Thursday 17 January 2019

Where to eat, drink and sleep in Liverpool - and some things to do too

Living just a stone’s throw away from Liverpool for over 20 years, I feel like I know the city quite well – although that being said I am always discovering new places to go and things to see/do. I wanted to put together a mega ‘things to do in Liverpool’ post so with the help of some pals and local bloggers, so here it is. If you think there’s anything we’ve missed out, don’t forget to leave a comment below. And if you’re heading to Liverpool anytime soon and that’s why you’re reading this post, I hope you find it helpful. Have fun!


hotels in liverpool city centre
View from the 30 James Street terrace bar

Where to stay in Liverpool


Staying in Liverpool can be quite pricey; obviously as I live so close, I never really have to stay in the city – though I have done a couple of times. I was invited to review the Novotel on Hanover Street last year, and more recently I stayed at the Parker Street apartments which are wonderful. I managed to rope in some fab travel bloggers to help me give you the low down on where to stay in Liverpool…

"30 James Street, Home of the Titanic is such a lush hotel to visit! On my birthday we stayed in one of the turret rooms which had two double beds and an enormous jacuzzi bath. It had velvet walls and the beds were on a podium and it was really lovely - they even gave us a bottle of bubbles to celebrate my birthday. Felt like the queen I am tbh!" - Codiekinz

"Staybridge Suites has the best location in Liverpool, opposite Echo Arena and adjacent to the Albert Dock. They also have several social hours per week with complimentary snacks and alcoholic drinks! Guests love the lounge which is full of Beatles memorabilia, including a rare Mona Lennon picture." - James

where to stay in liverpool city centre
Staybridge Suites
"The Titanic Hotel: A former warehouse turned luxury hotel, this impressive building based on Stanley Dock gives you a flavour of Liverpool’s roots as a maritime city. If rum is your thing then there’s a 6 page drinks menu to work your way through and you can enjoy cocktails and dinner overlooking the historical colonnades, used to film Peaky Blinders, no less! The rooms are massive (so much room for activities) and the underground basement is home to one of the most beautiful spas in the city. Whilst it’s a little further out of the city centre, it’s more than worth the 5 minute cab journey in to town." - Becky

"The Pullman Hotel is located on the iconic waterfront of Liverpool. Staying in a superior room on the 8th floor, we were greeted with the most spectacular views over Liverpool. The room was incredibly luxurious, with a wonderfully comfortable king-size bed and included breakfast the next day when we booked. On a side note Wheeler’s (the Marco Pierre White restaurant) situated in The Pullman is worth a visit too during your stay, we enjoyed a wonderful evening meal there." - Emma


where to stay in liverpool
The Pullman Hotel

"On my recent visit to Liverpool, I stayed at Bentley Studios. Located a 25 minute bus ride outside the city centre, the location isn't the most central but it is amazing value - we paid £37 per night for a comfortable double room. The best bit about the Studios was that there was a communal kitchen so that we didn't need to go out to eat every night! I'd highly recommend staying here if you're looking for a place to lay your head in Liverpool!" - Abbey

Where to drink in Liverpool


There are, of course, so many bars, pubs and coffee shops in Liverpool, and there’s something for everyone even if you're not into alcohol. Some of my favourites include:

Lady of Mann (Dale Street) has a lovely courtyard, lovely staff and a lot of gin, always has the footy on, and has a sister pub next door which does food.
Ship & Mitre (also Dale Street) has an extremely extensive list of real ales from various countries – depending on when you go in can be mostly empty or it can be completely jam packed but as long as Everton haven’t lost that day, there’s usually a great vibe and they do food too.
The Poste House (Cumberland Street) is definitely a bit of a dive but the drinks are cheap, the people are nice and the music is cheesy.
LEAF (Bold Street) is sort of a café and a bar in one but I’ve never really eaten there so can only give you my alcohol-related opinions; like most places they do a lot of gin, and they do a cider called Bad Apple which is to die for. It’s quite pricey but they often have live entertainment and it has a really cool atmosphere. If you are looking to eat here they do a lot of veggie and vegan food.
Salt Dog Slims (Seel Street) is my cocktail bar of choice – it’s 100% my sort of décor and music, and while the cocktails aren’t mega cheap they’re not the most expensive in the city either. The staff are boss and they do hot dogs too if you get a bit peckish.


