West Flanders Vacation Home

Chef Diego Delbecq and his pastry chef partner Camille Pailleau have channelled all of their energy and talent into this former printing works, turning it into a loft-style restaurant, with tables set out beneath the vast glass roof and its metal beams. Lovely hardwood floors, light-coloured walls and large kitchens separated by glass panes from the elegant dining area, which has a mezzanine on which hors-d'oeuvres are served with the aperitif during the evening service. The chef cooks up creative, inspired and delicate cuisine that shows a penchant for sauces, tangy and bitter notes, condimen

In the heart of historic Lille, Gérald Guille plies his trade in an attractive long narrow dining room with an open kitchen. "Pure" materials (earthenware, concrete, wood, leather) create a focused, tranquil atmosphere, mirroring the style of the chef, who delivers, in his own words, "creative, uninhibited food" that is rich in personality and flavour. He slaloms between invention and classicism over the course of subtly balanced tasting menus: trout, beetroot, bloody orange and sage; scallops, leeks, mimolette and limequat; fingered citron, honey and saffron…

On the first floor of a striking, ultra-contemporary building in the heart of Lille, the painstaking work of Guillaume Barengo and his on-the-ball team can be admired in the open kitchen. The chef with a star-studded CV crafts a single set menu that shines the spotlight on cherry-picked seasonal ingredients. A few examples: red mullet, millefeuille of Jerusalem artichoke and pear, walnuts and beer; venison steak, cooked rare for maximum tenderness and aroma, flanked by lardo di Colonnata, butternut squash, quince and chestnut purées, all of which coated in a gutsy peppery sauce. Virtuoso techn

Near the Grand’Place, this unobtrusive eatery with a glazed facade is the brainchild of two pals, both of whom boast virtuoso CVs: Valentina Giacobbe was born in Italy and grew up in Asia, graduated in political science before she turned to cooking, training at Gaya with Pierre Gagnaire before working at Rozo and then at SOlange; and Julien Ingaud-Jaubert, who trained as a pastry chef and who has also worked in top establishments (Pierre Gagnaire, Meurin, La Laiterie). Their trendy venue is the picture of a sleek contemporary bistro complete with a red-brick wall, a tribute to Lille. Valentina

At the entrance to the village, this restaurant is discreetly tucked away in a 19C red-brick building. Inside, light enters through the contemporary-style veranda, capturing the elegance of a decor dominated by black details and green velvet. In the kitchen, which opens onto the dining room, chefs Valentine and Maxime – also partners outside of the restaurant – can be seen intently focused on producing their tempting dishes with perfectly judged marriages of flavours. The fillet of pollock is topped with an anchovy viennoise and accompanied by a broccoli cream and almond milk and shellfish emu

In Armentières, the hometown of popular French actor, Dany Boon, Osmose occupies the ground floor of a characteristic red-brick building not far from the town hall. The minimalist decor provides the perfect foil for polished cuisine that skilfully blends Northern French, Japanese and Nordic influences in a surprise menu that stars seasonal produce: crab, horseradish, aubergine, Artois trout, rhubarb…

The chef has more than one trick up his sleeve, and his cuisine, poised between terroir-based and modern, is brimming with flavour. Examples include cappuccino of mushrooms, grilled parsnips and Wambrechies whisky caramel. Bold dishes based on quality ingredients (fish from Boulogne-sur-Mer, for example). Slick service. The peaceful little terrace is a real draw, especially on summer evenings.