Pubs and bars in Liverpool

Maja Lorkowska, Exhibitions Editor

It should be easy enough to choose a place for a drink or two in Liverpool, given just how much choice there is, in almost any area you can think of. It’s this overwhelming amount of pubs and bars to pick from though, that make that decision difficult. Fear not though, because we’re here to help – take a look below to see the best places for a pint or a glass of wine.

Fans of traditional public houses will be more than satisfied with classics like Ye Cracke and The Grapes, while dog-friendly Caledonia serves delicious vegan meals and live music nights. Bar goers might pop into the classy Jenny’s Bar (disguised as a fish restaurant) or cosy McGuffie’s.

If you can’t choose, pop into Love Lane Brewery or Black Lodge, which are difficult to categorise into either group yet both have impressive selections of drinks and, most importantly, a good atmosphere.

Our top picks

The Bridewell

The Bridewell, 1 Campbell Square, Liverpool, L1 5FB - Visit now

The Bridewell is a former Victorian police station that is now a Grade II listed award-winning pub serving cask ales, wines and spirits.

The Bridewell Pub
The Bridewell: Photo © Vicky Andrews

Petit Cafe Du Coin

Petit Cafe Du Coin, 60 Berry St, Liverpool, L1 4JQ - Visit now

Petit Cafe Du Coin is a Parisian-style, friendly café bar in the centre of Liverpool serving a selection of excellent wines and even better cocktails.

Petit Cafe Du Coin
Ian Jones

Cafe Tabac

Cafe Tabac, 126 Bold street, Liverpool, L1 4JA - Visit now

Cafe Tabac is the longest running café bar in Liverpool, serving food and drinks to arty locals and curious newcomers.

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Ship and Mitre

Ship and Mitre, 133 Dale Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L2 2JH - Visit now

Traditional Liverpool pub with a wide selection of draught beers and ales.

SHIP & MITRE
The Ship & Mitre

Brass Monkey

Brass Monkey, 35 School lane, Liverpool, L1 3DA , Liverpool, L1 3DA - Visit now

Quirky bar with swings serving delicious drinks, tucked away down a quiet street in the centre of Liverpool.

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The Baltic Fleet

The Baltic Fleet, 33A Wapping, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 8DQ - Visit now

You can’t go wrong with beer and scouse. The Baltic Fleet is one of Liverpool’s most unique pubs and its outdoors area is a great suntrap.

The Baltic Fleet Liverpool

The Caledonia Liverpool

The Caledonia Liverpool, 22 Caledonia St, Liverpool, Merseyside, L7 7DX - Visit now

Vegan-friendly and dog-friendly, The Caledonia pub in the Georgian Quarter offers up real ale, great beer and eclectic live music.

The Caledonia Liverpool
The Caledonia

Love Lane Brewery

Love Lane Brewery, 62 Bridgewater St, Liverpool , L1 0AY - Visit now

Love Lane Brewery offers delicious food and a wide selection of beers as well as tours of the brewery and gin distillery.

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Keith’s Wine Bar

Keith’s Wine Bar, 107 Lark Lane, Liverpool, L17 8UR - Visit now

Wildly popular cafe and wine bar on Liverpool’s wonderfully independent Lark Lane.

Lark Lane Guide

The Oracle

The Oracle, 83 Seel Street, Liverpool, L1 4BB - Visit now

The Oracle is a mysteriously classy cocktail bar with magicians performing tricks at your table.

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Jenny’s Bar

Jenny’s Bar, The Old Ropery
Fenwick Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L2 7NT

Jenny’s Bar is a speakeasy in Liverpool: descend a staircase to what looks like a fish restaurant, and you’ll find a bar in two parts.

Photo of a stained glass window showing the word 'Surgery'

The Grapes Liverpool

The Grapes Liverpool, 60 Roscoe St, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 9DW - Visit now

The Grapes is one of the oldest pubs in Liverpool – an arty haunt, with punters just as likely to be found discussing Derrida as football.

