10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Lille

Lille Old Town, or Le Vieux Lille, is a delightful neighbourhood filled with walkable cobblestone avenues, restored bourgeois houses showcasing 17th to 18th-century architecture and a deeply romantic vibe. The historic Flemish influence of the town is on full display here, and not only can you just enjoy romantic walks among the buildings and capture great photos for social media, but this neighbourhood is also a nightlife hub. The streets are lined with bars, clubs and cocktail lounges of just about every description.

Le Vieux Lille is in the heart of the city centre and offers romance and excitement galore. Here, you can grab a few drinks, and then steal away with your loved one for an intimate few moments together.

Place de la République is a public square that dates back to medieval times and offers an enchanting spot with cobblestone paths, fountains, historic views and a sunken garden. You can explore this oasis in the centre of the city and get lost in a dreamlike, fantasy feeling with a picturesque setting, and backed by such iconic buildings as the art museum and the prefecture, making this an outstanding spot for photo opportunities.

Whether you stop here on your way to the cafes and bars steps away or you spend a few hours relaxing here, it's a serene and lovely spot with the air of history. The bubbling fountains with intricate sculptured designs alone make for a great Instagram photo.

Gare Saint Sauveur is a recreational and exhibition space in the heart of Lille in a former market and railroad station dating to the late 19th century. The station serviced the city for over 150 years, ceasing operations in 2003 until its 20 acres were revitalised beginning in 2009. Today, it houses a bar, restaurant, cinema, exhibition space and event planning facilities.

Over the ensuing years, it has housed public speakers, political campaigns and other major events. Today, it's a good place to head for dinner and to catch a movie and a few drinks after. It's right in the heart of the city centre.

The Lille Opera is a historic opera house built in the early 20th century in the neoclassical style, which today showcases major performances in classical and contemporary music and theatre. This building was constructed in 1913 and inaugurated in 1923. In 1998, it underwent a major renovation and now is a member of the European Network for Opera, Music and Dance Education. The opera advertises itself as a showcase for everything from Bach to Joan Baez, Beethoven to Miles Davis and beyond.

There's nothing like a date night with an elegant performance, so you can dress to the nines and take in a show here for a memorable couples' evening. It's just 10 minutes north of the city centre.

The Théâtre Sébastopol, or the Old Drama Theater, is a beautiful, historic structure that puts on stunning dramatic performances and art shows to form a cultural destination. If you're looking for a family-friendly activity for after dinner in Lille, this charming cultural centre with an incredible architectural façade is a great option. The shows here are largely of the light comedy variety as well as live music and ballet performances. Recent renovations have installed comfortable seatings, a snack bar and food area and plenty of other amenities.

This is a great spot to catch local colour and culture while seeing a top-notch performance or art show. It's in the heart of the city centre.

The Zenith Arena Lille (Le Zénith / Lille Grand Palais) is a multipurpose indoor arena space hosting a convention centre, exhibition halls and performance space. The building is capable of seating 7,000 people, making it among the largest venues in the city. Performances, naturally, change all the time so you can check in to see who's playing, but the arena has hosted everything from standup comics to rock legends, as well as folk acts, traditional stage theatrical performances, sketch comedy and many other types of shows.

Whether you're stopping here to laugh at a comedy show or cheer on a tribute act to AC/DC, you're sure to have a raucous time. It's 7 minutes from the city centre.

La Vieille Bourse is the old stock exchange in Lille, one of the most historically stunning buildings in the entire city, offering a peaceful and scenic spot to enjoy an evening. The spot dates to the middle of the 17th century and consists of 24 houses in classic Flemish design surrounding a lovely arcaded courtyard. Designed by a furniture builder named Julien Destrée, this spot has been a fixture of Lille's social life for 350 years.

People come to sit and play chess, talk or explore the flower and book market that is here every day. During the summertime, you can watch live dance performances at no cost. It's only about 10 minutes from the heart of the city centre.

Lille bars and pubs can be found all over the city and offer you the classic corner bar nightlife experience to have a few drinks and toast your friends. Bars of just about every variety can be found in Lille, whether you're looking for a 1920s speakeasy-style vibe, a small dive bar experience or a classically elegant cocktail bar.

You'll find bars for the older crowd, with dark wood furnishings and dim lighting, as well as vibrant hipster outlets with bright lights and modern music, sometimes from live bands. Some of the popular local bars include Le Dandy on Rue Basse, Le Windsor in the city centre, Le Bar Braz on Rue Doudin and Stairway on Rue de la Halle.

Lille casinos offer the chance to have it all in one spot, with gaming, great drinks, food and live entertainment of just about every variety all across town. You can experience everything from standalone gaming parlours in the heart of the city centre to full-featured leisure complexes combined with all-inclusive 5-star hotels and everything in between. Casinos stand in the heart of the urban jungle and on the shores of the North Sea with spectacular views. You can play roulette, table games and slots and even engage in sports betting.

Each casino has its own theme and vibe, but all are wildly fun. Some of the more popular include Napoléon Games Middelkerke and Casino Barrière near the train station.

Nightclubs in Lille showcase the vibrant and youthful vibe of this university town, from DJs spinning the latest EDM music to live local bands jamming all night. You can hit up clubs like Stairway in the heart of the historic city centre for draught beers and cocktails with live rock bands. You can dive into superb Latin music and salsa dancing at Latina Café in the city centre. You can hit up Les Folie's in Old Town or Magazine Club in Moulins to enjoy the latest popular dance hits spun by popular DJs.

Whatever your nightclub vibe might be, Lille has it on offer. The city centre and the historic Vieux Lille are both dotted with vibrant clubs to explore.