The best food in Liverpool: What to eat and where

The best food in Liverpool: What to eat and where

From a scouse pie to a full English, here are the tastiest and most famous dishes to eat in Liverpool.

Liverpool’s food scene is having a moment. In 2024, it has made its way onto lists rounding up the best food cities in the world. Whether you’re looking for hearty pub grub, street eats, or fine dining, you’ll find some of England’s best food in Liverpool.

If you want to start with the food Liverpool is best known for, a hearty plate of scouse followed by some sweet Wet Nelly will fill you up. There are plenty of classic British dishes that Liverpool does well, too, like fish and chips and a full English breakfast. But don’t miss the more contemporary side of the city’s food offering — Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Indian restaurants serve up some of the most popular foods in Liverpool in cool surroundings, especially near the Royal Albert Dock. Here are the essential foods to try when you visit Liverpool.

iStock-1394161694-LOWRES.jpg

Scouse: The most famous food to try in Liverpool.

1. Scouse

This meat-and-potato stew is so synonymous with Liverpool that the city’s inhabitants are known as Scousers. Typically made from beef or lamb, with potatoes, carrots, and onions, a hearty plate of scouse is an essential food to eat if you want to tick off Liverpool’s most famous dish.

How to eat the best scouse in Liverpool?

For the ultimate Liverpudlian experience, head to one of Liverpool’s most iconic places to try this famous dish, like the Cavern Club, where the Beatles began their career. The club has a restaurant that serves a delicious version of this popular Liverpool food. Or to uncover a real local favorite, head to Maggie May’s Community Café.

Discover food tours in Liverpool

A_slice_of_bread_pudding-LOWRES.jpg

photo by: Quillaja

Try Wet Nelly, a traditional dessert from Liverpool.

2. Wet Nelly

This somewhat unappetizingly named dessert is actually delicious, and another food that Liverpool is known for. Like scouse, it’s as traditional as Liverpudlian food gets. Also known as Docker’s wedding cake — in post-war Liverpool, it was a welcome cheaper alternative to a traditional wedding cake — it’s made of bread, dried fruit, egg, dark sugar, spices, and lemon.

How to eat the best Wet Nelly in Liverpool?

You’ll find the sweet bread pudding at many coffee shops across the city. Even the cool cafés in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle are known for serving up some of the tastiest Wet Nelly in town.

Enjoy food and drinks in Liverpool

meelan-bawjee-A_tPBct4tz8-unsplash-LOWRES.jpg

Have fish and chips by the waterfront.

3. Fish and chips

If there’s one dish Britain is known for around the world, it’s fish and chips. It’s a must wherever you visit, but in Liverpool, you’ll be having the freshest catch from the Irish Sea if you head down to the waterfront to enjoy this iconic dish.

How to eat the best fish and chips in Liverpool?

After a cruise on the Mersey, head to the Royal Albert Dock to the World Famous Docklands Fish and Chips. Ask for lashings of salt and vinegar and a hearty portion of mushy peas on the side.

iStock-184104731-lowres.jpg

Put a Liverpudlian spin on afternoon tea.

4. Afternoon tea

While not unique to Liverpool, the city has embraced the British tradition of afternoon tea with its own flair. Think elegant finger sandwiches, scones, dainty cakes, and every tea you can think of, and often champagne.

How to eat the best afternoon tea in Liverpool?

From elegant hotel lounges to quirky cafés, local bakehouses to double-decker bus tours, there are a number of unique ways and places to enjoy afternoon tea in Liverpool. There are even Beatles-themed spreads for sweet-toothed music lovers. Book in advance, especially for popular venues.

Enjoy laid-back afternoon tea in Liverpool

lisa-baker-VqTwBiaiSsk-unsplash-LOWRES.jpg

Enjoy a Sunday roast if you're in Liverpool for the weekend.

5. Roast dinner

The Sunday roast is a British institution that Liverpool has wholeheartedly embraced. Typically featuring roasted meat, potatoes, vegetables, and Yorkshire pudding, all doused in rich gravy, it’s a comforting meal that brings people together.

How to eat the best roast dinner in Liverpool?

Many pubs and restaurants serve roasts on Sundays, usually from midday until early evening. If you want to try it all, from roast beef to roast chicken, or some vegetarian alternatives, a carvery is a great choice for the ultimate selection. Don't be shy about asking for extra gravy — there’s no such thing as too much.

Enjoy food experiences in Liverpool

iStock-1163798690-LOWRES.jpg

Have bubble and squeak with breakfast or dinner.