nice bars in liverpool
Lady of Mann
"Root does the best coffee in Liverpool. Hands down. I’ve never had a bad drink from here. Each coffee is velvety smooth, the staff are lovely, the food is fresh and the vibe is always, always good. Plus, it’s right by Liverpool ONE, so Root is the perfect place for a mid-shopping coffee stop! The second best coffee in Liverpool is definitely Crosby Coffee. A little outside the city centre (15 mins drive or on the train) but worth the trip. Their hot chocolate is without a doubt the best I’ve ever had. Plus, it’s close to the beach and some cracking vintage shops, so if you have the time, it’s worth a visit!" - Allie Davies

"Whenever I pop into 92 Degrees Coffee on Hardman Street, I often find a friendly face. If not, I sit leafing through the pages of the local magazines. I daydream as overcoats under umbrellas splash by the window... Ah, and the coffee! I forgot to mention the coffee!" - Ryan

"I love Greendays Cafe on Lark Lane - been there a few times. It's a plant based veggie cafe and everything is delicious. It's really cute too - it's in an old house and has a small entrance on the street corner." - Yaya

"Cosy Club is an absolute must - great food and drinks in L1!" - Francesca

Where to eat in Liverpool


You’ll also never run out of places to eat in Liverpool – there’s plenty of McDonalds located across the city but if you’re looking for something different, I’ve rounded up some local pals to share their favourite hotspots. You can find out mine too, if you want: CLICK HERE. Please note, I wrote that post before I ever went to Yard & Coop who are absolutely one of the top spots to eat in Liverpool.



where to eat in liverpool
Gnocchi at Il Forno
"When it comes to planning my perfect day & night in Liverpool, I’ve got to admit; I’m spoilt for choice. Depending what mood I’m in and how fancy I wanna be, it totally differs. Usually, I’m ruled by my stomach and need feeding ASAP so I’d head to Moose Coffee for a veggie full English and a v indulgent milkshake before heading over to Baltic Market for something sweet and a few drinks, and that essential game of Ghetto Golf!" - Ruth Writes

"Nolita Cantina is an experience in Liverpool you don’t want to miss. On the busy Bold Street it is situated almost inconspicuously but once inside you see the beauty of it; the high back booths with the wonderfully obscure treasures decorating the place and the glorious food. Each sandwich is made out of fresh thick bread from a local bakery with a hearty amount of filling and the fillings are so perfectly varied that you won’t be bored by the menu but also not too different that you won’t find something you like. The best part? With the sandwiches you can get baskets of sweet potato and regular fries which will get refilled as much as your heart desires!" - All Things Alex

"The Shiraz Palace is a beautifully unique place, with delicious food (great breakfast!), succulent cocktails & mocktails, and very friendly staff - the prices aren't bad either. I highly recommend a visit!" - Aimee

"Any one with a sweet tooth should head to Kaspa’s Desserts. An American-style diner, you can get anything from towering sundaes to the most incredible milkshakes." - Jess

"I change my favourite places to eat in Liverpool more often than my knickers but the one which always comes out on top is my beloved Salthouse Bacaro. Casual dining, Venetian small plate, Bellini bar eatery of dreams. Don’t leave without sampling the braised beef croquette!" - Hungry Harriet

"Manhattan Restaurant is my fave place to eat - loads of veggie options and apparently the best steak around (according to the boyfriend). Cocktails are incredible and the staff are all true Italian characters, plus it’s only 2 mins from James Street!" - Laura

I want to add that Bundobust is incredible for all-veggie (and some vegan) Indian street food - it's affordable and the decor is cute, and there's a huge range of craft beer too! I did a full review here.


