10 Best Local Restaurants in Lille

Brasserie La Chicorée offers traditional northern French cuisine with a twist, and it's renowned for its phenomenal desserts, so be sure to save room when you visit. While their moules frites, selection of salads and French onion soup are all outstanding, they really shine when it comes to desserts like gourmet ice cream, profiteroles and parfaits. While you're here, don't forget to sample one of their outstanding cordials, wines or craft beers, and finish it all off with a dark-roast coffee.

The atmosphere here is welcoming and intimate, and it begs you to kick back and relax. It's all just steps away from Place Rihour in the city centre.

Estaminet Au Vieux de la Vieille offers stunning cuisine with fantastic beef dishes, salads and pâté as well as a solid selection of desserts including crepes pain perdu and parfait. They are also known for serving good, strong coffee and hot chocolate in a cosy atmosphere. The food here is Flemish with highlights including carbonnade flamande, or braised, slow-cooked beef with beer, onions and brown sugar. The Welsh au Maroilles is also a must-try dish.

Inside, hops hanging from the rafters offer a floral scent and country vibe, while in nice weather you can dine outside. It's along Place aux Oignons, 10 minutes north of the city centre.

Estaminet Chez La Vieille offers tasty main dishes and desserts in an unpretentious, welcoming atmosphere with friendly staff and good prices for a family-friendly meal. Some of the menu highlights here include soups, black pudding and beef. This spot also has fantastic local craft beers on draught, as well as fine wines from local regions, all of which pair well with the menu offerings. For dessert, try the fruitcake or tarte Tatin.

Estaminet Chez La Vieille is a good spot to enjoy solid cuisine at good prices and soak up some local colour. This restaurant is just steps away from the Musee Hospice Comtesse. It's a quick 12-minute jaunt north of the Lille city centre.

Le Broc du Vieux Lille offers quality French cuisine in an easy-to-access location with friendly staff, casual surroundings and very reasonable prices. The decor and ambience are warm and welcoming, as are the staff. Just a few of the menu highlights here include fondue, tartiflette and Camembert. The Welsh is consistently cited as a standout dish. For dessert, the menu offers a variety of crepes, parfaits and profiteroles. Beers, wines and hard ciders are available for drink selections.

The portions here are generous and the staff are more than willing to accommodate any dietary restrictions you might have. This restaurant is about 11 minutes north of the city centre.

Chez Raoul Estaminet offers solid food with a down-home yet elegant country decor, a great wine list and fabulous service combined with a quiet ambience. The food and service here are very much traditional northern French cuisine with good portions. Some standout menu offerings include poulet au maroilles, the Welsh and moules maroilles. The service is fast and friendly. When you're done with dinner, don't forget to order up a dark-roast coffee to enjoy as you relax with a fantastic crème brûlée for dessert.

This is a popular spot, but often reservations are not needed to get a seat. It's only 10 minutes north of the city centre.

Le Barbue d'Anvers offers solid French cuisine like croquettes, waterzooi, ice cream, fruitcake, parfait and other standards with attractive prices and great service. They have a fantastic selection of draught beers and a solid wine list. After dinner, you can relax with a dark brewed coffee like only a good French restaurant offers. Some menu standouts include carbonnade stew and complimentary amuse-bouche. The ambience is really what sells this location, as it's in an authentic old building hidden behind a small courtyard just off the street.

This is a place to escape the noise and the hustle and bustle with a relaxing, quality meal. It's just steps from the Librairie Furet du Nord in the heart of the city centre.

Estaminet Les Ptiots offers up fine, delicious, upscale French cuisine at exceptionally reasonable prices with homey decor and a warm ambience. If you're looking to treat the family to fine dining quality at prices that won't break the bank, this is a good choice, with fillet steaks, foie gras, tartare and other main dishes as well as desserts like moelleux and cheesecake, all homemade. They also offer a solid selection of draught beers, wine and champagne. The Welsh and carbonnade are often cited as menu standouts.

The service here is friendly and fast. Both indoor dining and outdoor terrace al fresco dining are available. It's only 10 minutes north of the city centre.

Estaminet 'T Rijsel offers fine cuisine whipped up with local ingredients and expert precision by an experienced chef, with top-notch staff and hearty, filling main dishes. If you're looking for authentic, classic northern French and Flemish dishes, this menu is sure to please. Menu standouts include beef carbonnade and rabbit in mustard sauce with Belgian fries on the side. Desserts include baked apple with fruity ice cream. This restaurant is very popular and gets crowded, so a reservation is highly recommended before stopping in.

If you're looking for down-home Old World ambience with simple, straightforward and traditional fare that's of high quality, this is the spot. It's about 10 minutes north of the city centre.

L'Gaiette is part of the heart and soul of the city's culinary tradition with a menu focused on such staples as succulent steaks, savoury pies and fried Camembert. As with many French restaurants, the coffee here is delicious and a fantastic way to top off your meal. Their beer list is also top-notch, filled with quality local brews. They're known for their generous portions, and they're a solid local tavern that offers a good selection of vegetarian options beyond salad. Standout desserts include fondant and waffles.

The decor is traditional Flemish, so you'll get an authentic, warm feel. It's located just north of the city centre, within walking distance.

La Taverne Flamande is a traditional French pub with delicious cold beers and an endless variety of salads, baked foods, meat and bar eats with a pleasant ambience. They offer standout burgers and excellent carbonnade flamande. You can even get pizza if you like, or traditional Flemish stewed steak. They're also open for breakfast, which makes it an attractive destination. Many of the beers are good Belgians brought in from just across the border. The staff are friendly, the portions are good, the prices are great, and the beer is cold and fantastic.

Visitors here regularly applaud the authentic Flemish vibe and food quality. It's located just 8 minutes northeast of the city centre.