Sesh in the sun with a spectacular view? We’ve got you sorted
If you put a GoPro on one of those seagulls that’s always squawking on Church Street, a bird’s-eye view of Liverpool would look like a patchwork of rooftop bars and terraces. For a city that’s so often soaked to the skin with northern rain, it sure offers outdoor drinking in abundance.
You’re spoilt for choice. Some of our faves for up-high al fresco drinking when the sun has got its hat on are PINS Social Club, Crazy Pedro’s and Eden at Red Door. However, what we’re focusing our lens on here are the rooftop bars in Liverpool with impressive views across the city too.
We’re not just talking a string of festoon lighting and some picnic benching here. We’re talking views and vantage points - the vistas, baby! Something to give your next booze-up quite the backdrop. So, if you don’t fancy living vicariously through a GoPro-toting seagull and want to witness some sprawling cityscapes for yourself this summer - bevy in hand - stick around ‘cause we’ve got you covered.
Oh, and, if it’s pissing down and you don’t want your curly blow getting demolished, there’s always Panoramic 34 and Gino D’Acampo's Sky Bar 360 for epic indoor panorama. Or if you fancy going a little off the beaten track, check out 14 Bar & Grill in Bootle to see the city centre from a different perspective.
Read on for our top picks of Liverpool's best rooftop bars with a view...
FIVE
Stumble off Seel Street into Mason’s on a Saturday and you’ll likely find yourself taken by a tide of hens dancing around their handbags to Dancing Queen. Take the clandestine elevator five floors up and you’ll find yourself at FIVE, an intimate rooftop bar serving Ibiza vibes and sophisticated cocktails. The cosy space is bordered by glass panels so you can soak up views across town, right up to the Anglican Cathedral and the Radio City Tower. Outdoor heaters also make this an idyllic place to catch the sunset with a spritz in hand. Word to the wise: it’s best to book but walk-ins are welcome.
42 Seel Street, Liverpool L1 4AU
Carpathia
Sitting on the top floor of 30 James Street hotel, Carpathia carries the theme of Titanic-era glamour right up to the roof and beyond. Here, you’ll find an upmarket restaurant and a Champagne and cocktail bar, spread across a decadent indoor dining area, glass terrace and open-air lounge. The restaurant offers seasonal menus of locally-sourced produce from celebrated chefs, while the bar serves up signature cocktails and a curated Champagne and wine list. Views stretch out along the city’s iconic waterfront, offering a vantage point over the Royal Albert Dock and the Three Graces. The open-air seating area is seasonal but the restaurant and glass terrace are open all year round.
30 James Street, Liverpool L2 7PQ
Liberté
If you like your party with a side order of scenery, Liberté is the place to take your dancing shoes for a spin. The rooftop bar on top of one of the city’s most sought-after nightlife destinations has bragging rights to panoramic views across the waterfront and cityscape. Pretty impressive even if you are seeing double (and ordering doubles) by the time you get there.
50 Brunswick Street, Liverpool L2 0PL
Goodness Gracious Roof Garden
Goodness gracious, get a load of those views! This seasonal hotspot is just a little bit spectacular, with its decked terrace and colourful open-air oasis on top of popular city venue, Oh Me Oh My. Sip the hours away against a backdrop of some of Liverpool’s most iconic waterfront landmarks. Fancy something extra special? Book yourself in for a Champagne afternoon tea in the sky - but hurry, the diary fills up fast.
West Africa House, 25 Water Street, Liverpool L2 0RG
Garden of Eden
You’d be hard pressed not to be impressed by the 360-degree views from the Garden of Eden rooftop bar crowning the 8th floor of the Shankly Hotel. The sizeable space is often snatched up by private parties and weddings but when the weather’s right and the calendar’s clear, you can roll up, roll up (quite literally) to grab a drink and see the city from the (AstroTurf) garden up high. Keep your eyes peeled for summer events including live music sessions and al fresco film nights.
60 Victoria Street, Liverpool L1 6JD
Matou
What’s better than a Pan Asian restaurant with a cosy cocktail lounge? A Pan Asian restaurant with a cosy cocktail lounge and unparalleled views of Liverpool’s iconic skyline and waterfront, that’s what. Find it all here, at Matou, where you can soak up the scenery in sophisticated surroundings while slurping your way through the cocktail list and wiping flavours of the Far East off your chops.
Mersey Ferry Terminal, 2nd Floor, Georges Parade Pier Head L3 1BY
Tempest on Tithebarn
From the team behind Ma Boyle's and Nova Scotia, Tempest opened just last year but is fast becoming Liverpool’s go-to social space; a place to meet up and reconnect, a place with great food, great drinks and a sunny upbeat atmosphere. At Tempest, they like to keep things as local as possible, and on the rooftop you'll find a herb garden and beehives. Most importantly, the rooftop has its own bar so no need to worry about going up and down all those stairs. With cracking views down Chapel Street and across the business district, this place is definitely worth a visit to bask in the glorious sunshine.
12 Tithebarn St, Liverpool L2 2DT
Read next: Top 10 best beer gardens in Liverpool
Read again: Liverpool's 15 best late-night drinking dens
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