. With regular thematic exhibitions and events, it attracts patrons with not only drinks but the thematic component, too, making for an entertaining pastime in the well-stocked game room.

• Web:

  www.dernierbar.com

• Address:

  12 Rue de Pas, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 61 50 43 20

Jaja

Jaja does what one would expect a French wine bar to do, which is commendably showcase wines from the country that knows how to make them best. There are many labels to choose from, and delicious meat and cheese platters to order on the side.

• Address:

  36 Rue Saint-André, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 51 83 73

La Pirogue

Patrons do not mind being a little cramming into the compact space of this atmospheric bar with a very eclectic client base. In the drinks department, everything here revolves around rum and rum-based drinks, so expect to leave being on a friendly footing with the drink.

• Address:

  16 Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 31 70 82

Le Network

Following the closing of Lille's popular Magazine Club, Le Network now remains Lille's best of the kind for a night out on the dance floor. Le Network's indoor space is fit to host up to a few hundred party-goers, all dressed to the nines and ready to light up the night to house and electronic beats.

• Web:

  www.lenetwork.fr

• E-mail:

  network-cafe@wanadoo.fr

• Address:

  15 Rue du Faisan, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 40 04 91

• Opening hours:

  Tue–Wed 10:30pm–7am, Thu 9:30pm–7am, Fri–Sat 10:30pm–7am, Sun 7pm–7am

Cafés Méo

Despite its central location smack in the Grande Place of Lille, this café manages to keep its prices reasonable and its slew of customers content. Grab a coffee and head to the second floor, and if you're lucky, you might be able to secure a spot by the window, overlooking the very heart of the city.

• Address:

  5 Place Charles de Gaulle, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 57 34 54

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Sat 9am–7pm

Coffee Makers

This little gem of a cafe is a favourite for breakfast, casual lunch, or even just a cup of coffee (soy and oat milk available on request). One of the cafe's best attributes is the jovial, welcoming attitude of the staff (that apart from the delicious toasted sandwiches).

• Web:

  www.coffeemakers.fr

• E-mail:

  bonjour@coffeemakers.fr

• Address:

  151 Rue de Paris, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 9 73 55 93 60

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Fri 11:30am–2:30pm, Sat 2–5pm

Crêperie Beaurepaire

It would be an abomination to leave northern France without sufficiently indulging in the region's speciality - galettes and crepes - and Beaurepaire lets you do just that, all at very reasonable prices. The menu variety astounds - from classics containing just egg and ham to much more elaborate concoctions (look out for the day's specials on the chalk board above the kitchen counter). The chef graciously agreed to take us in despite the scheduled afternoon break (2-7pm).

• Web:

  www.creperiebeaurepaire.com

• Address:

  1 Rue Saint-Etienne, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 54 60 54

La Crêperie de Lille

Lille's finest crêperie boasts an extensive selections of sweet and savoury crepes as well as galettes (the latter are made with buckwheat flour). The chefs make sense of the most bizarre flavour combinations and easily turn even the most sceptical of diners into converts.

• Web:

  www.lacreperiedelille.fr

• Address:

  64 Rue de Gand, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 12 77 76

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Wed 11:30am–2pm, Thu–Sat 11:30am–2pm, 5:30–9pm

Notting Hill Coffee

With multiple locations across the city, Notting Hill Coffee is an easy-to-find spot for a snack or a full meal accompanied by very decent coffee. In the food department, there are soups, salads, pasta, bagels, wraps, and all sorts of sandwiches; for dessert, pick from muffins, cookies, brownies, cakes and more.

• Web:

  www.nottinghill-coffee.com

• Address:

  11 Rue de Béthune, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 49 77 41

• Opening hours:

  Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 8am–6pm

Pâtisserie Méert

Méert's gourmand history begins in the 18th century, when chocolate maker Delcourt opened his first boutique in Lille and started a real pastry revolution in the city. Nowadays, this tea salon is very popular for their exquisite cakes and pastries, along with, of course, the famous vanilla waffles--considered the best in Lille.

• Web:

  www.meert.fr

• Address:

  25-27 Rue Esquermoise, Lille

• Phone:

  +33 3 20 57 07 44

• Opening hours:

  Tue–Sat 10am–7pm, Sun 9am–5:30pm