Liverpool’s best bars and restaurants for the summer

Free State Kitchen has a HUGE secret garden at 1 Maryland Street, in the heart of Liverpool’s Cultural Quarter. You would never know this from the outside, making it one of Liverpool’s hidden garden gems. If you’re in town and craving a delicious meal whilst sat in the sunshine, Free State Kitchen is for you. The menu is full of delicious burgers such as the popular American Cheeseburger, as well as American classics such as mac n’ cheese and loaded fries. You’ll also find the best sundaes around including biscoff (yum!) if you fancy something sweet, while cocktails are two for £15.

Located in the beautiful Woolton Village, an affluent and leafy suburb of Liverpool, The Elephant Pub & Bakehouse is the ideal pit stop on a summer’s day. Whether you want a lite bite, cold beer or just a coffee and a cake, The Elephant is the perfect spot for you. It serves a huge menu, from sourdough pizzas, burgers and sandwiches, to breakfast bites, brunch plates and ‘Summer Kebabs’ – we could go on but we’ll leave it there and you can discover the rest of the menu when you visit!

Cargo Seafood Restaurant has an unrivalled waterfront location so you can enjoy breathtaking views across the River Mersey in the summer, and if you’re lucky, a dramatic sunset that changes with the seasons from the comfort of the indoor or outdoor dining options. The bar and cocktail lounge is a friendly, relaxing place that’s perfect to watch the world go by, while the restaurant serves an array of exquisite seafood from lobster to buttery prawns, as well as steaks and salads. If you’re looking for somewhere special that offers indoor and outdoor seating to enjoy the summer months, this is the place.

A stylish and unique rooftop bar and restaurant, with panoramic views over Liverpool, Carpathia Rooftop Bar is set on top of the classic hotel, 30 James Street, and is the perfect location to relax in the summer. Located close to the Liverpool Waterfront, the top floor rooftop bar and restaurant offers sweeping panoramic views over the city, including the Three Graces (the Royal Liver, the Cunard and the Port of Liverpool buildings). Set over several levels, Carpathia comes with a very stylish indoor restaurant, complemented with a glass terrace that’s open year round. One floor above is the seasonal, open-air rooftop bar that is perfect for any summer’s day.

Delifonseca Dockside is a magical farm shop and dining experience. The dining room was finished in September 2019, and since then the informal dining room morphs throughout the day from a bright breakfast room and busy buzzy lunch service, to a relaxed candlelit dinner evening venue.

What you won’t see is the massive fancy kitchen that’s been built, which means the chefs can get even more creative. Their blackboard can’t fit all of the new dishes on it! Their approach to food is simple, but new dishes pop up regularly depending on what’s in season or been piquing the chefs’ imaginations. Expect the unexpected and we guarantee that there will be something new and exciting on the menu every time you visit. You can soak up the summer’s sun by walking along the Mersey from Otterspool Promenade or the Royal Albert Docks to the Delifonseca Dockside, which is located just off the promenade walk.

The Quarter is a family-owned business so naturally, it’s the perfect location for you and your family to visit during the summer months. It’s located on Falkner Street, set amongst the cobbled streets of Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter, steeped in history near the Anglican Cathedral. The Quarter is in a beautiful location and within walking distance from the biggest cathedral in England and the fifth biggest in Europe. 

The menu caters to everyone, serving a range of pizza, pasta, grilled meats and salads, so there is something to suit everyone and all for around £12 to £15 per dish. Why don’t you stop off here for lunch before continuing your walk around this historical city? Our top tip – this place serves THE BEST ice cream sundaes! There are five delicious flavours to choose from  including Rocky Road, Key Lime (very refreshing) and Rossini. 

Located opposite the city’s iconic Three Graces, OH ME OH MY is the iconic Liverpool rooftop bar. Built in the 1920s, it was home to the former bank of West Africa. Fast forward 90 years and the venue undoubtedly has one of the best views in Liverpool. 

Booking is essential, but why not kick-start your summer celebrations in style? Over the weekend, this venue only offers drinks on its rooftop terrace. The drink selection includes pitchers of PIMMS, Aperol Spritz, gins and prosecco. Who doesn’t want to get a tan with a great view?

The first TGI Fridays opened in New York in 1965 with the timeless promise, ‘In here, it’s always Friday’. There’s no better way to enjoy the summer than by pretending it’s Friday every day! Now a large franchise, there are two restaurants in Liverpool: one in Speke and one located on the top of Liverpool One. TGI Fridays serves hearty, delicious American food and HUGE cocktails. Expect everything from whopper burgers, wings, ribs, corndogs – you name it – and if it’s stereotypically American, TGIs serves it. It’s a great place to take the children if you’re looking for somewhere fun in the summer holidays.

The Jug & Bottle is a beautiful pub with nine en-suite guest bedrooms upstairs, making this an ideal base for a summer holiday. Especially since it’s located within walking distance of Thurstaston Beach on the Wirral. If you’re not from Liverpool, it’s the other side of the Mersey river, which offers an escape from the bustling city centre and gives you the opportunity to explore plenty of walks in nature and away from the crowds but with easy transport links. Don’t forget to book your table as this popular pub gets very busy, especially on a sunny day! 

Love Lane Brewery is based in the heart of Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, voted the “coolest” district in the UK. These guys are keeping the city’s proud brewing heritage alive, so if craft beer is your bag, look no further! You can now book a beer tour, which is an hour long and includes a guided tour of the brewery, a tasting of three beers and a pint of lager, pale or session to finish.