6. Bubble and squeak

Bubble and squeak is by no means a Liverpudlian creation, the strangely named traditional dish — said to be named after the sounds it makes while it’s cooking — famously originated in East London as a ”leftovers” dish but has become a firm favorite in Liverpool. Made with mashed potatoes, cabbage, sprouts, and anything else left over from the Sunday roast, this traditional 18th-century dish is still a must-eat.

How to eat the best bubble and squeak in Liverpool?

While the best bubble and squeak will be served up around family dining tables across the city on a Monday, you’ll find it on breakfast and dinner menus, sometimes in the form of croquettes and breakfast stacks, in gastropubs and hip cafés like the Everyman Street Café, opposite Liverpool Cathedral.

Explore food tours in Liverpool

DSC_0273-LOWRES.jpg

photo by: Katrin's Kitchen Diaries

Try a tangy Liverpool tart.

7. Liverpool Tarts

Liverpool tarts are another local delicacy: a sweet pastry filled with a mixture of sugar, butter, eggs, and boiled lemons. The original recipe is thought to date back to 1897, but these tangy treats are still popular in Liverpool.

How to eat the best Liverpool tarts in Liverpool?

Visit local bakeries or markets to find authentic, handmade tarts. They’re best enjoyed fresh, so grab a cup of tea and enjoy this tasty Liverpudlian snack immediately.

Discover food and drink experiences in Liverpool

iStock-1288822852-LOWRES.jpg

Grab a scouse pie at Anfield or Goodison Park.

8. Scouse pie

You’ve tried and loved the famous Liverpool scouse stew. Now it’s time to try it in a pie — with light puff pastry and gravy, a freshly baked scouse pie is a much-loved staple food for football fans looking for something to warm them up at halftime.

How to eat the best Scouse pie in Liverpool?

If you’re watching a soccer match at Liverpool or Everton’s home grounds, you’ll be sure to find a Scouse pie on offer at halftime. Even if there are no games to catch, you can grab a delicious scouse pie from HomeBaked Anfield, and you won’t be missing out.

Explore food experiences in Liverpool

iStock-1338297350-LOWRES.jpg

Fill up with a full English.

9. Full English breakfast

Never had a full English breakfast? it’s one of the best foods to eat, either after a long night or before a long day. Also known as a fry-up, this hearty British classic typically includes eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast — a filling feast that'll fuel you for a day of exploring Liverpool’s top landmarks.

How to eat the best Full English Breakfast in Liverpool?

Look for local cafes or traditional pubs that serve breakfast. Many places offer it all day on weekends, perfect when you need a lie-in after a late night. Have it with a bloody mary, or a strong cup of English breakfast tea or coffee.

Enjoy brunch experiences in Liverpool

iStock-967274038-LOWRES.jpg

Have a curry and see why it's a British favorite.

10. Curry

It’s no secret that the UK’s favorite dish is fish and chips, but curry — specifically chicken tikka masala — is always hot on its heels, and has knocked it off the top spot on more than one occasion. Liverpool is no exception, and the city’s diverse population has made way for a bunch of great Indian restaurants. Today, you’ll find some of the best Middle Eastern, Mexican, and Southeast Asian restaurants in the country in the heart of Liverpool.

How to eat the best curry in Liverpool?

Mowgli’s Street Food on Bold Street serves some of Liverpool’s best curries with a rotating selection of daily specials, but you’ll find everything from fast food to fine dining among Liverpool’s best curry houses. A local food tour in Liverpool will take you off the beaten track to discover some of the city’s best flavors, too.

Book a local food tour in Liverpool

FAQs

What are the must-try traditional dishes in Liverpool?

Scouse is the ultimate Liverpool traditional dish. Closely related to Irish stew, it’s a hearty, warming dish for any time of year.

What are the best food tours in Liverpool?

You can find a number of top-quality food tours in Liverpool, from traditional English food to haute world cuisine to wine-tasting tours. Whatever your taste, you’ll eat well in Liverpool.

What are the top local food markets in Liverpool to visit?

Duke Street food market is an award-winning food market and food hall in the heart of Liverpool and is well worth a visit. On the fourth Saturday of every month, head to Lark Lane for its charming farmers market, with high-quality fresh food and artisanal produce.

What is the best time of year to visit Liverpool for food lovers?

Plan a trip in mid-September to take in the Liverpool Food and Drink Festival, a treat for any foodie.

How much should I budget for food in Liverpool?

While this will vary according to your tastes, you can eat well in Liverpool for a budget of £60/day. An average dinner eating out in Liverpool will cost £25 per person.

Read more about Liverpool