Chat and dating in Roubaix, around a northern table

Markets and the Grand-Place

The Grand-Place market, on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, mixes growers, cheesemongers and traders from across the metropolis. You taste some maroilles, leave with a warm loaf and bump into neighbours. A first date among the stalls, coffee in hand, is a simple and sincere way to get to know each other without pressure.

A welsh and a beer in an estaminet

The estaminets of Roubaix and Rue de Lille serve the great northern classics: generous welsh, slow-cooked Flemish carbonade, moules-frites and chicons au gratin, paired with a beer from one of the regional breweries. Lingering in these wood-panelled rooms is one of the finest ways to chat for hours without noticing the time.

Hem, Wattrelos and nearby

Around Roubaix, Hem and Wattrelos host flea markets, brocantes and summer guinguettes in the warm, no-fuss spirit of the region. On Lyad, Roubaix members share their favourite estaminets and markets; it is up to you to find someone to raise a glass with and keep the conversation flowing.