BABEL, a 71-room art-filled hotel near Lille's railway stations

BABEL is a four-star hotel in the centre of Lille, a short walk from both of the city's main railway stations. It is pitched as a contemporary urban inn, and its story comes from Flanders' maritime past, long voyages and the old spice routes. The idea behind the interiors is a modern traveller coming home with a bag full of objects and memories.

It is the first time interior designer Chloé Nègre and artist Lucille Boitelle have worked together. Nègre has filled the 71 rooms, spread over six floors, with antiques, vintage pieces, bespoke furniture and reclaimed materials. Expect spice-coloured walls, raw linen, deep velvet, patinated brass and old tiles, with each room arranged like a small cabinet of curiosities. Boitelle's panoramic mermaid illustrations come in two colourways. Elsewhere, almost 50 original works include an eight-metre spice-route mural on the ground floor, with seahorses, seabirds, boats and tiny volcanoes turning up along the corridors.

The ground-floor bar has long wooden tables and benches and is meant for locals as much as guests. Its short menu leans on nearby producers, with beers from Brasserie Cambier, Saint Bernardus and Vaucelles Abbey, and coffee from MUDA. Exhibitions, artist residencies and events with Le Fresnoy and Attacafa are planned. It makes an easy, characterful base for anyone arriving in Lille by train.

Our summary of a story from We Heart, published 2 November 2026. Read the original

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