The Coolest Restaurants in Liverpool

Liverpool seems like an appropriate place for a restaurant funded by the people. Wreckfish was financed by 1,522 enthusiasts who raised the record-breaking £200,000 required, via a crowdfunding campaign from Elite Bistros’ Gary Usher. Accordingly, it has the feel of a place for the many, not the few.

Like the backstreet Venetian tapas places which inspired this central Liverpool bar and restaurant, there is something about Salt House Bacaro that makes you never want to leave.

Serving irresistible Middle Eastern fusion small plates, Maray is a slow-burning smash hit. Inspired by (and named after) the Middle-Eastern flavours of Paris’ Marais district, it provides an informal, communal dining experience which revolves around excellent falafels, small plates, fine wines and cocktails.

Following punchy reviews in the local and national press, it has been hard to secure a table at Liverpool’s Belzan.

Roski is a wild child of a restaurant from MasterChef: The Professionals winner Anton Piotrowski.

The Pen Factory specialises in the kind of Middle East-meets-Spanish creations you’ll find at Volta or The Refuge in Manchester, where small plates are par for the course. From broad bean and kikone bar snacks to Southport potted shrimps, ‘Spanish’ chip butties, spiced harissa slices and duck ragout with orzo, everything is reasonably priced, perfectly presented and made for sharing.