Places to eat in Liverpool

Although there are still plenty of places where you can find a traditional plate of Scouse, if you fancy something more exotic, you’re in luck; the gastronomic scene has exploded in recent years. From flavoursome Spanish tapas to fine dining with the best views of the city, we’ve got the cream of the Liverpool restaurant crop.

If you want a luxury afternoon tea, an evening sipping cocktails or a fine dinner in very swish surroundings, Panoramic 34 is the place. But what makes the restaurant truly special are the views. Set on the 34th floor of the city’s highest skyscraper, floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning panoramic views of the river, city and beyond. At 300 feet above sea level, you’re even higher than the city’s famous Liver birds. Even better, friendly and knowledgeable staff are only too happy to point out places of interest - and it’s within waving distance of our Liverpool City Centre (Moorfields) hotel.

With delicious Catalan food and lashings of the finest Cava to wash it down with, this tapas restaurant shows that the best things arrive on small plates. Neon Jamon opened in Smithdown Place in 2012, and has proved so popular that there’s now another one on Berry Street. The lunchtime deals are legendary, but it’s the atmosphere that keeps people coming back for more. From the soundtrack to the staff, it’s all so authentically Spanish you could be in Barcelona (if you ignore the British weather). And the dish that gets everyone talking? The straw fries served with egg on top.

Opened in 2014 by Wirral chef Paul Askew, The Art School has been named as one of the UK’s best restaurants. Just a stroll from our Liverpool City Centre (Liverpool One) hotel, you know you’re in for star treatment when you’re greeted at the door by staff wearing bowler hats. If you can tear yourself away from the armchairs and log fires in the lounge area, you’ll find that the dining room is also a classy affair. Luckily, friendly waiting staff (and the view of the chefs hard at work in the glassed-in kitchen) keep the atmosphere relaxed.

South of the city centre, Liverpool’s Chinatown is the oldest Chinese settlement in Europe and, with its beautiful red and gold arch as the gateway to the area, it really looks the part. It tastes the part, too, serving some of the most authentic Asian cuisine you’ll find in the UK. There’s an extensive range of restaurants from Beijing, Sichuan, Vietnam and Thailand on offer but, when it comes to Chinese cuisine, North Garden is one of the best - it’s always packed with members of the Chinese community.

Liverpool’s independent cafe scene can be found all over the city, but is concentrated in the hippest areas in town - Ropewalks, the Albert Dock and the Baltic Triangle.

Ropewalks’ mix of historic streets, renovated warehouses and quirky venues have turned it into the city’s indie quarter, and very lovely it is too. But if it’s a good coffee you’re after, you’re in the right place. Sample the best of Liverpool café culture at Bold Street Coffee and LEAF café.

If you’re staying at our Albert Dock hotel, you’re in luck. The beautiful World Heritage riverside area is packed with cafes, but for something different, try Ziferblat. Inside, everything you eat and drink is free, but you pay for the amount of time you spend here.

Hipsters’ favourite the Baltic Triangle is the fastest-growing creative hub in the city. It also has some of Liverpool’s coolest cafes.  If the weather’s fine, head to Constellations - this urban garden hosts a fabulous brunch club every weekend.

A major port, Liverpool has long been a melting pot of different cultures and nowhere can this be seen better than in its thriving street food scene. From Mexican frijoles to traditional Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas, the city’s pop-up stalls are the stuff of foodie legend.

Liverpool is full of farmers’ markets and one of the best can be found in the Bohemian area of Lark Lane. Open 9am to 2pm every fourth Saturday of the month, you can buy everything from fish to cakes, safe in the knowledge it’s all produced or sourced from a 30-mile radius. Best to go early as it’s so popular that stocks of artisan produce get low later on.

Open Thursday to Sunday, foodie favourite Baltic Market is so popular, it often has queues around the block. Set in the iconic Cains Brewery building, there’s vegan fast food from Picnic Liverpool, specialist fried chicken from The Mad Bantam and gluten-free tacos from Frijol. Fancy a pizza? Little Furnace provides wood-fired slices so authentic you’ll think you’re in Napoli.

There’s been a farmers’ market on the Wirral for over 15 years and it’s still going strong. There are more than 30 stalls to browse, and they’re full of fresh produce, meat, fish and meals. You’ll find Wirral Farmers’ Market at New Ferry Village Hall every second Saturday of the month from 9am to 1pm.