If you’ve resolved to try new things and expand your palate, then these Liverpool restaurants should be on your list
Cargo’s Monkfish fillets with tiger prawns, shallots, garlic, creamy sauce served and seasonal vegetables (£26.50)(Image: Liverpool Echo)
As we say hello to a new year, 2025 could be the perfect time to try something new and experience some of the incredible restaurants our city has to offer. Despite the cost-of-living crisis wreaking havoc on the industry in recent years, causing the unfortunate shutdown of many favourites, there’s still an abundance of restaurants you can support.
The ECHO is sharing 19 restaurants we recommend you add to your list in 2025. The list isn’t exhaustive and there are plenty of others that we believe will offer you excellent value for money, including a list of restaurants which are providing brilliant deals this January.
We’ve tried to include restaurants at a range of price points, located across the city, and with a variety of different cuisines. Some are ideal breakfast spots, while others offer the kind of memorable, tasting menu dinners that are perfect for a special occasion. Some of them are old favourites and others are newer to the scene.
Many of our choices were informed by reputable food guides and industry awards, including the Good Food Guide, the British Kebab Awards and the British Indian Good Food Guide.
Vetch
Vetch on Hope Street has been commended with a “very good” rating in the Good Food Guide. The city centre restaurant already boasts two AA rosettes for culinary excellence and has been listed in the Michelin Guide.
The Good Food Guide provides diners with up to the minute, authoritative and independent guidance on the best places to eat across Britain. Inspectors scour the country for the best culinary experiences money can buy which is then relayed to diners to examine.
Each restaurant included in The Good Food Guide is assessed on its uniqueness, warmth, deliciousness, and how strongly it would be recommended to friends and family. Vetch was praised for its multicultural interests and “strikingly presented” dishes.
Inside Vetch on Hope Street
The Good Food Guide review said: “The menu reflects his in-depth interest in both Nordic and Japanese cuisines, and the result is intriguing as well as sophisticated. Fittingly given the proximity of the famous Liverpool Art School, dishes are strikingly presented and exactingly plated on handsome ceramics.”
Vetch’s chef-owner Dan McGeorge said: “Vetch is about provenance and seasonality and the producers we work with, but it’s also about the entire team. Being included in The Good Food Guide reflects the hard work, dedication, and passion of every single member of the team working at Vetch and I want to take this opportunity to thank them for their dedication and hard work and the part they’ve played in helping to secure our spot as a must-dine destination in the city.”
Cucina di Vincenzo
Gabriella from Cucina Di Vincenzo(Image: BBC)
Cucina di Vincenzo, on Woolton Road, was opened in 2016 by Vince Margiotta who runs the restaurant with help along the way from his children Nina, Gabriella and Luca. Last year, the family opened ViVi, a brand-new Italian restaurant serving up authentic cuisine while keeping the friendly service and atmosphere its neighbouring venue is known for.
Vince has been known on the Merseyside food scene for decades, after being a managing partner of Sapporo Teppanyaki and Il Forno, on Duke Street in Liverpool city centre. Cucina di Vincenzo boasts numerous accolades from the Italian Awards, including ‘best newcomer’, ‘England’s best family-owned restaurant’ ‘best Italian restaurant over 50 seats’ and ‘cuoco of the year’.
The cooking family Margiotta originated from a small village called Picinisco in Southern Italy’s Campania region and Vince’s grandparents moved to Scotland before World War II. Vince’s grandfather Alfonso created the now-famous Valvona and Crolla deli and wine merchant in Edinburgh. Dad Armando founded the Fudge House on the city’s Royal Mile and had a weekly cookery slot on Scottish TV.
Da Mount Gurkha
Da Mount Gurkha’s award-winning food
Da Mount Gurkha, in Waterloo, was awarded ‘Nepalese Restaurant of the Year’ at the 2024 English Curry Awards – an accolade which it described as ‘an incredible honour’.
Da Mount Gurkha, owned by chef Laxman Bhandari, opened back in 2015 and has firmly established itself as a local institution, with diners travelling from miles around to dine there. Laxman – originally from Nepal, and his wife Geeta, head of operations, run the restaurant together.
