It’s been a rather unusual year (again), but being strong Liverpudlians, we’ve powered through it. Showcasing true Northern grit, our city’s entrepreneurs battled the uncertainty of Covid during 2021, resulting in a swarm of brand new restaurant and bar openings for us to enjoy. From delicious food courts to night out destinations, here’s some of the best new restaurant and bar openings to grace Liverpool in 2021.
1. Barnacle
Led by some of Liverpool’s big culinary names including The Art School’s Paul Askew, Barnacle aims to share the incredible story of the region through its menu. Based in Duke Street Market’s mezzanine, Barnacle features contemporary cooking in an intimate Scouse brasserie and a bar with over 30 different gins with a focus on rums, ports and cognacs, a wondrous wine list and brilliant locally brewed beers. The culinary hideaway focuses on fresh, organic and free-range dishes; locally matched food and drink inspired by the port and its global history will be brought to life in dynamic meat, fish and vegan menus inspired by the markets and seasons.
Barnacle, Duke Street Market, 46 Duke Street, L1 5AS
2. Press Bros
This year saw one Baltic Market establishment expand and open its very own shop on Lark Lane. Bringing their incredibly luxurious Biscoff espresso martinis to the Sefton Park area, more Liverpudlians have been able to discover what the hype is about. Press Bros‘ shop serves coffee, craft beer, cocktails, breakfast, brunch, lunch and of course their espresso martinis in flavours such as Ferrero Rocher, Kinder Bueno and Baileys flat white, along with good times.
Press Bros, 82 Lark Lane, L17 8UR
3. Belgica
Bringing the finest Belgian beers, authentic comfort food and good vibes to Liverpool this year is a none other than new independent Belgian beer bar and bistro, Belgica. Proudly run by Belgian Scousers and Scouse Belgians, Belgica transports visitors to the beer-loving nation from which the venue takes its inspiration from. The Wood Street bar is split across two levels with a relaxed Brussels beer bar atmosphere upstairs and a medieval Bruges vibe club downstairs called the ‘Monastery of Sound’. Whether you’re after a relaxed weekend dinner with friends or to drop by after work for a chilled beer over a board game, this independent bar offers it all.
Belgica, 96 Wood Street, L1 4DQ
4. Gino D’Acampo Old Hall Street & Sky Bar
Following the success of Gino D’Acampo’s My Restaurant Liverpool on Castle Street, beloved TV chef D’Acampo teamed up with hotel INNSiDE Liverpool this year to open a brand new Italian dining experience. The new opening features a beautiful, open-plan restaurant, two private dining rooms, and a long bar within the hotel’s impressive open bar and lounge, for both hotel and restaurant guests to enjoy. If that wasn’t all, there’s also be a new 360-degree sky bar run by the Gino D’Acampo team and situated on the 18th floor of the hotel. The sky bar boasts a huge contemporary terrace featuring unrivalled views over Liverpool and the River Mersey, as well as a Cicchetti menu and an array of spritz and cocktails to sip on as you soak up the scenery.
INNSiDE Liverpool, Old Hall Street, NE1 3BE
5. GPO Food Hall
From tacos and Thai food to bubble tea and burgers, you’ll find it all in Liverpool’s largest food hall which opened in the Metquarter in 2021. The 11,000 square foot space, known as GPO Liverpool, pays homage to the building’s past the city’s General Post Office, and has brought a new wave of independent food and drink traders based under one roof. GPO Liverpool’s street food traders line-up features the likes of Mediterranean cuisine from MorMor, quirky coffee blenders Monkey Board Coffee, Instagrammable ice cream purveyors ICE, as well as the city’s first revolving cheese and wine bar, The Carousel Cheese Co.
The GPO, Metquarter, 35 Whitechapel, L1 6DA
6. Fat Hippo
Fat Hippo opened their Bold Street branch in May 2021 and they also brought their renowned beef burger PB and Double J to the city too. Featuring two beef patties, American cheese, chunky peanut butter, bacon jam and smoked chilli jello, the burger is both insane and drool-worthy. The Northern restaurant group is famed for its quality ingredients and quirky flavours, which also appear in their tasty starters such as fried crinkle cut pickles, trash browns (deep-fried tater tots, liquid cheese and cajun onion strings) and wachos (waffle fries with classic nacho toppings). And if you’re feeling ultra hungry, they even serve a four-patty beef burger!
Fat Hippo, 78 Bold Street, L1 4HR
7. Mrs Blodgets
The historic guest house reopened its doors on Liverpool’s Duke Street and with it brought plenty of elegance, boutique rooms and a cocktail menu to rival many bars in the city. The bar of Mrs Blodget’s is pretty special. Sit back in one of their luxurious booths surrounded by antiques which give a nod to the building’s past and sip on unbelievable cocktails, including one named ‘Convivial Concoctions’. Guests can swap sugar cubes for ice cubes and tea for gin, as the bar serves a selection of cocktail sharers served in china teapots, to accompany a whimsical and tipsy afternoon tea.
Mrs Blodget’s Guest House, 151-155 Duke Street, L1 4JR
8. Tempest on Tithebarn
Tempest on Tithebarn has become quite the hub to enjoy drinks and meals out with friends, as well as play host to a multitude of music and events. The beautiful venue is inspired by New York’s meatpacking district eateries, with a heavy focus on brunches, lunches, cocktails and craft beer. And of course, you cannot forget the rooftop which offers some of the best views in the city, plus some beehives, which provide honey to be used in the restaurant’s kitchen.
Tempest on Tithebarn, 12 Tithebarn Street, L2 2DT
9. Mamasan
The pan-Asian restaurant made quite the introduction in Liverpool opening the same week as indoor dining returned back in May and serves delicious food and indulgent cocktails. The food at Mamasan takes inspiration from the flavours of South East Asia and combines this with the best of British produce such as meat, fish, seafood and vegetables. Dishes include the likes of Thai chicken and prawn tacos; red curry of confit duck; steamed lemongrass seabass in banana leaf and wok fried vegetable manchurian.
Mamasan, Liverpool One, 24 College Lane, L1 3DS
10. Backyard
One of the first bar and restaurant openings to arrive in Liverpool in 2021 was Backyard and it’s become quite the go-to for cocktails with some impressive creations on the menu. One drink the garden bar conjured up that has become a popular tipple of choice is their pornstar martini slushies served in a miniature version of the iconic refuse bin brandishing it with a Liver bird (of course!). It might not have the Californian weather but Backyard has a cute pergola-covered outdoor seating area strung with fairy lights but it makes for a perfect hangout spot, mini wheelie bin in hand.
Backyard, Wolstenholme Square, L1 4JJ