Must-see restaurants in Lille, Flanders & the Somme

  • Perard

    Côte d’Opale

    One of France's most famous seafood restaurants, frequented by a host of celebrities, 1960s-opened Perard combines a casual oyster bar with seating at…

  • Le Grand Bleu

    Calais

    Run by talented avantgardiste chef Matthieu Colin (formerly of Paris institution Ledoyen), royal-blue-painted Le Grand Bleu is known for its cuisine…

  • 'T Kasteelhof

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    At the 'highest estaminet (traditional Flemish restaurant) in Flanders', facing Cassel's hilltop windmill, you can quaff Flemish beer (including Kassels…

  • La Matelote

    Côte d’Opale

    This stylish Michelin-starred establishment, with white tablecloths, paper-thin wine glasses and fine porcelain, focuses on fish, most of it landed a few…

  • Les Accordailles

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    Everything at this bistro facing the Palais de Compiègne is organic, including the wines and liqueurs. Morel-stuffed chicken breast with truffled potato…

  • Meert

    Lille

    Famed for its gaufres (waffles) made with Madagascar vanilla, Meert has served kings, viceroys and generals since 1761. The sumptuous chocolate shop's…

  • L'Assiette du Marché

    Lille

    Entered via a grand archway, a 12th-century aristocratic mansion – a mint under Louis XIV, hence the street's name, and a listed historical monument – is…

  • La Marie Galante

    Côte d’Opale

    All the seafood here is from the surrounding waters, including Audresselles crab and lobster. Piled-high seafood platters are the house speciality but…

  • La Sirène

    Côte d’Opale

    At the foot of Cap Gris-Nez, this whitewashed beachfront cottage has picture windows with glorious sea views. All of the fresh seafood is sourced from…

  • La Table d'Elisa

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    Seafood dominates at this green awning–shaded bistro: inventive preparations might include maple syrup–marinated, sesame seed coated salmon, seared…

  • Le Clair de Lune

    Lille

    Creations such as duck carpaccio with gingerbread vinaigrette, beef fillet with red wine and chocolate jus, and guinea fowl with smoked bacon crème have…

  • La Clairière

    Lille

    In a bare-timber space with mezzanine seating, La Clairière creates colourful, 100% organic vegan cuisine made from sustainable produce (no palm oil)…

  • Papà Raffaele

    Lille

    The queues at Papà Raffaele are as legendary as its pizzas (it doesn't take reservations), so come early or late to this post-industrial space with…

  • Le Barbier qui Fume

    Lille

    Charred aromas waft from this former barber shop (hence the name, the Smoking Barber), which now houses a ground-floor butcher and upstairs restaurant…

  • L'Îlot Vert

    Côte d’Opale

    'Bistronomique' cuisine and contempoary design make this chic spot stand out. Dishes on the daily changing menu (no à la carte) might include smoked…

  • Le Tire Bouchon

    Amiens

    With a table-filled riverside terrace, this contemporary wine bar is ideal for a glass and small sharing plate such as bone marrow with lemon zest, duck…

  • Les Canailles

    Côte d’Opale

    At this chic wine bar/bistro, with corks strewn in the window, over 90 all-natural wines are available by the glass or bottle and pair perfectly with…

  • Le Carré Gourmand

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    Each day offers a different three-course blackboard menu at this intimate restaurant with exposed bricks, crisp tablecloths and a shady street-side…

  • Restaurant Aquar'Aile

    Calais

    A 20th-century apartment block framed by lurid green-glass balconies is the unlikely setting for sublime seafood. Occupying the top floor, the dining room…

  • Le Comptoir 44

    Lille

    Prepared according to the motto 'La bonne cuisine est honnête, sincère et simple' (Good food is honest, sincere and simple), dishes at this rustic-chic…

  • Le Bistrot Lillois

    Lille

    Dishes both Flemish and French are served here under hanging hops. The highlight of the menu is os à moëlle (bone marrow); Flemish dishes worth trying…

  • Restaurant A Table

    Côte d’Opale

    A local treasure, husband-and-wife–run Restaurant A Table turns out 11 different varieties of moules-frites (mussels and fries), such as beer, bacon and…

  • Taverne Flamande

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    A classic 1933 dining room whose red banquettes, red-and-white checked tablecloths and, on cold days, a crackling fire make this an inviting place to dine…

  • Le Comptoir Volant

    Lille

    Limousin beef and Flanders potatoes are among the premium ingredients used at this burger restaurant, which hand-makes its own buns, sauces and twice…

  • Le Bistrot des Pilotes

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    Outdoor tables on the waterfront, creative seafood dishes (turbot with yuzu, brill with locally harvested samphire), Baie de Somme specialities such as…

  • Au Vieux de la Vieille

    Lille

    Hops hang from the rafters at this estaminet (Flemish-style restaurant), where specialities include carbonade flamande (braised beef slow-cooked with beer…

  • Le Châtillon

    Côte d’Opale

    With its red banquettes and brass maritime lanterns, this bar-restaurant has long been a favourite of fishers after spending the night at sea. Its house…

  • Le Quai

    Amiens

    Riverside brasserie Le Quai is a great place to sample traditional French and Picard dishes with a modern twist – for example, the burger spécial Quai,…

  • Quai 42

    Côte d’Opale

    Seafood tapas (oysters, cod croquettes, flash-fried calamari) makes the perfect accompaniment to the by-the-glass wines (seven whites, seven reds and…

  • Le Nicol's

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    In a charming mustard-coloured building opening to a pavement terrace, Le Nicol's serves delicious fish, seafood and paella dishes, but the real crowd…

  • Au Vélocipède

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    Opening to an umbrella-shaded, plant-filled courtyard, this restaurant just inside the Porte de Nevers in the Cité Médiévale has a regularly changing menu…

  • Bistrot du Terroir

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    Tucked away on a side street near the tourist office, this cosy little place serves excellent French cuisine such as scrumptious carré d'agneau rôti …

  • La Petite Cour

    Lille

    Belgian- and French-Flemish staples such as anguilles au vert (eel in green sauce) and poulet waterzooi (chicken stew) are served in the atmospheric,…

  • Le Palais Gourmand

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    Down a narrow, cobbled street in an atmospheric brick building, this little crêperie is a great find for authentic savoury galettes (made with buckwheat…

  • La Faisanderie

    Arras

    In a superb vaulted brick cellar, this formal restaurant serves a range of classical dishes prepared with carefully selected ingredients: oysters…

  • Le Normandy

    Côte d’Opale

    Owner/chef Didier Davies specialises in fish and seafood, such as almond-crusted scallops with garlic and lemon sauce or grilled sea bream with candied…

  • Bistrot des Arts

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    Fronted by a bright-red façade, this consistently popular riverfront bistro is firmly rooted in the classic French tradition but with a modern edge. The…

  • Marché sur l'Eau

    Amiens

    Fruit and veggies grown in the city's market gardens, the Hortillonnages, are sold at this one-time floating market, now held on dry land.

  • Marché de Wazemmes

    Lille

    This beloved covered market, with 26 food stalls, is 1.3km southwest of the tourist office in the working-class quarter of Wazemmes. Up to 400 open-air…

  • Estaminet Saint-Jean

    Lille, Flanders & the Somme

    Regional cuisine such as poulet au Maroilles (chicken with Maroilles cheese) at this this old-fashioned estaminet (traditional Flemish restaurant) is…