Liverpool
Dining And Drinking

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A wise old sage once said that you could tell a lot about a city by its churches and its pubs, and Liverpool is a great example of this theory. The late 20th century saw a great influx of designer bars appearing at the speed of light, this was undoubtedly the biggest area of development in the city.

One of the first of these was the Baa Bar, located as the jewel in the crown of the Liverpool Palace on trendy Slater Street. Its streamlined architecture and late licence helped it gain cult status among students and music lovers, who would queue patiently to gain entry to this exclusive drinking den. Mello Mello, also on Slater Street, was the second bar to gain kudos with the Liverpool in-crowd, as a well-known watering hole for footballers, celebrities and fashion-conscious clubbers on their way to Cream. Next to open was the Modo and Roccomodo complex, situated in Concert Square. The first major development dedicated to luxury entertainment, Modo combines dining and drinking with fabulous design and a laid back atmosphere. Check out Modo Bar and Grill for unusual, quality bar food.

For those seeking a more traditional approach to drinking, Peter Kavanagh's, The Albert, Ye Cracke, The Pilgrim and The Philharmonic Pub are well worth seeking out, while lovers of the Irish vibe should check out Pogue Mahone in the city centre and Flannagan's Apple in the Cavern Quarter. For those who prefer a Beatle theme to their evening, the Cavern Quarter is the best place to begin. Also worth visiting are the Cavern Pub and The Lennon Bar.

Eating out in Liverpool never took precedence over drinking until recently, with takeaways and curry houses the main fodder for that post-booze bellyache. Nowadays, the choices have improved ten-fold, with a wide variety of restaurants and café bars available to suit all tastes and pockets. The St Petersburg Dining Club, situated slightly out of the town centre and hidden behind a shabby exterior, is the only fully authentic Russian restaurant in the country and offers a wonderful dining and drinking experience.

In the Lark Lane area, L'Alouette offers fantastic French dining, while Que Pasa Cantina serves South American style meals. The two Greek restaurants include the Akis Greek Taverna, which provides a great party atmosphere, and Romios for a more intimate affair.

The central area has the highest concentration of dining opportunities. A Passage To India on Bold Street has to be one of the best, with Musapir also on the same street offering a vegan version of Indian cuisine. Hardman Street is home to Valparaiso, which offers South American cuisine, Antoni's Cypriot Restaurant and The Italian Bistro. A short walk away, Berry Street—leading into Chinatown—houses Bijou and Ziba.

The fabulously restored Albert Dock on the city’s waterfront is a perfect choice for a night out. There is the superb Est Est Est Italian restaurant and in the same building, the more informal What's Cooking. A few minutes walk along the quayside brings you to the much-admired and ever so trendy Blue Bar and Grill, the food is heavenly but be prepared to wait as the service can be erratic at times. A couple of doors away is Mr M's Waterside Restaurant, which is essential dining for all seafood lovers. If you don’t want to waste good drinking time by eating then there are many options including the classically decorated Pump House, the stylish Est Bar, Babycream and The Blue. On warm sunny evenings, the relaxing ambiance and view across the docklands is something not to be missed.

For those seeking a lunchtime meal or post-work nosh up, Bucca Di Bacco, The Balti House, La Tasca and De Coubertini's are all fine eating places located in the business sector of town. Café bars worth a mention include The Qube and Prohibition Bar & Grill, although there are many more to choose from. Liverpool has so much to offer these days that no mere guide can do it justice. Whatever your preference and budget, there's something out there for everyone.