Sign in
FR NL EN DE ZH
Sign in
All beer trips

Lille · Hauts-de-France · France

Lille

Northern France's craft beer revolution

BEER CITY 2/3 2 days

See the itinerary On the map

beBeer Events Brussels Express

About this trip

Lille doesn't brew to impress — it brews because it's in its DNA. Capital of French Flanders, a hop's throw from Belgium, the city grew up with bière de garde in its veins and Welsh rarebit on its fork. Since 2015, a handful of microbreweries between Wazemmes and Vieux-Lille have rekindled that tradition with fresh hops, wild yeasts and an unmistakably northern boldness. Célestin, Brique House, Le Singe Savant, La Mousse Touch': four breweries, four identities, zero compromise. Add five craft bars among the best in northern France — La Capsule leading the pack —, a legendary Sunday market in Wazemmes, and a food scene that naturally pairs beer with Flemish cuisine, and you get a BeerTrip that's dense, accessible and deeply authentic.

beBeer's verdict

Lille isn't trying to rival Brussels or London — and that's precisely what makes it exciting. The craft scene here is young, concentrated and deeply rooted in its territory. Rue d'Arras in Moulins is a micro brewing district unique in France, La Capsule proved that a single bar could change an entire city's beer culture, and La Mousse Touch' shows you can brew and serve in the same breath. Two well-earned hops — and a third that could arrive sooner than you'd think.

Where to go

Brewery 4

  1. 01

    Brasserie Célestin

    120 Rue Esquermoise, 59800 Lille, Francia

  2. 02

    Brique House Brewery

    Parking Halls de la Filature, 27 Rue Félix Faure, 59350 Saint-André-lez-Lille, Francia

  3. 03

    Le Singe Savant

    Avenue louise michel 9, 59000 LILLE, France

  4. 04

    La Mousse Touch'

    19 Bd Jean-Baptiste Lebas, 59000 Lille, Francia

Bars & Taprooms 5

  1. 05

    La Capsule

    25 Rue des trois Mollettes, 59800 Lille, Francia

  2. 06

    Le Lobby

    10 Rue Royale, 59800 Lille, Francia

  3. 07

    Sikaru

    34 Bd Jean-Baptiste Lebas, 59000 Lille, Francia

  4. 08

    Gastama

    109 Rue Saint-André, 59000 Lille, Francia

  5. 09

    Le Lovibond

    169 Bd de la Liberté, 59000 Lille, Francia

Your itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Vieux-Lille and the craft scene

    Morning

    1. 10h00
      — Grand'Place and Vieille Bourse — Coffee on the main square, stroll through the Vieille Bourse courtyard and its booksellers.
    2. 11h30
      — Rue de Gand and Vieux-Lille — Wander the cobbled lanes, Flemish architecture, stop at Meert for a vanilla-filled waffle.

    Afternoon

    1. 12h30
      — Le Barbue d'Anvers — Welsh rarebit lunch with Maroilles cheese and a regional beer.
    2. 14h30
      — La Mousse Touch' — First craft pint in Vieux-Lille. Discover the house beers and what's on tap.
    3. 16h00
      — Sikaru — Explore the Belgian and craft menu. Ask about the cellar rarities.

    Evening

    1. 18h30
      — La Capsule — Lille's reference bar. Let the staff guide you: they know exactly what you need.
    2. 20h30
      — Estaminet Chez la Vieille — Flemish dinner: carbonnade with brown ale and potjevleesch. Regional beer by the glass.
    3. 22h30
      — Le Lovibond — Nightcap in the Solferino quarter. Cheese board and one last discovery.
  2. Day 2

    Moulins, Wazemmes and the breweries

    Morning

    1. 10h00
      — Wazemmes Market — On Sunday mornings, the liveliest market in northern France. Fruit, veg, spices, cheeses — the vibrant soul of Lille.
    2. 11h30
      — Rue d'Arras — Walk towards Lille's brewing heart: Le Singe Savant and Célestin are metres apart.

    Afternoon

    1. 12h30
      — Bloempot — Contemporary Flemish lunch with beer pairing. Reimagined waterzoï and carbonnade.
    2. 14h30
      — Le Singe Savant — Visit the bar and brewery. Taste this week's exploratory releases.
    3. 16h00
      — Brasserie Célestin — Vieux-Lille shop and micro-brewery. La Dix, La Wal, N° Noir.

    Evening

    1. 18h00
      — Gastama — Craft apéro in a backpacker vibe. 8 taps and international encounters.
    2. 20h00
      — Le Lobby — Light dinner facing Saint-Maurice, regional beers on draught.
    3. 22h00
      — V and B Lille — Pick up bottles to take home: Célestin, Brique House and Mongy to extend the trip.

Practical information

Best period
April to October — terraces open, long summer evenings in Vieux-Lille. The Braderie de Lille (first weekend of September) is exceptional but bars get packed.
Events
Lille Craft Beer Festival (spring) · Braderie de Lille (September) · Regular tap takeovers at La Capsule and Sikaru.
Budget per day
Craft pint: €6–8 · Half pint: €3.50–5 · Bottle from shop: €3–7 · Estaminet meal: €15–25
Getting around
Metro + tramway cover the metro area well. City centre walkable (15 min Grand'Place → Wazemmes). V'Lille bikes. For Brique House HEIN: metro Rihour.
Accommodation
Vieux-Lille for atmosphere and bars · Moulins for breweries · Gastama (hostel + craft) for budget travellers.
Beer tip
Un demi = 25 cl · Une pinte = 50 cl · Welsh = beer-based melted cheese on toast · Bière de garde = traditional northern ale, amber, malty · Ch'ti = northerner
Food pairings
Carbonnade + amber bière de garde · Welsh + local blonde · Potjevleesch + IPA · Meert waffle + tripel · Maroilles + stout

What you shouldn't miss

  1. 01

    Rue d'Arras, brewing capital

    Moulins Brewing Mile

    Le Singe Savant at no. 94/134 and Célestin nearby: the beating heart of Lille's craft scene, best explored on foot in the late afternoon.

  2. 02

    Welsh rarebit with Maroilles and beer

    Beer food in its soul

    Cheese melted in beer, gratinated on toast, washed down with a local blonde. The definitive culinary experience of French Flanders.

  3. 03

    La Capsule, on a Tuesday night

    The bar that changed everything

    The bar that launched craft in Lille. 12 taps, zero screens, staff who know every beer by heart.

  4. 04

    Wazemmes Market

    Sundays start here

    Every Sunday morning, the most popular market in northern France. The perfect context before pushing open Le Singe Savant's door.

  5. 05

    Brique House HEIN, place Saint-Hubert

    Born in the street

    Brique House's Lille taproom, Papa Raffaele pizzas and explosive beers in the city centre. Northern street-art energy.

  6. 06

    Sikaru, the treasure cellar

    Erudition in a pint

    14 taps, a bottomless bottle list and an ageing cellar. The name comes from Sumerian: beer is 5,000 years old.

On the map

Plan your trip to Lille

Save this trip, explore more cities or build your own itinerary across Europe's brewing scene.

Explore other trips Browse brewing cities