The Best Boutique Hotels in Lille, France

You’ll find these studio apartments in the heart of Lille’s historic quarter, beneath the shadow of the Church of Saint-Étienne. Each unit, decorated with a palette of neutrals accented by pops of colour, can accommodate up to four guests, and the building is tailored to autonomous hosting, meaning a 24-hour self-check-in system. Although the studios include a well-equipped kitchenette, the communal areas feature larger kitchen facilities, a breakfast room and a laid-back lounge area with a pool table.

At this riverside establishment, chef Benoît Bernard serves up some of the best seafood dishes in Lille. Most guests who occupy the five themed rooms at the guesthouse do so with the intention of trying Bernard’s classical menu, including lobster and morel mushrooms in vin jaune (yellow wine) sauce, and sea bass with ginger and samphire. It also has a two-room apartment that can accommodate up to four people.

A ruby-red colour scheme runs throughout this central hotel, punctuated with giant canvas art prints in rooms and reception areas. It all brings a contemporary flourish to the beautiful 19th-century building, though the cocktail list in the bar is refreshingly retro. As the name suggests, the hotel is in the heart of Lille’s old quarter, so it couldn’t be better if you’re keen to explore on foot.

This boutique hotel, an 18th-century townhouse offering five-star quality with the feel of a private luxury home, is a 10-minute walk from the Grand Place and the historic district. It has original features such as columns and lofty ceilings, while the furnishings are decidedly modern, with bold splashes of colour. Upgrade to the junior suite with its four-poster bed and courtyard view. Downstairs, La Table, a highly coveted Michelin-star restaurant fronted by chef Thibaut Gamba, serves up artful dishes with a strong emphasis on seafood.

This former convent is now a unique collection of 75 rooms and eight suites. Interconnected via 17th-century cloisters and a courtyard, the complex is showered in light, thanks to a stunning glass pyramid overhead. Enjoy a drink of something fizzy in the suspended Clos Champenois terrace bar, and on the ground floor, chef Dominique Hochedez offers a modern menu at Le Jardin du Cloître, including foie-gras mousse.

From family rooms with a dividing wall to king suites with built-in jacuzzi baths, this central hotel near the Eurostar station caters to a range of guest requirements. Chef Jean-Christophe Gille heads up proceedings at the hotel’s two restaurants. Le Jane serves a truffle-infused fine-dining menu that spans the globe, while Ma Reine offers regional set menus.

While its facade exudes plenty of gothic charm, this hotel just south of historic Lille isn’t short on modern luxuries. Neon-blue lights up the sleek swimming pool and spa, where treatments include body wraps and scrubs, manicures and a couples massage. For dining, the Restaurant de L’Hermitage requires formal wear, while L’Estaminet Gantois offers a more relaxed setting with local beers on tap.

Guests staying on one of the top floors of this six-storey hotel can use the panoramic view to plot their walking tour of the old town. All rooms have a funky feature wall of varying colourful designs, while amenities include a minibar, a Nespresso machine and an iPod dock.

Immerse yourself in old-time Lille with this art deco-inspired boutique hotel steps away from Parc Barberousse. Just two minutes from the city centre via the Saint-Maurice Pellevoisin metro station, the Villa Gounod comprises nine charming rooms, each steeped in style and character. The deluxe suite boasts orange curtains and leopard-print wallpaper, while the romantic room features angled skylight windows offering a quirky view over the rooftops of Lille.