Ask anyone on the streets of Liverpool what they think of their city now and where it’s headed, and you’ll find no shortage of cheerful sentiments reflecting a youthful, energetic city on the up. Long associated with industrial decline, the last decade has seen an undeniable resurgence of the original city of music as a place to be; one filled with idealistic, creative young people and a buzz that’s hard to come by anywhere else in the U.K. Aside from the fact that the vaunted travel bible Rough Guides recently proclaimed a night out in Liverpool as number two in their annual list of the top things to do before you die, there has also been a proliferation of dining, arts and nightlife venues in the city that hasn’t gone unnoticed by cultural commentators and foodies the world over.
The phoenix-like reinvention of the city as an uber-hip place to drink, dance and be merry, as well as the youthful population from both the U.K. and beyond means that when it comes to cities to go on a date, you’d be hard-pressed to find somewhere better than Liverpool. And as such, there’s no shortage of world-class spots to hit up on your next date. Choosing the right place can be a challenge, so with that in mind, here are the IDEAL venues in Liverpool for your next date.
EAT
Choosing a spot to eat in Liverpool can sometimes seem like a Herculean task, almost on par with matching up with the right person for the evening, given the dizzying choice of almost 2000 restaurants in the city. While the sheer variety of venues on offer is a big plus, one of the best things about dating in Liverpool is the people (the most vital part of the whole dating equation, right?) who also happen to be a diverse, fun and attractive bunch. Once you’ve settled on a date and a date for that date (geddit), it’s time to pick the eatery whose dinner will be so romantic you’ll be enjoying breakfast there, too.
Liverpool’s food scene has a restaurant to cater to everyone’s specific need. Whatever your preferred vibe, taste and price tag, there’s guaranteed to be the perfect venue for you. Although some people might baulk at the idea of taking a first date for a messy burrito, Lucha Libre on Wood St. manages to bridge that difficult gap between dirty Mexican and intimate venue; after all, we want a bit of both in a partner, too. Get cosy in a candlelit booth and order up some of their inventive Mexican tapas dishes such as their lamb burria, pomegranate-dusted ceviche or their famously addictive achiote prawns.
For something which sings special while still maintaining that laid back vibe conducive to great conversation, try your best to book a table at the now nationally acclaimed Brit-fusion restaurant Wreckfish; a beautiful, airy ‘bistro’ over on Slater St, which has recently raised the bar of the food scene here and is the place to go if you’re looking to wow your date. Get the conversation started over a glass or two from their organic wine menu, then dive in to some of their coffee-roasted lamb rump or miso-glazed parsnip. Fill any awkward silences by watching the dextrous chefs dishing up theatre in the open-air kitchen. Oh, and be sure to follow the owner Gary Usher over on Twitter; outspoken, controversial, but whose heart it seems, is very much in the right place.
If you’re wanting an old-school, classic upscale spot to properly wine and dine your love interest, then you could do much worse than whisking them up to Panoramic 34 at the top of the tallest building in the city for traditional French fare and jaw-dropping views. This place is a local institution, and while their menu hasn’t changed much as trends and tropes have in the country’s culinary landscape, classics are just that for a reason. The real aphrodisiac here is the view, and if you time it just right, you can be enjoying dessert just as the sun sets over the River Mersey; a surefire guarantee of further romance to come.
DRINK
Once you’ve wined and dined but the date hasn’t gone on long enough for a ‘your place or mine’, Liverpool has a wealth of bars to keep the night going. If the weather is good and you’re after something a little leftfield, make sure to hit up the achingly hip Kazimier Garden on Seel St. Once part of the legendary Kazimier nightclub, today just the outdoor area remains, but it’s the perfect place for a before or after-dinner drink. Complete with fairy lights, old train carriages and expertly-crafted cocktails, “the Kaz” is the ideal place to snuggle into a cosy corner with a martini or, if you’re feeling more chilled out, a can of Red Stripe, and get to know your date.
For a great mid-range option, you can’t do much better than the hugely popular Berry & Rye on of course, Berry St. The drawback of this place is that it’s so beloved of tourists and locals that you’ll have to make a reservation if you want to get a seat, but should you be blessed enough to bag one of their luxurious and sprawling booths, then sparks will fly. And if they don’t, well he or she probably isn’t worth the effort anyway. Their menu is curated by experts and constantly changing, but if you’re in town during the spring or summer months, make you take yourselves to the “Dark Side”, a cocktail containing an intoxicating blend of Pierre Ferrand Ambre Cognac, dark chocolate liqueur, orange bitters and Lazzaroni dry marsala. Just one of these will give you all the dutch courage you need to take your chat to the charming level.
As firm believers in the romantic powers of a good view, we think you can’t top the vista from the elegant champagne terrace atop the Carpathia Hotel.This historic hotel oozes old world decadence and is an unbeatable spot to take in the art-deco Three Graces buildings in all their lit-up evening splendour while you and your date flirt over a couple of their famous White Star martinis, a nod to the building’s close associations with the RMS Titanic. Luckily, after a couple of those your date should definitely end better than that ill-fated voyage!
DANCE
We could round off this article with suggestions for picnics in the park, quirky art galleries, or even a romantic boat ride, but let’s face it, you’re in Liverpool, so best do as the locals do, put on your dancing shoes and party the night away. The nightlife in Liverpool is a force to be reckoned with, and rather getting messy and torpedoing it all with your worst drunken Macarena routine, you’ll find nightlife spots which are raw, inclusive and full of people who are there to dance and be free. To feel the best of this free-spirited atmosphere, head to the acclaimed Invisible Wind Factory, a sprawling industrial spot in the Baltic Triangle which plays host to some of the best DJ bookings in Europe.
For some classic Scouse fun at a legendary venue where many-a-romance is born, it’s all about the Heebie Jeebies on Seel St. While this place has a somewhat deserved reputation as a raucous, sticky and sweaty spot for boozed up students on Thursdays and Saturdays, every other night of the week tends to be a whole lot more chill. Plenty of famous DJs cut their teeth here, and it’s a place you’re guaranteed to find some tunes to suit both you and your date’s tastes. When you’re ready for a breather and little bit of conversation (and maybe something more), head out to the atmospheric courtyard for some banter. Although not the most conventional spot for a date, this place captures the essence of Liverpool perfectly and is the ideal spot for letting your guard down.
For somewhere relaxed to wind the night down, check out Keith’s Wine Bar over on Lark Lane, where you can rock up in the wee hours and relax in this unpretentious, well-stocked and affordable winery.
And there you have it, our end of the bargain sorted. Now, over to you…