Best Restaurants in Liverpool

By Ellie Smith

1 year ago

Where to dine in the eclectic northern city


Liverpool is known for its nightlife scene – but in recent years, this vibrant city has upped its game on the food front too. You’ll find a whole host of great restaurants dotted around its streets, from the waterfront to the buzzing Cavern Quarter. If you’re after fine dining, there’s plenty of that, with several Liverpool eateries now listed in the Michelin Guide. After something more low-key? There’s an abundance of street food hotspots and cheap eats, too. Read on for the C&TH pick of the best restaurants in Liverpool. 

Best Restaurants in Liverpool

Maray

 

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Inspired by the stylish Marais district in Paris, a group of friends joined forces to launch Maray: a small plates restaurant drawing on Middle Eastern flavours. There are now two outposts in Liverpool – one on Bold Street, and another near the waterfront – as well as a branch in Manchester. It’s an ideal spot for veggies, as vegetables are placed centre stage, with standout dishes including fried aubergine with green tahini and kale, and a cauliflower number flavoured with harissa and chermoula. There are some meat and fish dishes too though, like the sea bass with rainbow chard, and fried chicken with fenugreek and ginger ketchup. As well as serving delicious food, Maray has impressive eco credentials, being a member of the Sustainable Restaurant Association and certified carbon neutral. You can find out more about its green initiatives here.

91 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4HF and Unit 4, Britannia Pavilion, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AD, maray.co.uk

Roski

 

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Found on one of Liverpool’s most famous streets, Rodney Street, Roski is helmed by MasterChef The Professionals’ winner Anton Piotrowski. It offers creative dishes amid a relaxed setting, with a seasonal tasting menu that changes based on the freshest ingredients available. You can expect creative dishes with unique flavour pairings and fun twists: a sample menu includes an ‘Olympic Breakfast’ starter of bacon jam, baked bean foam, and foie gras hash browns, plus English asparagus with XO sauce and cockle popcorn. It’s not cheap (the tasting menu with wine pairing will set you back £190) – but it’s perfect for special occasionsspecial occasions.

16 Rodney St, Liverpool L1 2TE, roskirestaurant.com

Wreckfish

 

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This bistro has an interesting story behind it. Back in 2017, chef-owner Gary Usher launched a crowdfunding campaign to open a restaurant in a derelict building in Liverpool. He held a pop-up inside the space, and was overwhelmed by the response. Before he knew it, Wreckfish had opened for business. The popular restaurant has a laid-back feel, with exposed brick walls and an open kitchen, where Usher’s culinary team whizz up honest, bistro-style fare from breakfast through to dinner. Current highlights include harissa-roasted lamb rump, miso-glazed aubergine, and the titular dish of pan-fried wreckfish, served in a stew with saffron potatoes. On Sundays the roast is a must, featuring standout Yorkshire puds.

60 Seel St, Liverpool L1 4BE, wreckfish.co

The Art School

Located in Liverpool’s buzzy art and culture district, the Georgian quarter, The Art School is headed up by one of the city’s most famous chefs, Paul Askew. Housed inside the former Home for Destitute Children, the bright and airy space features eye-catching Victorian interiors, with a glass lantern ceiling inspired by the building’s previous function as a sculpture room. Food-wise, guests can choose between three menus: Prix Fixe, Excellence and Tasting – with vegetarian, pescatarian and vegan options available. If you go for the tasting, your meal could include the likes of pan-fried scallops with hazelnut crumb, fillet of Black Angus beef fillet, and fillet of Peterhead halibut with compressed cucumbers. Whatever you go for, you can rest assured you’re in safe hands: the restaurant has won multiple awards since opening back in 2014, including two AA rosettes.

1 Sugnall St, Liverpool L7 7EB, theartschoolrestaurant.co.uk

Panoramic 34

 

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If you’re after somewhere with a good view, Panoramic 34 is sure to fit the bill. Perched on the 34th floor of the West Tower, floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of the city, which you can enjoy alongside elegant dishes from head chef Nathan Booth and his team – including a Sunday roast and special tasting menu. Afternoon tea is also served here, featuring traditional finger sandwiches and showstopping cakes. Alternatively, head to the bar for cocktails with a view alongside small plates of tacos, bao buns and sharing boards.

West Tower, Brook St, Liverpool L3 9PJ, panoramic34.com

Belzan

 

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Head to this cosy bistro and wine bar for simple, honest food made with love. Founded by Chris Edwards and Owain Williams, with chef Sam Grainger running things in the kitchen, Belzan is built around an ethos of treating ingredients with respect, using produce from local farmers and making as much as possible by hand. The menu changes often, but to give you a feel for it, current dishes include smoked courgettes with pepper and gazpacho, Barnsley lamb chop with goats curd, and a barbecued strawberry and elderflower choux bun. There’s also a fixed price menu, and a roast on Sundays featuring a choice of corn-fed chicken, lemon sole, salt-aged porchetta, or courgette tatin with all the trimmings.

371 Smithdown Rd, Liverpool L15 3JJ, belzan.co.uk

Featured image: The Art School