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 Liverpool’s best restaurants. At some we’ve gone nuts for the food, in others it’s all about the venue. So, if you’re looking for the city’s most moreish plates, or simply somewhere to be ‘seen’ whilst eating, 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.
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.
Yes, as the name would suggest, this place is in on the Americana trend – but where else can you eat pulled pork and buffalo wings in the grounds of a former convent? Inside Free State Kitchen it’s pretty tight around the hips, but outside there are wide lawns and picnic tables a-plenty. The food is good, too, with burgers, deli sandwiches and desserts all going down a treat beneath the fairy lights. They let you order takeout, too.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Think a pan-Asian menu served up in a 1950s surrounding; visually, HOST feels like an odd mix, but the food there is undeniably on point. This is also one of the top places to rock up to if you’re harbouring complicated dietary requirements – its vegan, dairy and gluten free options are wide ranging. Curry, tempura veg and sea bass make up some of the savouries, while the puddings (such as chocolate and coconut sundae with miso butterscotch sauce) give some classic dishes an exotic twist.
Now here’s a restaurant that’s been serving up Northern Chinese cuisine for over 40 years. Yuet Ben translates to “welcome honoured guest” and treats its patrons well by offering up both expected staples (yes, that means crispy duck), and some more unusual gems. Our wonderful food writer in Liverpool, Christina McDermott, recommends the cold smoked fish and sweet and sour “cherry” chicken if you’re not sure what to pick.
The Reader Bar & Restaurant offers diners a bistro-style menu, inspired by continental European flavours and created using locally sourced seasonal produce.
Sitting in the heart of Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle district, Boxpark Liverpool will offer forward-thinking street food, drinks and entertainment under one roof.
The wildly popular cook haus and bier palace how now opened in Liverpool, looking to emulate the success of its sister branch in Manchester.
This 18th-floor bar and restaurant has stunning views of the Liverpool Skyline, including the River Mersey.
Goodness Gracious is a rooftop bar with stunning views over Liverpool, found above the OH ME OH MY cafe on Water Street.
Tempest on Tithebarn is a huge industrial bar, serving up high-quality small plates and cocktails. It features regular live music performances and has a roof terrace with great views.
Gordon Ramsay’s modern European restaurant comes to Liverpool ONE, taking over two floors and featuring all the classic Bread Street Kitchen dishes.
Ma Boyle’s Alehouse and Eatery serves up British cuisine and smart cocktails in a charming retro-style venue in Liverpool.
The 80-cover restaurant is split across two levels with the main restaurant downstairs boasting an open kitchen; the best seat in the house is at the benches where you are almost nose to nose with the chefs as they prepare the food.
Sister venue to Jimmy’s in Manchester, Jimmy’s Liverpool is a bar, restaurant and live venue, hosting late night music, gigs and DJ sets.
Panoramic 34 boasts ceiling to floor windows with a breathtaking 360 degree aspect, but there’s plenty more to get giddy about than just the views.
Our favourite is The Scorpion, two beef-free patties with melted spicy pepper ‘cheese’, yellow mustard, jalapenos, sriracha mayo, spicy chipotle paste, red onion, ketchup, tomato and lettuce, packed in a vegan burger bun.
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