Cafes

When in Lille, do not skip on the city's most sought-after dessert: vanilla waffles served at Méert, Lille's historic and most reputable cafe. There are plenty of places to tuck into a savoury galette, a syrup-drenched crêpe, or even just grab a cup of coffee (some particularly good finds are concentrated around old town's Grand Place). A dessert you will be seeing nearly anywhere you go is "merveilleux", a small, meringue-based cake sprinkled with chocolate shavings. And if you are into cheese, try the city's own "Le Vieux Lille", a gourmet variety with a distinctive smell.