Paris-Roubaix 2026 — Food & Drink
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The Nord — what to eat
The Nord (Hauts-de-France) is Flemish-influenced, hearty, beer-driven. This is not Provence — it’s frites, cheese, and stews.
Must-try dishes
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Carbonade flamande | Beef braised in beer with onions and gingerbread — the signature dish of the Nord |
| Welsh | Grilled bread with ham, melted cheddar in beer — served with frites |
| Potjevleesch | Four meats (chicken, pork, veal, rabbit) in beer aspic — Flemish, served cold with frites |
| Waterzooï | Creamy chicken or fish stew — Flemish comfort food |
| Tarte au Maroilles | Quiche-like tart with pungent Maroilles cheese |
| Goyère de Valenciennes | Maroilles cheese pastry, specific to Valenciennes |
| Fricadelle | Deep-fried sausage — the friterie classic |
Cheese
- Maroilles — THE cheese of the Nord. Strong, washed-rind, smells terrible, tastes amazing. The Maroilles village is ~30 km from your hotel in Maubeuge!
- Mimolette — orange cheese, aged in Roubaix
Sweet things
- Tarte au sucre — brown sugar (vergeoise) tart, simple and addictive
- Gaufre fourrée — filled waffle, Lille specialty
- Merveilleux — meringue and chocolate cream cake
Frites — the Paris-Roubaix food
Every viewing spot will have a friterie (frites van). This IS the race day experience — eating frites in the mud watching riders suffer on cobbles.
Order a cornet de frites and choose your sauce:
Sauces
| Sauce | What it is | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Andalouse | Tomato + mayo + peppers, slightly spicy | 🏆 The #1 friterie sauce — try this first |
| Samouraï | Mayo + harissa, spicy | The hot option, very popular |
| Mayonnaise | Real mayo, thick, eggy, tangy | The purist’s choice |
| Sauce blanche | Creamy, slightly tangy, with herbs | Simple, good |
| Pickles | Mayo + gherkins | Mild, great all-rounder |
| Tartare | Mayo + capers + herbs | Like a rémoulade |
| Bicky | Onion + pickle based, sweet-tangy | Uniquely Belgian |
| Américaine | Mayo + tomato + onion | Not American at all |
| Ketchup | … | Locals will judge you |
For two people
Get one cornet andalouse, one samouraï — swap and compare. Or ask for deux sauces on one cornet.
Beer, not wine
You’re in beer territory. The Nord has a strong Flemish brewing tradition.
French Nord beers
| Beer | Style |
|---|---|
| Jenlain | Amber, local classic |
| 3 Monts | Strong blonde from Flanders |
| Ch’ti | The regional beer |
| Goudale | Blonde, from Arras |
Belgian beers (for Sunday evening / Monday)
| Beer | Style |
|---|---|
| Chimay | Trappist (blue, red, or triple) |
| Orval | Trappist, dry-hopped, complex |
| Rochefort | Trappist, dark, rich |
| Westmalle | Trappist, the original triple |
When to eat what
Saturday evening — Maubeuge
- La Friterie Maubeugeoise — reportedly excellent frites (good for casual Saturday dinner)
- Or drive ~30 min to Valenciennes for more options and try the Goyère de Valenciennes
- TripAdvisor — Maubeuge restaurants
Sunday — Race day
| When | Where | What |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Chez Françoise, Troisvilles | Local beer (Jenlain or 3 Monts) |
| Afternoon | Friterie van at Arenberg / Mons / Carrefour | Frites + fricadelle + sauce andalouse |
| Late afternoon | Food vendors at Vélodrome | More frites, gaufre |
Sunday evening — after the race
Option 1: Quick dinner in Lille, then drive to Charleroi
| Time | What |
|---|---|
| ~18:30 | Leave Roubaix area |
| ~18:45 | Arrive Lille — dinner in Vieux-Lille |
| ~20:30 | Leave Lille → Charleroi (~1h15) |
| ~21:45 | Arrive hotel near Charleroi |
Lille is buzzing after race day. Look for a brasserie in Vieux-Lille — order carbonade flamande or Welsh with local beer.
Option 2: Drive straight to Charleroi, dinner there
| Time | What |
|---|---|
| ~18:30 | Leave Roubaix area |
| ~20:00 | Arrive Charleroi area |
| ~20:15 | Dinner near hotel |
You’re in Belgium now — different menu:
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Moules-frites | Mussels with frites — THE Belgian classic |
| Stoemp | Mashed potatoes with vegetables and sausage |
| Boulets à la liégeoise | Meatballs in sweet-sour syrup — Walloon specialty |
Sunday evening closures
Many restaurants in Roubaix close on Sunday evening. If eating in Roubaix before driving, book ahead. Lille has much better Sunday night options.
Monday — Return day
- Return car at Charleroi Airport: 10:30
- Flight to Zagreb: 13:10
Gifts for home
Stop at a Delhaize or Carrefour supermarket near Charleroi on Monday morning — better prices than the airport.
| Gift | Where to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Belgian pralines | Supermarket, airport duty free, or chocolatier | The classic Belgian gift — always appreciated |
| Speculoos (Lotus or artisan) | Supermarket or bakery | Addictive spiced biscuits, travels well, cheap |
| Gaufres fourrées (filled waffles) | Bakery or supermarket | Nord/Lille style, packed in boxes — travels well |
| Beer (Chimay, Orval, 3 Monts) | Supermarket | Check Ryanair liquid rules — checked bag only |
| Macarons | Le Comptoir Gourmand (Charleroi) | Beautiful but fragile |
| Don’t. | Your fellow passengers will hate you. |
Pâtisseries near Charleroi
| Place | Where | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Boulangerie Mahy | Châtelet/Fleurus (~10 min from airport) | Artisan, well-known locally |
| Bernard Istasse | Marchienne-au-Pont | Respected pâtissier — chou pistache, fraisier |
| Le Comptoir Gourmand | Charleroi | Macarons, tartes, choux |
At the airport
- Aelia Duty Free — Belgian pralines and chocolates
- Charles’ Brewing — Belgian beers and food
- Fresh waffle stand
References
- Gites de France Nord — Spécialités culinaires
- France 3 — 15 plats du Nord
- Routard — Cuisine Nord-Pas-de-Calais
- Charleroi Airport — Shops
- Femmes d’Aujourd’hui — Pâtisseries Charleroi