The Grapes Pub, Liverpool
The Grapes. Photo © Vicky Andrews

McGuffie’s

McGuffie’s, 10 Castle Street, Liverpool, L2 0NE - Visit now

Formerly a vintage chemist, McGuffie’s is a cosy cocktail bar located in a historic venue on Liverpool’s Castle Street.

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Black Lodge Brewery

Black Lodge Brewery, 3 Kings Dock Street, Liverpool, L1 8JU - Visit now

Well-loved Micro-brewery Black Lodge has a taproom in the Baltic Triangle, where it serves the brewery’s latest beers on keg and cask.

Black Lodge Brewery
Image courtesy of Black Lodge Brewery

Berry & Rye

Berry & Rye, 48 Berry Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 4JQ - Visit now

Behind the velvet curtain, there are delicious cocktails and great atmosphere in this cosy Scouse speakeasy (once you find the right door!).

Berry & rye liverpool bar

Liverpool Arts Bar, Hope Street

Liverpool Arts Bar, Hope Street, 22 Hope Street, Liverpool , L1 9BY - Visit now

The arts bar is a vibrant, creative hub nestled between the city’s cathedrals, offering a platform for local creatives to showcase their work.

The Botanical Gin Garden

The Botanical Gin Garden, 49 New Bird Street, Liverpool, L1 0DN - Visit now

A seasonal outdoor gin bar, open six months a year, serving a wide selection of delicious (mostly) gin drinks.

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Frederiks

Frederiks, 32 Hope Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 9BX - Visit now

Frederik’s neighbourhood kitchen & bar has been the hub of the Georgian Quarter since 2013. Award winning cocktails and a great Sunday roast!

Photo of Frederiks bar

Peter Kavanagh’s

Peter Kavanagh’s, 2-6 Egerton Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L8 7LY

Peter Kavanagh’s is a pub with an interior so traditional (yet quirky), it’s worth popping in just to take a look around.

Peter Kavanagh's pub in Liverpool.
Paul Holloway

Where to go in

A 350-capacity space, permanent live music venue at 75 Argyle Street. This community venue will bring some of today’s most exciting new national and international artists to Wirral, while at the same time providing key early performance opportunities for emerging local musicians.
Wirral
Event venue
Future Yard

Future Yard is the Wirral’s most exciting music venue providing a stage and opportunities for musicians and the local community.

food and drink
Restaurant
Chamber 36 City Centre

Serving excellent Pan-Asian dishes and quirky cocktails, Chamber 36 is a stylish restaurant on the edge of Liverpool’s China Town.

food and drink
Liverpool
Restaurant
Manifest

Manifest is a casual fine dining restaurant and wine bar in the Baltic Triangle, serving seasonal dishes and delicious wines from small scale producers.

food and drink
Liverpool
Restaurant
Sanskruti

Sanskruti is a vegetarian and vegan Indian restaurant, serving an array of fresh, brightly coloured dishes in Liverpool’s Business District.

food and drink
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Brass Monkey

Brass Monkey is a quirky bar with swings serving delicious drinks, tucked away down a quiet street in the centre of Liverpool.

food and drink
Liverpool
Restaurant
The Botanical Gin Garden

The Botanical Gin Garden is a seasonal outdoor gin bar, open six months a year, serving a wide selection of delicious gin drinks.

food and drink
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Cafe Tabac

Cafe Tabac is the longest running café bar in Liverpool, serving food and drinks to arty locals and curious newcomers.

food and drink
City Centre
Bar or Pub
McGuffie’s

Formerly a vintage chemist, McGuffie’s is a cosy cocktail bar located in a historic venue on Liverpool’s Castle Street.

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Liverpool
Shop
Dead Air Records

Dead Air Records is a vinyl shop in Liverpool, offering a perfectly curated selection of records and a friendly space for music lovers.

City Centre
Shop
Root House Plants

The ultimate destination for seasoned plant lovers and beginners alike, Root sell a wide selection of gorgeous houseplants.

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Liverpool
Shop
Resurrection

Resurrection is a long-established clothes shop, selling quirky items from both larger and niche brands to Liverpool’s fashion lovers.

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