While
Lille is well worth a day trip, with some interesting
pubs including two home brew pubs.
Au Bureau, 34/36 Place
de la Gare
Best pub yet, with very
pretty tables, good fast service, and a good selection of food. Even does cocktails! Sectioned-off seating areas,
nice unusual fish tank on bar. Music a little 'heavy' but
generally a very nice café.
Sue 9.5/10 visit June
2001.
A French version of an
English pub, which doesn't come out too bad. Au Bureau is a chain of pubs all a little like this
one. Nice leather seats, wood panelling, fish tank on the bar and big TV
screens showing MTV. A good menu of beers from around the
world.
John 8/10 visit June 2001
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Bar de l'Echo,( English Pub ) 20 avenue
Charles de Gaulle
An English style pub on
the first floor which actually looks English. Very relaxed atmosphere and good
service, Grimbergen beer very nice. Large
sports screen-would be good for football!! Wrought-iron
tables and red leather upholstery.
Sue 8.5/10 visit June 2001
Downstairs bar was crowded, but there was
room in the upstairs bar. Nice wood panelling seating along the side and etched
glass windows. Good range of beers on the menu-mainly Belgian, as well as some
snacks.
John 8/10 visit June 2001
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La Palais
de la Biere, 14 Place de la Gare
Sue 8.5/10 visit June 2001
Place de la Gare
is mainly full of up market tourist places; this place is a little more basic
but with a good selection of Belgian bottled and Heineken. Various
beer memorabilia around the pub. Prices are reasonable.
John 8/10 visit June 2001
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La Traverne
Flamande, 15 Place de la Gare,
Attractive pub with
brick walls softened by comfortable green upholstery and pretty plants. Wooden bar area and tables with
semi-circular seating. Collection of bottled beers on display, including
a huge bottle of Kriek! Roof vaulted in unusual
style.
Sue 8.5/10 visit June 2001
Nice pub with bare brick-work ,seating along the side and dim lighting, making it
atmospheric. An unusual ceiling which is a little hard to
explain. Good choice of international beers. Nice wicker-type chairs, and a fair amount of seating out the front.
John 9/10 visit June 2001
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Taverne de L'Ecu,
9 rue Esquermoise
Very impressed with this
huge bar, although it has rather a sordid past as a hangout for prostitutes and
a blue movie cinema. Home-brew pub with large downstairs bar and upstairs area with
original cinema curtain. Wooden pillars with dried hops support upper
gallery. House blonde beer good.
Sue 9/10 visit June 2001
Home brew pub which,
unlike the 3 Brasseurs, allows you to drink their
beers in a drinking area. A
nice place which has some nice brewery mirrors as you walk in on the left hand
side, and lots of wood panelling, giving it an airy relaxing atmosphere. Beers
were nice too.
John 9.5/10 visit June 2001
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Café La Terrasse, rue du Molinet
Laid-back, relaxed
atmosphere in this café, which is off the beaten track. Loburg beer very nice. Lovely painting of
poppies on wall, and nice collection of malt whisky cases and bottles. Friendly service.
Sue 8/10 visit June 2001
Interesting locals place, if a little
basic, with three
John7.5/10 visit June 2001
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Les 3 Brasseurs, 22 Place de la Gare
Rather a cold pub, where we were told to
sit at the bar if not eating! Had a palette with four small glasses of each
beer brewed. Could see the brewer at work! Service rather slow. Décor in dark wood.
Sue 7.5/10 visit June 2001
Home brew pub which
seems more interested in its food than its beer. Wood panelling and dim lighting gives the place a
little atmosphere. Brewing vessels can be seen from the bar. If
visiting try the palette-a sample of the beers.
John 7.5/10 visit June 2001
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Café Jenlain,
43 Place Rihour
Was closed for
decoration when we visited; it sells beers from the local Duyck
brewery, and comes recommended from people I know.
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PARIS
While Paris is more famous for its food and wine, there are a few
places worth visiting for a drink, but at a price-beer was almost £3-50 to
£4-00 a pint when I visited
1er Arrondissement
La Traverne
Des Rubens,
A nice place with some
good beers on offer. Good
relaxing atmosphere and service. Red British phone box on your way down to the
toilets.
John 7.5/10 visit May 1999
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Au Trappiste,
As you might expect, this café has a lot
of Belgian beers, as well as some interesting French ones ,
albeit at a price. Nice décor and a good food menu. Good pub sign outside.
John 7.5/10 visit May 1999
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The Frog and Rosbif,
Home brew pub from the
John 9/10 visit May 1999
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Les Sous-Bock
Travern,
Pub with a long narrow
bar, which is open 24 hours.
A good choice of beers from around the world, even if it's well-known
international breweries( like Bud and Fosters ). Lots
of TV screens showing MTV.
John 8/10 visit May 1999
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2e
Arrondissement
Manneken-Pis, 4 Rue Daunou
While the beer range is not great, this
place is very atmospheric, with a nice cosy feel. Wood-panelling around the
walls, with pictures of old jazz and movie stars. Make sure you visit the
downstairs bar area.
John 9/10 visit May 1999
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6e
Arrondissement
Pub St-Germain Des Pres, 17 Rue de L'Ancienne
Comedie
When you go into this place it feels more
like a restaurant than a pub, but after you sit and look at the menu you will
find a good beer list. Nice wood-panelling and pictures on the wall.
John 8/10 visit May 1999
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10e
Arrondissement
Café Concert Falstaff,
15 Rue De Dunkerque
Café near to Gare du Nord
Eurostar station. A good range of French and overseas
beers. Large place with lots of different places to sit, but can still
get crowded. Good food menu especially if you like ice cream.
John 8/10 visit May 1999
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