12 Best Cafés in Lille, France: A Brunch Lover's Guide to Lille
Looking for the best coffee, brunch, and breakfast in Lille? Consider this your ultimate guide to Lille’s best cafés and breakfast spots!
France is renowned for its fine dining and perfected pastries. The French are masters of the culinary arts. So, it’s no surprise that Lille had a fantastic food and coffee scene. During my 4 days in Lille, I stopped by as many casual eateries, indulging in multiple breakfasts and as much cake as my blood sugar could handle. All in the name of publishing this guide to the 12 best cafés in Lille!
12 best cafés in Lille ↴
We Are Ara
On our first morning in Lille, Luke and I strolled past We Are Ara in immediate need of coffee. We opted for a seat in the summer sun, while Luke ordered a Coconut Smoothie and I waited for my flat white. Both beverages were refreshing, and the brunch menu was vast, featuring everything from pancakes to banana bread and avocado toast. Inside, the café was cute, featuring green tiled walls and bright pink bookcases. Overall, everything we ate and drank was good!
latte
I stumbled upon Latte serendipitously on my morning hunt for coffee. The small café was just opening its orange door as I popped in for a Chocolate Babka and a flat white. Luke and I found a free two-seater table to enjoy our morning indulgence and the café owner came out to chat with us, asking us where we were from and about my camera equipment.
La Wilderie
Just after the 2020 lockdown, La Wilderie opened its doors to serve seasonal food and barista-style coffee next to its adjoining plant shop. The friends who own it have managed to turn the space into a buzzing café, a comfortable co-working space, and a boutique wrapped in one. The alfresco seating was ideal for the French afternoon we spent leisurely splitting a granola bowl and a slice of vegan carrot cake. I ordered a cappuccino, which was smooth, balanced, and served at the perfect temperature. I could easily see myself working from the tables inside, surrounded by plants and enveloped in natural light.
Paddo café
Without question, the best coffee I had in Lille was at Paddo, a relatively new café that brings Antipodean brunch to the North of France. There are two Paddo locations in Lille, and I ate at both (yes, it was that delicious). The Ricotta Pancakes were sweet without tasting too saccharine and Luke loved the Haloumi and Egg Roll so much that he had it twice! My favorite brunch item on the menu was the Açai bowl, which was fantastic value for money and full of thick coconut yogurt. As a bonus, Paddo was one of a handful of non-chain eateries in Lille that was open on Sunday.
Elizabeth’s Tearooms
Elegant cakes abound at Elizabeth’s Tearooms, a family business that started as a pastry stand run by a French and English couple. The stand was so popular that in 2011, the owner and his family decided to make it a permanent tea room in Lille. The gorgeous French tearoom’s interiors are the stuff of my dreams. Upstairs, stunning exposed brick walls hold up tall, narrow windows. Luke’s (generous) slice of Banana Bread was topped with sweet icing that we are still talking about.
The French Bastards
The French Bastards began in 2018 with three friends who felt that the local boulangerie (bakery) visit needed to be redesigned. The friends combined a minimal interior café space with a more creative pastry menu and a friendlier customer experience. In 2019, the inaugural French Bastards location opened in Paris. Eventually, it became so popular, that a Lille café opened along a crooked cobblestone street. The Cinnamon Babka was an absolute treat— I highly recommend it!
Méert
Meert isn’t a traditional café recommendation, but it should be on your radar. Known for being the oldest café in Lille, Meert is an institution dating back to 1849. Its signature pastry is the gaufre, a brioche-style pastry filled with a decadent Madagascar vanilla cream. The éclairs are also très bon!
Bloom Café
Bloom markets itself as your “neighborhood café”, but I think it’s much cuter and its treats are much more creative than your average coffee shop around the corner. The café offers decadent desserts, including strawberry tarts with elderflower syrup, brioche hot cross buns with lavender, and chocolate chip cookies with caramel and sea salt. Beyond gorgeous pastries, Bloom has a full brunch and lunch menu to appease your hunger! I loved the vegetarian brunch medley with quinoa and feta cheese, paired with a kombucha. Luke and I also split a piece of pumpkin bread which surprised us with its cream cheese filling.
Cup (magic tiny café)
You know those cafés that have great food, impeccable coffee, and an inescapable cozy vibe? Cup has somehow managed to tick every box, particularly nailing its food menu. The Coco and Peanut Sticky Rice bowl was a taste sensation; a scrumptious lunchtime option. The Chocolate Matcha Pannacotta Tarte was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had (ever). If you love a flat white, Cup’s is worth 10/10.
Nuts
Luke and I popped into Nuts for a little sweet treat and a matcha latte. Admittedly, I was a bit apprehensive when I saw the millennial pink design touches, but I promise Nuts delivers despite its cliches. The Black Sesame Brioche Bun was delicious, but the miniature fluffy brioche covered with a crunchy biscuit and filled with whipped matcha cream was a risk that fully paid off.
Tu Brilles
Tu Brilles was on my café list, but unfortunately, it was temporarily closed while we were in Lille. However, a friend raved to me about their brunch and Aussie-inspired coffee.
Tamper!
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to try Tamper! while in Lille. The café was closed for a private function on my first night in the city, and the following three days it was shut for renovations. I’ve added it to this list because it has a reputation for serving impeccable barista coffee.
Map ↴
Find all the best cafes in Lille on the map below.
