9 places to eat, drink or shop in Woolton Road

You don’t always want to go into town to meet your mates for a drink or grab a bite to eat – especially when there are venues much closer to home.

In Woolton Road, Childwall, for instance there are loads of places to head to whether you want to buy a gorgeous fresh baguette, celebrate a special occasion with a full-on Italian feast, or listen to live music and raise a glass at the end of a long hard week…

Cucina de Vincenzo

This award-winning family-owned and run restaurant at 256 Woolton Road serves amazing Italian food and invites you to ‘celebrate, create lasting memories and share quality time with loved ones in our warm, relaxed and beautiful home away from home’.  Owner Vince opened Cucina in 2016 continuing a family legacy which began when his grandfather Francesco Margiotta immigrated to Edinburgh in 1904 and opened a café. You’ll be sure to find all your favourite pasta dishes, as well as fresh meat and fish specialities – like Spiedini di Pesce, a chargrilled skewer of prawns, scallop, monkfish, with garlic butter and saffron risotto.

Find out more here.

The Halfway House

A top pub where you’re guaranteed a great welcome and it’s just the spot for brekkie with the family or a night out with your mates. You can go for just a pint or a glass of Prosecco while you catch the latest sport coverage on the TV, but if you’re after food, it mixes classic pub dishes with modern flavours like its new Pork Tomahawk, or vegan Pumpkin & Spinach burger. There are always offers – like two mains for £13 Monday to Friday, or two cocktails for £9.50 – and when the sun shines, you’ll find plenty of spaces in its outdoor beer garden.

Find out more here.

Abaca Health Store

Following the famous Emerson phrase that ‘the first wealth is health’ this independent health store stocks everything from supplements, herbal remedies, healthy snacks, and organic foods and drinks, to teas, natural body care, household products, essential oils, protein powders, and free-from and plant-based alternatives.

Find out more here.

Fika

The Swedish-inspired coffee shop is always a favourite – and not just for its homemade food and freshly-made buns and cakes, or its very own coffee blend. This is a coffee shop with a conscience and owner Anthony Grice, whose aim is to get people to chill and chat, has won awards for turning the cafe was into a community hub, delivering toys to struggling families at Christmas – and even funding Christmas dinners – and offering free summer holiday meals for kids.

Find out more here.

Artisane Liverpool

Bringing a taste of France to Woolton Road, you’ll often see queues outside here as customers follow their noses to the aroma of freshly-baked bread. The South Liverpool patisserie-boulangerie is well known for its traditional French breads and sandwiches, pastries, pies, cakes, and gorgeous macarons – but be warned, customers have said it can become addictive!

Find out more here.

Vivi

Next-door-but one to ‘big sister’ Cucina di Vincenzo, Vivi offers the same great Italian food but with a modern twist, serving a fantastic small plates and sharing menu. Headed by Vince’s daughter Gabriella, who was a semi-finalist on MasterChef The Professionals in 2022, it opened last year. Dishes include Monkfish Milanese with tartare slaw; beef fillet with cauliflower truffle purée, artichoke crisp, and marrow butter, and the perfect pizzettes, and more. It’s got a great wine menu too, and some amazing cocktails like Giuseppe’s Garibaldi with Campari, passionfruit and orange.

Find out more here.

Pip’s Sandwich and Sweet Shop

Sandwiches and sweets – could there be a better combination? This corner café is super-friendly and is the best stop for a breakfast butty, a cake or a coffee – it gets praise for its hot chocolate too! – and as well as selling cards and having a lovely little book swap, this charming little independent sells loads of traditional sweets.

Find out more here.

Neighbourhood Café/Hamilton’s Bar

Dining at this family-run venue’s been described as a cross between having a meal in a Parisian bistro and going out for dinner at the house of an old friend. It’s ready for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner with delicious food freshly made with locally-sourced ingredients and a list of ever-changing specials. It transforms into Hamilton’s every Friday and Saturday from 5pm till late, serving wine, charcuterie boards, cocktails and a generous helping of live music!

Find out more here.

And one to look out for – Rose Lane Coffee

After teasing customers, the dog-friendly speciality coffee shop has finally announced it’s expanding with a new base away from its original Rose Lane site – and guess where it’s heading?! Keep an eye out for its opening date along with its all-too-tempting banana sponge split with clotted cream and tart cherry jam, delicious doughnuts, and famed coffees and teas.  “We can’t wait to bring the goods to Woolton Road,” they say. 

Find out more here.

Find more places to eat across Liverpool here.

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