For this year 2026, I have listed the best starred restaurants in northern France for an unforgettable culinary experience with your companion.
MICHELIN TWO STARS RESTAURANTS
- ROZO : 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.
- LA GRENOUILLERE : Few chefs show such a strong culinary personality as Alexandre Gauthier in La Madelaine-sous-Montreuil. The story unfolds in a space with two tiered metal rooftops and views onto the verdant surroundings and the kitchens.
- LA TABLE DE CHRISTOPHE : Chef Christophe Dufossé has been thriving in his homeland, as his cooking illustrates. This pretty château set in leafy grounds sports a contemporary conservatory extension.
MICHELIN ONE STAR RESTAURANTS
- GINKO : 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 and Julien Ingaud-Jaubert. Their trendy venue is the picture of a sleek contemporary bistro complete with a red-brick wall, a tribute to Lille.
- LE PAVILLON : Le Pavillon of the Westminster, a 1930’s luxury hotel and a flagship of the Côte d’Opale, boasts a velvety cocooned vibe and a black and ochre colour scheme. The dining room, hung with huge animal-themed tapestries, provides the backdrop to William Elliott’s creative seafood-centric score.
- BACOVE : A ‘bacôve’ is a large flat-bottomed boat used by the vegetable growers of the marshes of St Omer to transport their crops. It is emblematic of Camille Delcroix’ inspiration (Top Chef 2018 winner) and of his soothing, nature-inspired restaurant.
- LE VERBOIS : he reins of this former hunting lodge have been passed down the Guibet family to Guillaume, who is following in his father's footsteps. His clever, creative cooking keeps pace with the seasons, with the occasional nod to Asian traditions.
- L'OREE DE LA FORET : On the edge of the forest of Hez, this gracious late-19C mansion, set in peaceful wooded grounds, is ideal for a gourmet weekend in the country. After savouring the peace and quiet of the terrace, the plush bourgeois interior provides the perfect foil for the talents of chef Nicolas Leclercq and his wife Yolaine.
- LA TABLE DE COURCELLES : With the arrival of Italian chef Massimiliano Sena, armed with his impressive CV, this noble and elegant Grand Siècle-style residence has entered a modern culinary era that bodes well. Local and seasonal ingredients take pride of place, and the chef's Italian roots make themselves felt in a delicate and subtle manner.
- LA TABLE DE CLARANCE : In the heart of historical Lille, an 18C mansion houses this elegant restaurant in its salons decked out with period wood panelling and in what was once the library. The decor sees heritage features skilfully blended with contemporary design details. In the set menus, which change with the seasons, regional and seasonal produce are given pride of place.
- PURETE : 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.
- LE RESTAURANT DU CERISIER : 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.
- ARBORESCENCE : Established in an entirely rehabilitated industrial wasteland (an early-20C textile factory), chef Félix Robert and his wife Nidta, having previously worked for Alexandre Gauthier at La Grenouillère in Tokyo and then at Troisgros, now give free rein to their talents in a stripped-back, stylish interior.