Saint-André-lez-Lille_Brique House © Brique House

The trendy type’s table

If, for you, choosing a restaurant is a challenge, it’s because it has to be “the in place” for you to try it or to check it out. Once there, you post photos of your food on your numerous social network accounts. You’re a trendy type, the Instagram foodie influencer that hangs out on fooding.com and is always on the lookout for new addresses to add to your “to do” list even if you have to queue to get in. Join the Hauts-de-France foodie movement… we’re pretty sure you’ll love their new concepts.

©Northern France, Saint-André-lez-Lille, Brique House|Le Brique House

On-trend places to eat

As you are interested in cool places, le Brique House in Saint-André-Les-Lille will immerse you in the liveliness of Brooklyn, enchant you with their incredible pizza, the Papà Raffaele, the pride and joy of former Top Chef Damien Laforce and his assistant Luciano Farinelli. We’ll expect that special photo with your comments about the pleasure it gave you. Complete the experience with a mug of beer brewed on the premises.

You will be in your element on the quai Bélu in Amiens facing the majestic cathedral, just 5 minutes from the Hortillonages floating gardens. This is another great place for Instagram photos where your taste buds will be eager for the carefully prepared dishes by chef Nicolas Medkour in his trendy restaurant, “le Quai”.

Northern France _ Amiens_ Le Quai restaurant © L.Desbois aka Lwood

Northern France _ Amiens_ Le Quai restaurant © Restaurant Le Quai

Northern France _ Saint-André-lez-Lille _ Brique House © Brique House

Restaurants: The hip, the quirky, and the Michelin-starred

Then you can have brunch or an early lunch in the design quarter of Lille, aluminium, red stonework and glass canopies everywhere, and just a stone’s throw from both stations. Mama Shelter welcomes you into a cheerful setting, designed by the architect Jalil Amor, a former accomplice to Starck. Your mind is already imagining the unusual and colourful gourmet adventure that awaits you and, as a bonus, there’s an 180° panorama over the capital of Flanders. The food is deliberately affordable because Mama Shelter is everybody’s mama.

Then there’s the mild sweet-savoury chemistry conjured up by Camille and Diégo who set up their restaurant Rozo in the heart of Marcq-en-Baroeul. Their cuisine is dynamic, maybe even explosive … These two daring individuals earned their star that, according to compliments that are just as explosive, they absolutely deserved.

Northern France _ Lille_ Rozo Restaurant © Aurore Degaigne

Northern France _ Lille_ Impertinente Tea Room © CRTC Hauts-de-France - AS Flament

A fusion of influences

Finally, you can’t talk about trendy restaurants without mentioning the latest burger place. Craft Burger has establishments in Amiens with a basic, industrial, no frills no fuss atmosphere but as warm and friendly as you could ask for. Veggies will find menu items for them, as they will in the Robin Room in Amiens, the cool, hip restaurant, serving food of mixed origin inspiration that crosses all the seasons, and dishes that you can order from the comfort of your own home.

Over to you and your foodie networks in Haut-de-France… There are hundreds of other places to try out.

Local's tip

The cathedral: my firm favourite place in Amiens

I love the unique ambiance and light in Amiens’ cathedral, a truly magnificent gothic masterpiece. Its history fascinates me and I’m always astounded when I’m reminded how quickly it was built. How they achieved such prowess so long ago is beyond me! My little tip for anyone visiting the cathedral is to head to the top of the north tower (if you can manage the 300 or so steps!). It’s accessible via a secret door inside the cathedral leading to the first 150 winding steps. You then arrive on a landing area right by the splendid rose window, with its view over the cathedral square, before tackling the second set of 150 steps to the summit. Your reward is the 360° view right over the city and a guide is on hand to answer everyone’s questions. It really is worth the effort, and I ‘highly’ recommend it.

Julie GUERIN, Amiens heritage specialist