Chamber 36 City Centre

True fans of East Asian cuisine know how difficult it is to find a good restaurant, especially one with style and a good ambiance. Chamber 36 in the Liverpool city centre ticks all of those boxes and more, because their cocktail menu can rival that of some of the best cocktails bars in town.

Located on the edge of China Town, Chamber 36 sits across the road from Petit Café du Coin and a couple of minutes’ walk from the Anglican Cathedral. Inside it’s large yet cosy, with dark walls, coloured lights, comfortable booths and enormous Chinese dragon heads displayed around the room.

Make sure you arrive hungry because the menu has lots and lots to choose from. There are noodles, dumplings, meats, fish, soups, curries, stir fries and separate vegan and gluten-free menus. It will take you some time to decide so you might as well order a cocktail while browsing the dishes. The drinks menu has the classics together with some special Asian-inspired concoctions, with names like ‘Bruce Lee-chini’ and ‘Sichuan Sip’. You’ll also find a whole section of Japanese and Asian whiskeys and there are plenty of non-alcoholic options too.

Perhaps you’re wondering about the name: Chamber 36 seems to be an oddly specific number. There’s a very good reason for it though, as the name is inspired by the story of the Shaolin monk who would pass through 35 chambers in search of total unity for the body, mind and soul and upon reaching the 36th chamber he would find inner harmony and peace. Liverpool’s version of this story may include a few more calories than the original but the delicious food might just make you feel wonderfully centred.