Christmas parties in Liverpool: 10 cool restaurants and bars

Liverpool’s award-winning, fine-dining restaurant The Art School brings together inventive Modern British cooking and an impressive historic setting.

The Art School Cellars is part of the renowned Art School restaurant but it is also an atmospheric destination in its own right. Head to this charming, subterranean bar for a pre-dinner cocktail, a post-prandial port and cheeseboard, or make it the focus of your visit. The Art School Cellars offers a lighter menu than the upstairs restaurant but it’s no less delightful for that.

Get fresh, local and honest food at City Wine Bar and Kitchen in the grade II listed ‘City Buildings’ on Old Hall Street in Liverpool. This independently owned bar and restaurant prides itself on using fresh local ingredients, producers and suppliers as much as possible.

One of the buzziest spots in the Georgian Quarter, Frederiks models itself on the neighbourhood bars of Brooklyn. Think casual eats, coffee and lounging, with live music and quality cocktails as the day turns into night.

Indian Tiffin Room, the successful North West independent, has brought its authentic street food flavours to Liverpool.

Malmaison Liverpool Bar & Grill is much more than just another soulless hotel restaurant. With its dockside location and terrace, celeb fans and cool boutique vibes, it’s one of Liverpool’s most impressive dining destinations.

Fried chicken in a bar setting with a big emphasis on music, beer and cocktails – Liverpool independent Pattersons has hit on a winning formula here. 

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 its six foot chandelier and gold leaf ceiling Restaurant Bar & Grill Liverpool is one of the city’s most spectacular dining settings. A £500k refurbishment in 2021 brought to life the original features of this Grade II Listed heritage building. Now it’s one of the most photogenic backdrops in Liverpool, and the food’s not half bad too.

With its large alfresco terrace, island bar, and handsome architecture, Riva Blu Liverpool has a chic, continental feel inside and out.

Voyagers in The Halyard Liverpool is in the league of hotel restaurants that become a destination in their own right. A sophisticated and well-travelled menu of small plates combined with inviting modern design make it a standout addition to the Ropewalks. Expect an individual take on cool, casual dining.