From Mr Paella to Gordon Ramsay, get these new openings on your bucket list
DON’T cry because it ended; raise a glass because you were given somewhere new to hang out. If you’ve been disappointed by the wave of hospitality closures this past year, then turn that frown upside down. Here, we present our latest list of new openings in Liverpool - it’s the second one we’ve done in 2021 so things are definitely looking up. Progress knows best and we always bounce back.
Read on for the best new restaurants and bars in Liverpool...
SPANISH CARAVAN
Nothing to do with The Doors or cheap holidays in Andalucia, Spanish Caravan has already conquered Prescot with its chilled days, wild nights and Balearic vibes. If the caravan is rocking then do come knocking. This new addition to Slater Street offers fantastic tapas, delicious Spanish beers, and hosts regular live music, which all help catapult it into one of our favourite new bars in the city centre right now.
HIBIKI
Hibiki (meaning resonance or echo in Japanese) is tucked away like a sexy little pocket watch just on the end of Renshaw Street towards the Bombed Out Church. With ramen, sushi, tempura and flame seared teriyaki eel on the menu, there’s something for everyone. The smoky showstopper of hand rolled delicacies is the nigiri. Pile on the homemade pickled ginger and wasabi paste. Just do it.
METROCOLA
The name might sound like they’ve just stuck two random words together, but Metrocola is a very slick affair. The team behind POLIDOR 68 (and more) on Lark Lane have done a mighty fine job with their refurb of the former Hannah’s Bar on Leece Street. Branding itself as a beer hall, cocktail bar, diner, events and gigs space that majors in cask and craft ales, Detroit pizza, tunes and live sports, this place is cooler than a cola popsicle. Set across two floors with its own terrace, mega views and plenty of plant life, Metrocola looks set to be a crowd-pleaser for every season.
BARNACLE
Shiver me timbers. The story of Liverpool’s food provenance is about to be told by a collective of leading chefs - The Art School’s Paul Askew, Bone and Block’s Harry Marquart and local kitchen stars Kieran Gill and Jake Lewis. Based in Duke Street Market’s mezzanine, Barnacle will feature contemporary cooking in an intimate Scouse brasserie. Read our interview with Paul Askew.
Opening November in Duke Street Market, 46 Duke St, Liverpool L1 5AS
RIVER NORTH
Take me to the river. Where the short-lived French joint Brasserie Loup went south, River North pitches itself as a “neighbourhood pub” serving brunch, lunch and a grill focused evening menu. Inspired - we presume - by the mega-hip River North district of Chicago, we’re quietly confident that the team behind Motel, Teddy’s and Petit Cafe du Coin are going to make waves with the latest addition to the portfolio.
SHEBANG
Inspired by the markets of New Delhi, Shebang brings classic Indian street food to Liverpool, including dahi golgappa (crispy, stuffed puris originating in Mumbai), vada pao (Bombay’s version of a chip butty with a spicy Ghati masala) and kati rolls (roasted kebabs wrapped in paratha bread, originating in West Bengal). They also specialise in different methods of Indian barbecue and dishes include the “Roanoke-E-Seek” which showcases a blend of spices with mutton, peppers and onions cooked over an open flame. Fire me up.
ESTO ES ESPANA
A hidden gem on Hope Street, Chef Andres aka Mr Paella brings a slice of his Valencian heritage to Liverpool. Together with his father, Andres has won paella cook-offs in his hometown, and now he uses the same family recipe to cook for you. As well as paella, the menu offers classic tapas and a host of Spanish beers and wines, sangria, and vermouth. Friday and Saturday night it’s traditional flamenco accompanied by Spanish guitar - everything you need to put you in the holiday mood without even boarding a plane.
GINO D'ACAMPO OLD HALL STREET
Both the sky bar and restaurant at the new INNSiDE hotel come under the Gino D’Acampo brand, and the food and drink menus are everything you’d expect from the successful restaurateur. Stepping out of the lift onto the 17th floor, you’re instantly drawn to that breathtaking 360 view. Panoramic might have boasted the ultimate Liverpool vista for 13 years, but now there is a mighty challenger. Read our full feature on INNSiDE Liverpool.
