A Taste of Lille
A quiet weekend away to Lille to tide my best friend and I over until our next big holiday turned out to be just what the doctor ordered. After a day of enjoying the shopping and beautiful architecture of exceptional Lille, we decided it was time to put this tranquil city’s nightlife to the test. Fair to say, it did not disappoint.We were recommended to have dinner at Restaurant la Patatière, a small back alley restaurant filled with locals. While the food was decent enough, the very friendly staff and great service are what made this restaurant a great start to our evening. Our waiter was more than happy to point us in the right direction for the remainder of our night. We were advised to head into the old town where we discovered a plethora of bars and pubs to suit everyone. From the quiet, classy lounge filled with discerning cocktail sippers and whisky connoisseurs to louder, strobe light adorning clubs and everything in between. We decided to keep our evening low key and opted for the more casual bar option and found ourselves sampling some of the wide selection of beers on offer, taking in the atmosphere of each cosy establishment. With varying décor from tropical fish tanks to classic photography and comfortable couches in intimate surroundings, these venues have been carefully put together to enhance their relaxed and welcoming vibe. After a few hours interacting with the locals it was time to call it a night. After all, there was still exploring to be done the next day. The next morning after a casual lie in and slow breakfast we were off to the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Lille. This amazing museum, held within an incredible palace, houses an extensive collection of paintings, breathtaking sculptures and incredible artefacts from around the world. This museum is often considered to be the second greatest collection of art in France, after the Louvre. The building itself is magnificent and its contents equally astounding. After a casual, culture filled day, it was time to catch the Eurostar home. In less than an hour and a half we were back in London. A great night out was followed by a lovely day of culture and from this I knew I felt comfortable in recommending a weekend to Lille, knowing that activities for both day and night would be catered for.