Laxman was also a finalist in the ‘Chef of the Year’ category earlier this year while, in 2023, his wife and manager of operations Geeta was recognised for her work at the restaurant when she was given the Special Recognition award at the 2023 edition. Laxman also won ‘Best Chef’ at the 2023 and 2024 Curry Life Awards. With so many recent accolades, he is seemingly the chef to beat.
Cargo
Scallops with carrot puree and creamy garlic sauce (£12)(Image: Liverpool Echo)
For those who aren’t lucky enough to go on holiday to the sunny Mediterranean this summer, or are indeed fortunate enough to jet off to somewhere further afield, the good news is that you can still experience its brilliant cuisine right here in Liverpool – if you know where to look. And that isn’t at average tapas bars or identical Greek tavernas, but Cargo, a seafood restaurant on Princes Dock.
True to Cargo’s name, its current owner, chef Skevos Paraskeva, was imported from his warm home country of Cyprus in 2014 after the venue’s previous masters, Terry and Angela Connor, had enjoyed his cooking so much they persuaded him to run their brand new restaurant’s kitchen.
Cargo was named in the Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2025 guide, which celebrated 19 Liverpool restaurants. You can read our full review of Cargo here.
The Italian Club Fish
The Italian Club Fish(Image: The Italian Club Fish)
The Italian Club Fish was named in the Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2025 guide, which celebrated 19 Liverpool restaurants. But when Chef Maurizio Pellegrini and his partner Rosaria Crolla decided to open a fish restaurant in Liverpool more than a decade ago, many said it would never work.
Even loyal customers at their sister venue The Italian Club were unsure if there was scope for another Italian Club restaurant – especially one specialising in fish. Rosaria said she believes the success comes down to many factors, one of which is the talent of her partner Maurizio, she added: “Maurizio is both an extremely talented chef with experience in Michelin-starred kitchens and brings a refinement to the Fish menu while still making it accessible, catering to all palates. We are so very lucky to have him.”
Over the years, the Fish Club have wowed diners and critics alike with its fresh fish menu. The restaurant has even appeared with Marco Pierre White on Channel 5’s Kitchen Wars and won Merseyside Regional Tourism’s Restaurant of the Year.
Nord
Nord restaurant inside The Plaza, Liverpool(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
This Liverpool restaurant made it to the prestigious Michelin Guide just a year after it first opened. Nord, in Liverpool city centre, opened in The Plaza on Old Hall Street in March 2023. Since its opening, the restaurant has gone on to win multiple awards, including being named one of the best in the country by Condé Nast Traveller.
It is led by executive chef Daniel Heffy, from Liverpool, who is known for having worked in Michelin star restaurants across the world, including in Stockholm. The restaurant’s culinary style is described as “Travelled British” as it pays homage to local traditions while incorporating global influences inspired by Chef Daniel’s travels.
Nord was also named in the Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2025 guide, which celebrated 19 Liverpool restaurants.
Spire
Spire Restaurant,Church Road.(Pic Andrew Teebay).(Image: Liverpool Echo)
South Liverpool institution Spire is located Church Road, just off Allerton Road and a stone’s throw from Penny Lane. The venue used to be the site of restaurant The Left Bank , which after a couple of reincarnations became Spire in 2006 – run by brothers Adam and Matt Locke, the latter in charge of the kitchen and a former head chef of the London Carriage Works in Hope Street.
Inside, it’s a smart mix of polished floors, abstract art and exposed brickwork, with a spiral staircase linking the two dining areas – perfect for food with a grown-up, cosmopolitan feel.
Spire was named in the Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2025 guide.
Belzan
Belzan on Smithdown Road(Image: Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
The past few years have seen Smithdown Road blossom into an urban food spot. The area boasts a number of small, independent venues that have personality threaded into their DNA. One of the most popular residents is Belzan and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone with a negative word to say about it. Belzan offers diners a unique experience with a menu that changes with the seasons featuring steak, sea trout and Sunday roasts.
