Are you being served? We have a nosy around the new Italian at Flannels
Macy’s, Harvey Nics, Fortnums. The best department stores all have restaurants. Bucking the post-covid trend for department store closures, Flannels is daring to dream, and dream big. The British multi-brand retailer currently has 45 locations open in the UK, the most recent being the new opening of the Flannels Liverpool flagship store.
A pretty cool pit-stop for you to eat, drink and try on that new lippy.
An impressive renovation of the former Owen Owen department store, the grand building on Parker Street was originally designed as a luxury hotel. Owen Owen closed in 1993, going on to become a Tesco which shut its doors for the last time in January 2019. It’s good to see the historic building restored to something akin to its former glory.
If you’re into labels like Valentino, Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Gucci, Moncler and D & G, then Flannels is your vibe. But if all that shopping has you dropping, the good news is that Flannels also has a pretty cool pit-stop for you to eat, drink and try on that new lippy.
Bacino is the first of four food and beverage outlets to open at Flannels Liverpool, occupying a prime spot on the ground floor of the 120,000 square foot, seven-storey department store.
It’s described as modern Italian cuisine with an all day menu that incorporates brunch classics alongside pizzas, pasta, cocktails, coffees and desserts. There’s a separate vegan and gluten-free menu too.
From the antipasto (or small plates if you prefer) we had burrata with tomato, candied lemon and croutons; polpette (beef meatballs) with tomato and pecorino. For “secondi”, gnocchi with a spinach and pistachio dressing, and a wild mushroom pizza with truffle cream and grilled courgette.
Tragically no room for dessert, but we’ve got our eye on a return visit for some of that tiramisu. With a good range of “aperitivi” and signature cocktails - including Amarina negroni, Vivi, Amalfi 75, Aperol and Sorrento spritz - squint and you could almost be lunching at La Rinascente Milano.
Three additional venues will open on the sixth floor of Flannels this autumn; a rooftop brasserie, bar and Pan Asian restaurant. With a separate entrance, these venues will open outside of store hours. The brasserie will serve brunch, small plates and classic mains, alongside signature cocktails, coffee and wine.
The Pan-Asian restaurant will feature an open kitchen where diners will be able to watch chefs cook over the open flames of the robata grill and craft fresh sashimi. The new rooftop bar will serve modern and classic cocktails alongside a curated wine and beers list.
The food and beverage venues are operated by Zanna Hospitality Group, the brand behind some of the North West’s most popular eateries including Evelyn’s Café Bar, Gooey, Mughli Charcoal Pit, Les Deux Pizza Bar, Arlo’s, The Daisy and a number of Flannel’s most recent dining venues - Sienna Kitchen and Bar in Sheffield and Cafe Clo in Leicester.
Bacino is serving daily Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-7pm and Sun 11am-5pm. Brunch is served until 12.30pm.
Bacino, Flannels Liverpool, 15 Parker Street, Liverpool, L1 1DJ
Read next: Gaucho steakhouse gets green light for Water Street
Read again: Inside Renshaw Street Food Market, Liverpool's new Asian-themed food hall
Get the latest news to your inbox
Get the latest food & drink news and exclusive offers by email by signing up to our mailing list. This is one of the ways that Confidentials remains free to our readers and by signing up you help support our high quality, impartial and knowledgable writers. Thank you!
