From gourmet tapas to towering burgers – by way of sushi, Chinese and vegetarian food – we’ve done our best to lasso together an inventory of food and drink in Liverpool. At some we’ve gone nuts for the food, in others the booze and for some it’s all about the venue. So, if you’re looking for the city’s most moreish plates, or simply somewhere to grab a simple beer, this is the guide for you.
El Gato’s home in Liverpool is the beautiful stone-clad Walker House, part of the landmark Exchange Flags building. Overlooking the iconic Nelson monument and Liverpool Town Hall, this stylish open-plan restaurant and bar offers a wide range of options for dining and drinking. You can even enjoy tapas al fresco, sat in our fully covered and heated patio area.
The Art School’s tasting menu differs from most, in that rather than a series of tiny plates the dishes are fewer in number but gradually increase in size and intensity, reaching a crescendo with the masterpiece plate of Galloway beef – easily one of the top ten dishes in the North. The experience doesn’t come cheap but event dining of this quality rarely does.
It might be a short trip away from the city centre, but Stanley’s Bar & Grill feels like a whole new world. The food is second-to-none, taking traditional dishes and adding a flourish that elevates them far above the norm. If you’re looking for one of Liverpool’s best restaurants, either for a special occasion or to wow a guest, look no further.
Bacaro elegantly and effortlessly serves up a taste of the Mediterranean – Italian cicchetti plates, to be precise. Which means: herby focaccia, arancini, meat boards and fritto misto (or fried fish). With dusky walls, moody lighting and intimate booths, it’s the perfect place to share some tapas-style dishes, washed down with the Italian classic, Campari. Don’t miss the affogato dessert, too. Why? You’ll see.
Built around 1804 on the site of an ancient tavern, The Grapes is one of the oldest pubs in Liverpool. It has, perhaps unintentionally, become an arty haunt, with punters just as likely to be found discussing Derrida as football.
Gordon Ramsay’s modern European restaurant has finally landed in Liverpool ONE, taking over two floors and featuring all the classic Bread Street Kitchen dishes such as beef wellington, butter chicken curry and the Hell’s Kitchen burger.
Bold Street makes a strong showing in this list, and for good reason – it’s a hive of fiercely independent shops and cafes. Bold Street Coffee is one of the best, with, as you’d expect, a strong range of heavily-caffeinated coffee blends, but a superb selection of breakfast dishes. Our favourite has to be the home-made cinnamon granola with banana, figs & blueberries, served with a pumpkin lassi. Irresistible.
Lauded by Jay Rayner as “one of the more intriguing venues I have eaten at for a long while”, Camp & Furnace brings together vintage caravans, towering shrubbery, roaring fires and the biggest public screen in the city all under the roofs of three old warehouses and a coach shed. You guessed it – the place is enormous. It’s big on its foodie events, too, with film-themed dining on Screen Thursdays, a Friday Food Slam and a Saturday Meat Market (cooked up over a huge BBQ). Ergo, one of the coolest places to eat in Liverpool.
This restaurant prides itself on its fresh and local approach, with an in-house bakery and bees producing honey on the rooftop garden. It’s a good looking venue that’s light and airy, matching the style of the food on the menu. The cocktails (which often make use of the aforementioned rooftop honey) are also superb.
This “Cook Haus and Bier Palace”, manages to land on the right side of Bavarian without tipping over into tacky. Food-wise expect a sausagefest, with bratwurst and frankfurters sprinkled liberally throughout the menu, and as for beers, the selection is expansive and inclusive, with options for all taste buds.
From the team behind the old Everyman Bistro comes The Pen Factory, a warm and welcoming space situated in the basement of the Annex Building.
17 floors up and with 360° views over Liverpool Gino D’Acampo’s Sky Bar is a great spot in Liverpool. We particularly love the afternoon tea there, but the extensive cocktail menu is also a big draw for those wanting to sink a few fruity, sugary treats while overlooking the River Mersey.
In the MerseyMade shop you’ll find bottled gin from the likes of Turncoat Gin, Anfield Gin, Albert Dock Gin and Three Graces Gin. Yep, Liverpool REALLY likes its gin.
Pippin’s Corner is a family-friendly cafe bistro in the leafy Liverpool suburb of Aigburth and is an ideal base for exploring Lark Lane’s independent shops and the magnificent Sefton Park.
Wildly popular cafe and wine bar on Liverpool’s wonderfully independent Lark Lane.
In South Liverpool’s Calderstones Park, the Grade II listed Mansion House is home to The Reader organisation, promoting reading and literature.
A secret space and tea room, Oh Me Oh My lives in the stunning surrounds of Liverpool’s West Africa House. We take a look.
Placed at the very heart of Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, 92 Degrees Coffee forms an integral part of the Baltic Creative Community.
A ‘bicycle café’ set in Northern Lights within the Baltic Triangle, serving up great food and coffee to leave you… spinning.
This tiny gem of a coffee-shop is almost too good to share.
A super cool cafe at the top of Bold Street, Bold Street Coffee in Liverpool serves a range of specialist coffee, cakes and sandwiches.
Keeping Bold Street a hub of creativity, LEAF is more than a tearoom, it’s also a bar and thriving event space with a packed schedule of upcoming happenings.
An independent coffee shop with an American diner-style menu
Food From Nowhere is a weekly vegan cafe held in the basement space of much-loved radical bookshop News From Nowhere. It’s open every Saturday from midday to 5pm.
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