Belzan, which opened in 2017 by friends Chris Edwards, Owain Williams, and Sam Granger, has received numerous accolades over the years – and most recently it was named in the Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2025 guide.
Delifonseca Dockside
Delifonseca Dockside on Brunswick Way(Image: Delifonseca)
Delifonseca Dockside has been serving the community since opening in 2010. The venue is part restaurant, part food hall, and it offers everything from sit-down meals to deli counters serving cheese, charcuterie, wines and more.
This dockside restaurant was named in the Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2025 guide.
Manifest
Manifest offers a “modern British menu” and wine list. (Image: Manifest)
Located on Watkinson Street in the Baltic Triangle, Manifest was included in SquareMeal’s UK’s Top 100 Restaurants list for 2024. The list was formulated by a combination of SquareMeal’s in-house, critic-led opinions and thousands of diner votes.
Industrial style restaurant Manifest came in at number 42 on the list of 100 venues. Describing the restaurant, SquareMeal wrote: “Setting up in a Baltic Quarter warehouse, Manifest sounds a little chilly but is anything but – clever British cooking and carefully-sourced wines are served with warmth and generosity.”
Manifest Wine Bar and Restaurant serves up regularly changing menus which have been created with wine in mind. The restaurant features a relaxed dining room and bar and sources high quality seasonal goods for its dishes. Manifest was also named in the Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2025 guide
The Hightown Inn
Beef tartare (£15)
The Hightown Inn recently reopened after being taken over by one of the region’s most respected chefs. The Hightown Pub has been rebranded as The Hightown Inn following its purchase by Graffiti Spirits Group after its sudden closure last year.
The pub, on Lower Alt Road, bid farewell with “a heavy heart” on Friday, March 8, after its owners said they were forced to close due to the worsening climate of the hospitality industry and the cost of living crisis. However, GSG, the team behind Duke Street Market and NORD, has now taken over and put its Executive Chef Daniel Heffy at the helm.
Following news of the pub’s comeback, Daniel spoke to the ECHO in June. He said: “[The founders of GSG] have always dreamed of adding an elevated pub establishment to their portfolio. When the opportunity to acquire the Hightown Pub arose, it was the perfect location to turn that dream into a reality!”
The Hightown Inn’s menu features seasonal dishes that celebrate fresh, local ingredients, accompanied by simple, well-crafted cocktails.
The London Carriage Works
The London Carriage Works(Image: Liverpool Echo)
This Hope Street institution was also named in the Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2025 guide. The restaurant, next door to Hope Street Hotel, has a good claim to be one of the finest places to dine in Liverpool city centre. Its classy and timeless interior hasn’t changed much in the 20 years since the London Carriage Works first opened its doors to diners. Since its inception in 2003, The London Carriage Works has stood as an independent gem under the dedicated ownership of Dave Brewitt. The restaurant’s menu features modern British fare and showcases a commitment to local, fresh, and seasonal produce.
The Art School
Paul Askew(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
Countless chefs have made a name for themselves in Liverpool but none more so than Paul Askew. Throughout his career, the gastronomy expert had a hand in developing some of the city’s most famous culinary experiences, from the London Carriage Works and Philharmonic Hall to the Art School, with the latter celebrating 10 incredible years of success in September 2024.
Paul built the Art School from the ground up on his own name and merits. He wanted a venue where white linen gastronomy met great food that met great wine. In an attempt to bring capital city standards to Liverpool, the Art School did so in spadefuls and continues to enjoy success a decade later.
The Art School was also named in the Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2025 guide.
Lunya
Chickpeas with butternut squash, apricots, almonds and Moroccan spices(Image: Manchester Evening News)
Lunya and its little sister restaurant Lunyalita were both named in the Harden’s Best UK Restaurants 2025 guide. The Catalan deli, bar and restaurant specialises in authentic Catalan and Spanish food. Starting out as a small stall at local food festivals, owners Peter and Elaine Kinsella have grown Lunya into a multi-award winning brand with an impressive menu.
Lunya initially opened on College Lane in Liverpool ONE, after Peter and Elaine spent two years working on their small stall at food festivals, including Liverpool Food and Drink Festival at Sefton Park.
