Try these 2023 food trends in Liverpool’s hotspots

You should try out some of the local dishes and what better place to do it than Barnacle. Here, you can enjoy locally produced meals including the delicious new Liverpool chowder and delicious desserts including the Ormskirk meadowsweet pear, which is grown just 30 minutes down the road. The menu is ever-changing depending on the season, so keep an eye out for winter-inspired dishes. Barnacle is nestled in Duke Street Market on the mezzanine. Here, you can get comfortable away from the downstairs buzz and enjoy some fresh and organic local food.

If you’re on the hunt for a delicious vegan street food venue, Hafla Hafla is the place for you. The Middle Eastern inspired restaurant made its mark on the city at the Baltic Market where everybody raves over the Mediterranean-style halloumi fries. The owner, Tim Haggis and co have since found their own spot in Lark Lane, where you can enjoy more fun and delicious dishes including falafel kebabs, crispy fried oyster mushrooms and corn ribs. One of the great things about Hafla Hafla is that all of the food is locally sourced, which means everything is fresh, healthy and of course tasty.

Free State Kitchen (FSK) is known for its selection of American classics from 100 per cent pure beef burgers and buffalo hot wings, to chilli cheese fries and homemade desserts. The menu also boasts an impressive range of vegan dishes, including the vegan market burger with vegan cheese, a veggie patty, vegan chipotle mayo and salad. The bean chilli nachos are also a fan favourite along with the veggie chillie cheese fries. FSK is dedicated to offering a sustainable food experience, which is why it saves its coffee grinds and uses them to fertilise the soil. The team here also sources a lot of their food from the local area, including the Lancashire-grown fresh potato chips and ice cream from Cheshire cows.

To brighten your mood in 2023, you should head to Maray where you can enjoy some picky bits, cocktails and catch ups. Maray offers a delicious selection of Middle Eastern small plates, which are inspired by the district of Marais, a vibrant location in Paris. Some standout dishes include the disco cauliflower, whipped goat’s cheese and the pork cheeks. Maray also has its own vegan menu, with customer favourites such as the chickpea dopiaza and the falafel sharer. If you are still hungry, you could try the vegan chocolate tart with sour cherry jam and pistachio crumble. Maray’s owners have created a successfully sustainable restaurant and in November 2021, they became a certified carbon neutral restaurant, which is one of the first steps taken to becoming completely carbon-free in the future. To achieve this, Maray works with Carbon Neutral Britain to track and improve the restaurant’s emissions by making the switch to green energy and reducing food waste.

The Egg Cafe is the perfect place to relax and unwind after some retail therapy or window shopping. Located just off busy Bold Street, The Egg has become a haven for the people of Liverpool who go to enjoy the delicious vegan and veggie food, including the famous banana and maple syrup pancakes and the huge garlic bread and cheese slices (vegan options are available). If you’re a cake lover, then The Egg is the perfect place for you as they offer a great selection of homemade cakes. To compliment your cake, you could try an aromatic tea or opt for a coffee which comes from local suppliers including Joe Black and Coffee Republic. The Egg has been labelled ‘the most bohemian place on earth’, as it not only offers sustainable and organic meat-free food, but it has also become home to some of Liverpool’s local artists and poets who showcase their work at the most welcoming and sustainable cafe in Liverpool.