MANI
Put your hands up for Lark Lane. Mani (meaning ‘hand’ in Italian) has found a home in the former Chinese grocery store next door to our cocktail favourite, POLIDOR 68. Mani is an Italian bar and kitchen serving small plates, cocktails and natural wines in a relaxed and cosy environment. The menu features hand stretched “pizzettes” and Mani’s take on classic Italian dishes, with highlights including capricciosa pizzette, ox cheek pappardelle, and vongole tagliatelle. Pasta la vista, baby.
NAMA
Grace Dent might not have been wildly impressed, but we love stopping off at The GPO for sushi from Nama. It's the latest venture from celebrated chef Luke French and wife Stacey Sherwood-French, a "contemporary Tokyo izakaya inspired dining and drinking concept". The menu changes regularly but includes a variety of sashimi and nigiri such as Cornish seabass with truffle, yuzu and soy; tartares featuring Wagyu smoked à la minute with caviar, wasabi and ponzu, and accompanying dishes such as seaweed Caesar salad. Read more on The GPO.
CHURRASCO STEAKHOUSE CITY
In the five years since Churrasco Steak House opened in Aigburth they’ve managed to turn the former public loo at the bottom of Lark Lane into one of the city’s best loved restaurants. Now the team has opened its second venue in Liverpool, moving into George’s Great British Kitchen on Paradise Street, where you can expect the same top quality steaks, flaming steak stones, plus a few new twists on the menu. Read more: Churrasco Steakhouse at Home.
MRS DANVERS DECO BAR
“Did you want to see me, Mrs Danvers?” No longer just the housekeeper, Mrs Danvers has moved on from Manderley manor to the Fabric District (via her first solo venture inside the Port of Liverpool Building.) It’s a bit of everything, running as a bar, cafe, function room and event space. The menu includes sandwiches, cakes, afternoon teas, wine, fizz and cocktails, with a special event every Saturday; the line-up so far has included an ABBA tribute, and Choriza May from Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK. Start your engines, this place could soon be queen of the strip.
This weekend in @DanversDecoBar we will be serving our new Afternoon (Gin) Teas, so if you fancy treating yourself and your loved ones DM me here to book your table. They are £30pp and include a G&T filled tea pot. We are in the @fabric_district 12-14 Gildart Street, L3 8ET pic.twitter.com/X0pJVlyJTO
— Mrs Danvers Deco Bar & Events (@DanversDecoBar) October 21, 2021
CAROUSEL CHEESE CO
Our second mention for The GPO but who wouldn’t get giddy over this one? Liverpool’s first revolving cheese and wine bar is now inside Metquarter. Things just don’t get cheddar than this. Are we going to go overboard on cheese puns? You feta believe it. The Carousel Cheese Co. serves a selection of the finest cheese, charcuterie and wine from across the British Isles. But the best bit is that the food is presented on a revolving sushi style conveyor belt for a truly unique experience. Sweet dreams are made of cheese. Read more on The Carousel Cheese Co.
LEMONGRASS
Teetering on the edge of Allerton Road, Smithdown is Liverpool’s own diamond in the rough. Set aside your hazy memories of the old Tai Ping Chinese, because Smithdown has evolved into the city’s most up and coming area for international cuisine. New to the ‘hood is Lemongrass, a Thai bar and restaurant with an intriguing menu - specials include soft shell crab pad pong garee, kaeng kua sapparod, grilled chicken with banana leaves, and pineapple fried rice.
BREAD STREET KITCHEN
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants is bringing its Bread Street Kitchen & Bar concept to the North of England following the signing of a contract with Liverpool ONE. The menu will feature all the classic Bread Street Kitchen dishes ranging from Gordon Ramsay’s signature beef Wellington to butter chicken curry and the Hell's Kitchen burger. Does Liverpool need another celebrity restaurant? With Gordon and Gino, we’d only need Fred to make it a hat-trick for a road trip special. Now, where did we park the Spanish caravan? Read more on Gordon Ramsay's new restaurant in Liverpool.
Read next: Top things to do in Liverpool: November 2021
Read again: Ten hidden Liverpool gems well worth seeking out
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