Things to do in Liverpool


There’s a genuine abundance of things to do in Liverpool, and something to suit every budget/age/ability. If you’re a long-time reader of this blog you’ll know I love escape rooms (particularly Breakout Liverpool) and going to the theatre, and I’m a huge fan of the local music scene in Liverpool. You can catch my pals The Head Hunters Blues Band at Hannah’s Bar on Leece Street every Wednesday, Liverpool Acoustic have events on all the time and there’s open mic nights at Naked Lunch Café on Smithdown Road too. Lane7 Bowling at Clayton Square is phenomenal, especially if you love all things neon. I’ve done mini golf and gin tasting and loads of stuff in between, but I’ll hand over to some of my friends to let you know what there is to do in Liverpool…


things to do in liverpool

"Liverpool wasn't once named the European City of Culture for nothing. With the World Museum, Museum of Liverpool, International Slavery Museum, the Walker Gallery and Tate Gallery to explore, a day in the city can be an educational experience. The World Museum is a great all-rounder, housing an aquarium, bug house, planetarium, and tonnes of exhibits explaining history and cultures from across the globe. It's free entry too - perfect for a family day out!" - What Lyd Did

"If you fancy treating yourself, I would recommend having afternoon tea at Panoramic 34. As the name suggests, the restaurant is 34 floors high and the views of Liverpool are breathtaking. The cakes in the afternoon tea are to die for and the surroundings are really elegant." - Sophie

"Get your hair and make-up done before you go out. Since almost everyone in Liverpool likes to get dressed up on Friday and Saturday night, it's a great city to embrace the glam! You'll find some brilliant make-up bars like So Coco Rouge in the city centre where you can leave with a perfect cut crease and a guaranteed good hair day (or night) ahead of you." - Emma 

"We really enjoyed visiting the Royal Albert Dock recently. After browsing the small selection of shops and stopping for a coffee in one of the cafes we stumbled across the Beatles statue. There is also a Beatles Museum. called The Beatles Story close by.  If you like modern art, we can also highly recommend the Tate Liverpool based there. They had works by LS Lowry and Andy Warhol amongst other famous modern artists. We walked out singing 'and they painted matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs...'  We would definitely return to Liverpool to explore more." - Melissa

"There’s a new place called Spectaculum (a Victorian themed circus bar) currently open near the Baltic Triangle which looks super cool and it’s really different! It’s great to go there with friends or a date, and then go to Ghetto Golf afterwards! They’re right next to each other and both such good fun!" - Madiha


things to do in liverpool

"Mattel Play is a preschoolers dream come true with separate zones of Thomas and Friends, Fireman Sam and Bob the Builder. There are an abundance soft play areas and interactive toys. My son is a huge Thomas fan so he was delighted to be able to climb aboard Thomas and explore Harold’s ball pool area. He equally enjoyed his time on the fire engines and building with Bob!" - Jenni

"We love the museums in Liverpool- we spend our Friday mornings in the Walker Art Museum getting crafty followed by a trip to the library. We have lots of fun and it’s all free!" - Natalie

"For something a 'bit different' take a guided tour through the Williamson Tunnels a fascinating underground tunnel network created in the 19th century. The tour lasts for around 45 minutes and is great for adults and children." - Jennifer

If you're still looking for things to do, why not take the ferry across the Mersey to Wirral? I've got a post full of recommendations for over there, too!

So there you have it, a mega list of things to do (and places to eat, drink and stay) in Liverpool. A huge thank you to all my lovely blogging friends who contributed something to this post – you’re all absolute stars. Again if you have any other recommendations of things to do in Liverpool you can leave a comment below or if you want to email me (katygilroyblog@hotmail.co.uk) I’d be happy to add it into this post!


To learn about Arriva Click in Liverpool, CLICK HERE

3 comments:

  1. I love visiting Liverpool. It's so lovely there and there's always so much to do! Great post!

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  3. I went to Liverpool once, and you can't imagine how much I love that city! I would love to visit that magic city soon and try your recommendations

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