The Best Restaurants in Liverpool

When Andrew Sheridan moved his restaurant from Birmingham to Liverpool city centre, it represented a return home for the local culinary talent. His focus here is on the ‘experience’ of eating out, aiming to create something immersive and engaging for his diners. That means a tasting menu served at one of two small chef’s counters, with the team explaining the dishes and chatting with guests throughout the evening. Just around the corner is the famous Cavern Club, where The Beatles played their early gigs.

A little out of the city centre, towards the lovely green space of Sefton Park, Belzan has an appealing neighbourhood feel. Its interior is very much of the modern bistro style, with wooden tables, herringbone chairs and a general stripped-back feel. The menu allows for sharing or classic à la carte ordering, with robust flavours aplenty in dishes such as the signature ‘Guinness Rarebit Potato’. Wines are a feature here too, with on-trend natural and orange options forming a key part of the list.

It’s not hard to see that the space now occupied by Manifest was once a warehouse, given its industrial-chic design with exposed brickwork and steel pillars. The open kitchen is key to the look, from which the chefs produce well-crafted dishes that can be enjoyed from a seat at the counter. There’s a wine bar feel to the place too, enhanced by the largely European list with good options by the glass. The location adds to the appeal, close to the stunning Gothic architecture of Liverpool Cathedral and all manner of things going on at the Royal Albert Dock.

A relatively new kid on the Liverpool block, NORD has an inherent sense of style about it. The modern dining room incorporates eye-catching touches such as bucket chairs and pod-like booths – but this is no case of style over substance. Across a wide-ranging menu, the kitchen team show they are serious about their craft with dishes that provide ample flavour thanks to quality ingredients and careful execution.

NORD has even been recommended by film and TV director Philip Barantini, known for Netflix phenomenon Adolescence; for more recommendations, read our full interview with Barantini about his home city.

If there has been one establishment at the forefront of Liverpool’s restaurant evolution in the last 10 years, it’s Paul Askew’s The Art School. A beacon of quality for over a decade now, it’s an elegant and quite formal place, where the tablecloths and occasional bit of white-gloved service add to the sense of a special occasion. The ambitious, detailed dishes really look the part, often using local suppliers for the flavoursome produce. Askew is known for his work with younger chefs, adding to The Art School’s place as a Liverpool institution.

It feels appropriate to recommend at least one restaurant on Hope Street, one of Liverpool's most popular thoroughfares and a bustling, on-trend destination in the Georgian Quarter. Cooking-wise, Vetch is defined by its combination of British ingredients and East Asian flavours; whether coming from Japan, China or Korea, you’ll find an array of thoughtfully deployed influences across the menu. At dinner, only a tasting menu is served, making this a great place to come if you’re looking for a celebratory night out.