Entertainment in Northern France
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Network Café
At Lille's hottest discotheque, you can sip beer and boogie in the main hall, presided over by two 5m-high statues from faraway lands, or in the baroque Venetian room, decked out with velvet settees and crystal chandeliers. A magnet for guest DJs, Network is hugely popular with students (especially on Tuesday and Wednesday) and the 20-to-40 crowd. On Sunday salsa/R & B dominate before/after midnight. From 9.30pm to 11.30pm on Thursday you can learn the proper way to dance to rock music (€5). The door policy is pretty strict – locals dress up – but tends to be a bit more relaxed for tourists. Situated 600m northwest of the Palais des Beaux-Arts.
reviewed
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Duke's Club
A traditional disco with three bars and three dance spaces on three levels (used simultaneously only on Saturday night), theme nights (see the website), and black light that makes white shirts glow a radioactive purple. Most of the bouncing bods in the 30-to-50 age range. To learn the 'correct' way to dance to rock music, drop by from 9.30pm to 11pm on Friday for a professional lesson (€6, including two drinks). Situated 600m southeast of the Palais des Beaux-Arts.
reviewed
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Café Le Relax
Wazemmes denizens young and old drop by this ungentrified café de quartier (neighbourhood café) for an espresso or a strong Belgian beer – and to run into friends. A great place to get a feel for this ethnically mixed, working-class part of town. Feel free to buy edibles at the nearby Wazemmes market and eat them here with a beer. Local groups perform live from about 9pm to midnight on Friday and Saturday and 7.30pm to 10.30pm on Sunday.
reviewed
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Café Citoyen
A friendly, informal bar, run as a cooperative, with a social, ideological and environmental mission. Internet access is free if you order an organic microbrewed beer (€2.90), a glass of wine or a cup of fair-trade coffee from the friendly fellow in the Trotsky-style glasses. Also serves light meals (salads, soup, sandwiches), including vegetarian and vegan options; all products are organic and most are sourced directly from local producers.
reviewed
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Café Oz
Footy and rugby on a wide screen, Australiana on the walls and cold bottles of Toohey's Extra Dry – what more could you ask for? Popular with English-speakers, including students, this place is packed when DJs do their thing from 9pm to 3am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Opens at noon daily in nice weather and has a great warm-season terrace. Happy hour 6pm to 9pm Monday to Saturday.
reviewed
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Coming Out
Popular with thirty-somethings, this relaxed bolthole welcomes punters – most of them gay and lesbian – with dancing laser dots, three Belgian beers on tap (€2.90) and a lounge area with coffee tables and low stools. The eclectic soundtrack ranges from French chansons and 80s to techno, trending to house and dance on Friday and Saturday. A good source of information on the local gay scene.
reviewed
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Tchouka Club
A till-dawn gay and lesbian disco that's got Lille's clubbing classes chattering. Has photo-montage wall murals, plenty of flashing lights, buff barmen in tank tops and a soundtrack that's heavy on electro, house and techno. So packed after 1am that you may have trouble getting in. Relaxed dress code. Has a Facebook page. Situated 700m due south of the Palais des Beaux-Arts.
reviewed
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L'Illustration Café
Adorned with art nouveau woodwork and changing exhibits by local painters, this laid-back bar attracts artists, musicians, budding intellectuals and teachers in the mood to read, exchange weighty ideas – or just shoot the breeze. The sound track is mellow, ranging from Western classical to jazz, French chansons and African. Very French in the best sense of the word.
reviewed
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Vice & Versa
The rainbow flies proudly at this well-heeled, sophisticated bar, which is as gay as it is popular (and it's very popular). Decor includes brick walls, a camp crystal chandelier and lots of red and green laser dots. Has 80s-themed nights from 10pm every Tuesday, a house-and-electro DJ from 10pm on Friday and Saturday, and a soirée from 9pm on Sunday.
reviewed
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Club 555
The '70s meet techno at this discotheque, which has space for 700 revellers (mainly locals in their twenties), a polychromatic bar, plenty of banquettes for hanging out and an isolated corner for nonsmokers. The music is mixed; there's a theme party every Friday.
reviewed
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La Scala
A classic cellar discothèque, with pulsating music and gyrating bodies under ancient brick arches. There are frequent student nights (Wednesday and Thursday) and theme nights (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). Things get going at about 01:30.
reviewed
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Le Balatum
This funky, dimly lit place, decorated with artwork that changes monthly, is ideal for a tête-à-tête. There's live music at 19:30 on Sunday and a DJ from 22:30 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Gay friendly.
reviewed
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Miss Marple
A friendly and unpretentious lesbian bar that welcomes gays and heteros. The upstairs lounge features upholstered cubes and low wooden tables. There's a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights.
reviewed
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Royal Dentelle
Genuine dentelle de Calais (Calais lace) - we're talking placemats and tablecloths - is available at Royal Dentelle .
reviewed
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Nouveau Siècle concert hall
The Orchestre National de Lille plays in the circular Nouveau Siècle concert hall .
reviewed
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Meert
Gaufres (waffles) made in a hinged iron griddle with Madagascar vanilla are the speciality at this luxury tearoom-cum-pastry-and-sweets-shop, which has served kings, viceroys and generals (including Charles de Gaulle, a life-long fan) since 1761. Next door, Meert's chocolate shop has a wrought-iron balcony, coffered ceiling and painted wood panels that will transport you back to 1839.
reviewed
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Marott' Street
Designed by Gustave Eiffel's architectural firm in 1892, this exquisite ex-insurance office now attracts chic, well-off, thirty-somethings who sip Champagne (€11) while suspended – on clear-glass tiles – over the wine cellar.
reviewed
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Chés Cabotans d'Amiens
A theatre whose stars are all traditional Picard marionettes. Great fun even if you don't speak Picard or French.
reviewed
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Café Bissap
An ethnically mixed crowd, including students, sips rum cocktails and West African beers (eg Guinness Foreign Extra, brewed in Cameroon) amid decor from the Senegalese-born proprietor's native land. The soundtrack is African, Caribbean and Latin American. Super-friendly. Opens at 6pm during school holidays, including July and August.
reviewed
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Wazemmes
A number of edgy (and undercapitalised) cafés are tucked away around the periphery of place de la Nouvelle Aventure in Wazemmes, site of the Wazemmes food market.
reviewed
