12 super-romantic restaurants for a date night in Liverpool

The Art School delivers upmarket, regionally-inspired cooking from local legend, Paul Askew. Opening in late 2014, this fancy contemporary British restaurant is a place for that special occasion.

The name says it all: La Famiglia Bar & Restaurant is a family-run outfit serving fresh, traditional Italian cuisine rethought, using the finest ingredients.

South Asian cookery is on the cards here, or “a vibrant culinary offering”, if you prefer. Three floors are accessed via a floating staircase, with roof terrace for sipping in the sun – cocktails include the Lotus of lemongrass gin, butterfly pea flower, lemon and egg white.

The manifesto at industrial-chic restaurant and “dine-at-wine-bar” Manifest is “seasonal plates and famous Liverpool hospitality”, with the Modern British menus regularly changing to reflect both local produce availability and the wines that will be matched to the food.

Nord is a real asset to Liverpool’s dining scene. Housed in a bit of an unlovely 1960s office block – the former HQ of Littlewoods – the building has had some serious TLC. Now the subtle décor has shades of Mad Men rather than The Fall And Rise of Reginald Perrin with pendant lights, earthy tones and a statement orange bar.

Panoramic 34 was the UK’s highest restaurant when it opened in 2008, and although others have since taken that title, it still offers an impressive vantage point with a 360-degree view of Liverpool, the Mersey, and beyond to Wales. 

Piccolino Liverpool is located in a particularly grand building on Cook Street with a small but perfectly-formed terrace at the front. The impressive exterior seems appropriate because Piccolino always works well for fancy events, birthday parties and glamorous dates.

With simple, regularly changing menus to showcase the best seasonal ingredients available at market, you can expect carefully prepared plates of stylish food at this equally chic wine bar and bistro tucked away on a “secret” jigger just off bustling Castle Street. 

Chef and co-owner Andrew Sheridan (who you might recognise from Great British Menu) has uprooted Restaurant 8 from Birmingham and returned to the city of his birth. It’s a tough blow for the Brummies; the restaurant had built up a mighty reputation in the city, being awarded three AA Rosettes. But it’s excellent news for Liverpool.

Residing on the corner of Hanover Street sits Salt House Tapas, a modern yet ambient take on the popular Spanish tapas cuisine. Former employees of Ego Restaurants – Jonny and Paddy – teamed up, back in July 2010, to create their own restaurant where their real dream began.  

Head to any of the ristorantes in the award-winning, family-run San Carlo Group and you know you’re in for exceptional ingredients, artfully prepared, served in super chic surroundings. At San Carlo Liverpool, you’ll also find opulent dining booths and a stylish bar for drinks before or after your meal.

The Seaforth restaurant sits in the grand central atrium of the Municipal Hotel on Dale Street. Once the headquarters for Liverpool City Council, the hotel itself is a slice of old world glamour, and Seaforth’s décor and menu of understated excellence plays its part in this.