5 trendy spots in Lille

Just ask any resident of Lille, and they’ll tell you, the city is in perpetual motion. Between the renovated industrial wastelands, pop-ups and hidden galleries, there is always someplace new to discover. And if you’re searching for somewhere to party, eat, bargain-hunt or get some culture, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. The cultural event of the moment in Lille is El Dorado! Cultural spaces all around Lille are embracing a Mexican theme.

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• Mercado Negro
• Le Bistrot de St So
• Quartier Libre
• Les ateliers Jouret
• Nord Factory

Mercado Negro opened in 2016 on the second floor of a former textile factory near the Roubaix Canal. In the 1000 m² it shares with a refined Portugese restaurant (on the ground floor), this tapas bar plays the discretion card. There is little to no publicity about the establishment. And when you set foot inside, you’ll see why.

With its industrial design inspired by the building’s former purpose, it has rapidly become one of the city’s most popular places to hang out! And it’s easy to see why: it offers a vast space to gather with friends to drink a cocktail, have a snack, dance and enjoy yourselves in a friendly, intimate setting. The second-hand furniture bought from antique fairs adds to the loft ambiance we adore! For hanging out and relaxing or partying it up, the Mercado Negro is the best place in Roubaix!

Connected to the Saint-Sauveur station, a former goods station converted into a cultural space, Le Bistrot de St So is a perfect balance of eccentricity and traditionalism. The industrial atmosphere inherited from its past life as a covered market has been nicely updated with a few wood accents.

Inside you will find a bar/restaurant with a large outdoor terrace (special mention for the beer menu, but don’t forget to taste the food, bistro-style, of course!) as well as a children’s area and a stage for live music. The stage hosts arts from every genre, and during concerts the bistro is transformed into a dance floor!

This is one of the Lille metropolitan area’s latest points of pride. Inaugurated in May 2019, Lille’s Vauban fort has been completely redone and the 300 m² military barracks are now filled with restaurants and cultural spaces. Welcome to Quartier Libre!

Its relaxed ambiance is perfect for a drink after work or a calm lunch away from the bustle of the city. In the outdoor area, activities are offered year-round including tours, games, sports and concerts. There are even changing rooms for the more athletically-minded who might want to take advantage of the Grimonprez-Jooris stadium right next door.

Once dedicated to the fabric trade, the Ateliers Jouret were the pride of Roubaix during the golden age of textiles in the region. But there’s no point being nostalgic; since 2017, this 1200 m² site has welcomed a new generation of talented artists.

More than thirty artists (illustrators, photographers, stylists, graphic designers, potters, plastic artists, sculptors and silk screeners) have chosen to set up shop there. The space is bubbling over with creative energy! Add to that a non-profit café, an exhibition space and workshops open to the public, and what more reason do you need to check it out?

15 kilometres from Lille, in the commune of Warneton, another former industrial site has been transformed. Dominique and Laurent Parent, both massive fans of antiquing, bought a former hangar and reopened it in 2017 as a mecca for bargain hunters.

This 600 m² space is filled with old furniture, tasteful lamps, original mirrors and eccentric decorations. This site, which is part shopping centre, part cabinet of curiosities, has long aisles that give you a taste of what the great sidewalk sale of Lille must be like! Don’t hesitate to ask Dominique and Laurent for advice; they are full of helpful tips!