Top places to eat out in Liverpool city centre

Liverpool is known for many things, from music to a diverse culture, but little is said about the exploding food scene. Explore Avanti's best places to eat here.

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Written by our web team

3 mins read | September 27, 2021

Whether you're travelling to Liverpool for work or you're briefly stopping there on a commute further afield, you won't be short of places to grab a good bite to eat. Of course, you're free to grab a sandwich or pastry from one of the coffee shops and cafes inside Liverpool Lime Street Station if that's what you're after. But given this station is right in the heart of Liverpool city centre, there are plenty more options available to you just moments away, from street restaurants to fine dining and cocktail bars.

You might be looking for street food and "snacky" eateries or high-end dining and different cuisines could be your thing. In this city of culture, every taste and budget is catered for, and you'll be spoilt for choice. Our Liverpool eating out guide includes many of our favourite places for eating out in Liverpool city centre, with something to suit every palate and hankering.

Bacaro

If you're looking for a light bite to eat or a few small plates you can share with others you're travelling with, Bacaro is a great option. Spear-headed by a small group of local restaurant professionals, it's one of four local eateries in the group, with this particular venue specialising in Venetian small plates and charcuterie. If you're in a hurry, you can always book a table with them online once you know your estimated arrival time.

Gordon Ramsay Bread Street Kitchen

For those spending a little more time in Liverpool and seeking something a little more up-market, Gordon Ramsay Bread Street Kitchen is located just 10 minutes from Liverpool Lime Street in the heart of Liverpool ONE. It's open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days a week, with Michelin-starred Ramsay favourites including Beef Wellington and traditional meals like fish & chips all on the menu.

Bill's Liverpool Restaurant

You can never go wrong with Bill's, located near Liverpool ONE, whether you're dining for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This British restaurant and bar chain is perfect for casual dining with friends or work colleagues, and with classics including burgers, salads and international cuisines all on the menu, the hard part will be choosing what to order. And don't be put off if you're on a plant-based diet, as there are plenty of vegan options to choose from.

Rosa's Thai

Thai food, a bit of spice and exploding with flavour, remains one of the world's most popular cuisines, and Rosa's Thai on Albert Dock is the place for you. With over 30 restaurants in the UK, Rosa's Thai has come a long way from its humble beginnings in the mountains of North Thailand. The Liverpool restaurant was the chain's first restaurant outside London, and who can blame them, with great views of the docks and an enviable city centre location. If that's not enough, the vibrancy of both the colours and flavours in the dishes here will have you booking to come back to Liverpool in no time.

Mowgli Street Food

Situated on Bold Street, less than ten minutes from Liverpool Lime Street Station is Mowgli Street Food. Founded in 2014, this relative newcomer to the British food scene has built a reputation for offering the kind of food Indians eat both at home and on their streets. If you're keen to try something new, exciting and bursting with flavour, Mowgli Street Food should definitely be on your shortlist. Plus, with gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options, as well as a variety of small plates to choose from, there's sure to be something to suit every palate.

Maray Bold Street

Just a few doors down from Mowgli, you'll find Maray Bold Street; a small plates restaurant specialising in Middle Eastern tastes and delicious cocktails. While the plates might be small, the flavours are huge, with mezze platters to get those taste buds tingling and meat or vegetable dishes bursting with herbs and spices of the Middle East. Open for both lunch and dinner, you can book online and even take advantage of their mid-week lunch offer if you're travelling Monday through Friday.

Gusto Italian

You can easily spend a day on Royal Albert Dock, so when lunchtime or dinner comes, Gusto Italian is a great place to indulge. With fine dining firmly on the menu, this chain restaurant offers all the favourites you'd expect to see in an Italian restaurant. From freshly-baked bread and nibbles to chargrilled steaks, stone-baked pizzas and mouth-watering pasta dishes, you'll be spoilt for choice.

So Greek Full

Eating out at Albert Dock Liverpool can provide many experiences depending on what you're looking for, from high-end cuisines to local specialities and everything in between. But one eatery you can't miss when wandering through the dock is Liverpool's first and only Greek food truck, So Greek Full. This street food truck specialises in classics taken directly from Greek tavernas, with souvlaki, olives, daily specials and mixed boxes to take away. This eatery is definitely one to try if you need a meal on the go!

Cosy Club

If you're looking for a relaxed lunch or dinner, with just a touch of class, Cosy Club is an excellent choice. Liverpool's Cosy Club is situated on Paradise Street at Liverpool ONE, within touching distance of all the city's best shops and entertainment venues, and just half a mile walk from Liverpool Lime Street station. Whether it's breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner you're after, this open-all-day restaurant and cocktail bar has got you covered.

Floating Grace

A visit to Liverpool's famous Albert Dock wouldn't be complete without a dining experience on the water. Floating Grace is located on Salthouse Quay, a 20-minute walk from Liverpool Lime Street station, but it's a restaurant that's definitely worth the extra steps. Whether you're seeking an evening meal with a view, afternoon tea for a client or a dinner cruise along the docks alongside the Mersey, this floating restaurant will definitely provide a unique experience. And the food's pretty great too.

Lunya

For those who love a tapa or two, Lunya Catalonian tapas restaurant is the place to go. Conveniently located on Hanover Street, less than a ten-minute walk from Liverpool Lime Street Station, this eatery is a much-loved favourite of locals and commuters alike. With multiple award wins and a vast menu full of exciting tapas options, the hard part will be narrowing down your choices - we counted sixty items on the food menu before our appetites got the better of us.

Maggie May's

A trip to Liverpool just doesn't feel right without tasting a fresh bowl of the city's delicacy, scouse, and one of the best places to try it is a little local cafe on Bold Street called Maggie May's. Liverpool residents are often referred to as 'Scousers', and the term is derived from the region's fresh hearty bowls of meat stew, known as scouse (which actually came from Norway, but that's a whole other article). Why not pop in for a quick lunch on a cold winter's day and see what all the fuss is about?

A world full of flavours in the heart of the city

If our guide has whet your appetite for your upcoming trip to Liverpool, be sure to book a restaurant ahead of your journey, especially if you're limited on time in the city or you're keen to try out one of Liverpool's fine dining eateries.

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