After becoming a fan favourite within Liverpool, Lunya was named as the North West’s ‘Restaurant of the Year’ by the Waitrose Good Food Guide consecutively in 2015 and 2016.
Sans Cafe
Lin the owner of Sans Cafe on Lightbody Street in Liverpool(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Found on Lightbody Street, near to the dock road, Sans is the epitome of a hidden gem. The café and takeaway opened in the late 1960s and has been serving authentic cuisine for decades since. Customer favourites on the menu include the special curry and the huge chop suey rolls.
Lin, the owner and chef, hasn’t changed any of her recipes to cater to English taste buds. So when you dine at Sans, you’ll never go back to your typical Chinese takeaway again. Expect a big of a fiery kick and plenty of flavour in every forkful. Last year the Hairy Bikers, David Myers and Si King, even visited the little gem.
Moor Hall
Food in The Barn at Moor Hall , Aughton (Image: Moor Hall )
Last month, La Liste unveiled its ranking of the top 1,000 eateries across the world. The list is compiled by scanning “thousands of publications, hundreds of guidebooks, and millions of online reviews” to discover which restaurants are regarded as the best across public and expert opinion.
La Liste gathers scores and combines them by reliability and expertise to reach a final score out of 100. Included in the list are mostly high-end establishments renowned for awards such as Michelin stars.
Out of a global 1,000 ranking, 75 dining spots from the UK have been featured. Although Merseyside failed to gain recognition, there was one restaurant just a short drive away. Lancashire’s Michelin-star restaurant and hotel Northcote received a score of 88%. Aughton’s two Michelin-star restaurant with rooms Moor Hall received a score of 95.5%.
Wang’s Dumplings
Wang’s Dumplings on Clarence Street in Liverpool city centre
Wang’s Dumplings isn’t much to look at from the outside. The tiny shopfront on Clarence Street in Liverpool city centre looks more like a greasy spoon than a restaurant – but its humble exterior is hiding some of the best Chinese food in Liverpool.
The phrase ‘hidden gem’ has been so overused it’s essentially been rendered meaningless, but in the case of Wang’s it does seem to be justified. You’d be forgiven for walking straight past this unassuming shopfront, with no clue as to the delights waiting inside.
Specialising in, you guessed it, dumplings, Wang’s offers authentic Chinese food in a cosy setting. So cosy, in fact, that there are only two tables and customers can only hope to time their visit right in order to get a seat. The city centre restaurant is so authentic that diners actually have the choice between an English language or Chinese menu when ordering their food.
Despite the restaurant’s tiny size and simple ethos, it’s built up a cult following, thanks in part to its location in the heart of Liverpool’s university district and, more recently, due to social media app TikTok, where diners have taken to sharing their own ‘hidden gems’ around the city.
Moose Coffee
The much-loved brunch spot has a number of locations(Image: Moose )
Moose Coffee is a Liverpool staple with sites all over the city, offering diners a menu of delicious breakfasts and huge helpings of American/Canadian favourites.
Moose is the perfect spot for a cold, rainy morning and even thought its a lively space it doesn’t feel overrun with customers even though its busy. It is the place to be for great atmosphere and fantastic breakfasts.
You can read our full review of Moose Coffee here.
Casa Rima
Casa Rima in Halewood
Kemal Coskuncay, chef at Halewood’s Casa Rima restaurant, has been shortlisted for chef of the year at the British Kebab Awards 20256. Kemal, originally from Turkey but now living in Speke, is best known as the brains behind Private Deliciaies, a dining and consultation company based in South Liverpool.
The 46-year-old has worked with restaurants including the popular Lark Lane venue Al Dente and Halewood’s Casa Rima. The dad-of-three already has an impressive CV, having been voted Chef of The Year at the British Kebab Awards and recognised as one of the country’s best at the International Gastronomy Star Awards.
The Turkish chef moved to the area in 2020 with his wife Gülay, daughter Narin and two sons, Baris and Berat, following a successful stint in the country’s capital as a private chef. Kemal has been involved with the industry for over 30 years, starting when he was a teenager.