Estaminet Au Vieux de la Vieille

At the edge of place aux Oignons, Au Vieux de la Vieille makes the estaminet part of a walk through Old Lille. The small venue on rue des Vieux Murs has rustic décor and a menu built around northern French cooking: Flemish beef stew, chicken with Maroilles cheese and the cheese-topped welsh. Its Gratin de la Vieille brings together a baked crêpe, endives, ham and Maroilles. The tourist office also describes an afternoon café service, useful between a visit to Notre-Dame de la Treille and a walk around the shops.

The appeal lies in the contrast between the quiet square and hearty food with assertive flavours. Diners often praise the setting, regional dishes and friendly welcome; others point out that the room can fill up and that a generous meal is not necessarily a quick stop. Reviews guide expectations rather than guaranteeing the same service on every visit. First-time visitors should distinguish carbonnade, a beef stew, from welsh, a bread-and-cheese dish: they show different sides of the region's food culture.

The exact address is 2–4 rue des Vieux Murs, near place aux Oignons. The restaurant group's website offers reservations, sensible for a busy dinner; check the menu if you have dietary needs. The tourist office lists daily lunch and dinner sittings but warns that hours can change. Walking from the Grand Place lets you see the neighbourhood on the way; Rihour is a useful metro stop when arriving from elsewhere.