An Elegant Stay at Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place

Lille is an architectural feast with stylish shopping opportunities and strong Flemish accents. It might be a little bit underrated, but its ideal position on the Eurostar and TGV lines make it a great weekend getaway from London, Paris and Brussels.

On our recent Christmas Market tour of Europe we stayed at Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place, only to discover an elegant and friendly hotel fitting for Lille. 

Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place blends in to perfection with the atmosphere of the city. It is situated in a gorgeous residence from the Haussmann era and a very short walk away from the Grand Place and all the shops and restaurants one can care about while in France. Honestly, when in comes to location, it hardly gets any better. Even the two train stations are within walking distance!

The people of Lille have a reputation for friendliness, and we were not disappointed. We were greeted by incredibly nice staff who throughout our stay proved to be very helpful and courteous.


However, our room took us by surprise. The beautiful decor, with a huge red tulip above the bed was quite fun and unique. We were also happy to find a Nespresso machine and complimentary coffee capsules and tea bags above the minibar. The room was comfortable and designed with the guest in mind. Including the shower had one of those red tulips! It was like saying "Relax! Whether you are here on business or leisure, you can relax now. This is your sanctuary. Life is fun!"

Through the big, beautiful windows we could glimpse the Big Wheel, the most important landmark at Lille Christmas Market. A little bit of magic never hurt anyone, right?


Another thing Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place Hotel stands out for is the innovative "just like home" restaurant concept. Every afternoon they lay an exciting buffet made out of salads, soups, quiche and tarts. Guests can simply help themselves and fill in a form with the dishes they had. The red kitchen looks like any home kitchen, giving a feel of familiarity.

Truth is, their quiche is a must try. All ingredients used are prime quality and fresh. It is France after all and they surely take their food seriously here. We had the best cherry tomatoes in a very long time here and the peach tart was to die for.

Breakfast is served in the same place. It's just that the guests are allowed to have their coffee and cheese anywhere they want to. The breakfast room is not delimited by any doors and we simply loved that we could enjoy our start of the day in the elegant lobby, seated in comfortable chairs by the window. The lobby at Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place is designed for the guests enjoyment and comfort, no for safekeeping, and we loved them for that.



Having breakfast in the lobby is a romantic affair too. From the warmth of the room we could contemplate the typical late autumn French urban scene that seemed like taken from a movie. In the meantime, the cold cuts, croissants and several varieties of French cheese kept us busy.



Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place is an elegant hotel ideal for both leisure and business. We loved it for its unbeatable location, for its friendly staff and for going the extra mile to prove again and again just how awesome French cuisine is. Highly recommended!

For more information on Mercure Lille Centre Grand Place or to make a booking, please visit their website.