Lille is known for maroilles cheese, genièvre (juniper berry liqueur), and of course – this being Flanders – its mussels. Cheese or leek flans and mussels and chips (moules-frites) are staple snacks and starters.

A few other specialities you should look out for include:

• Waterzoî au poisson – creamy sole and vegetables.
• Potjevlessch – a cold dish of veal, rabbit and ham.
• Carbonade Flamande – a beer-based beef stew.
• Tarte à cassonade – brown sugar tart.

Beer is the tipple of choice. Bière Blonde is the equivalent to a lager. The after dinner liqueur is genièvre, a whisky-like drink flavoured with juniper berries.