Liverpool tops Time Out list as Best City for Food in the UK

Liverpool’s been named as Best City for Food in the UK in a Time Out list revealed today.

Liverpool has beaten trendy hotspot Brighton, the capital, London, and even nearby Manchester to take the top food crown! 

The renowned culture and entertainment mag declared:

“We’re just going to come right out and say it: Liverpool is the most exciting city for food in the UK right now. 

“Blink and you’ll miss another newcomer on the restaurant scene.”

Nord, Down the Hatch and Pen Factory are among those that have made it onto the global magazine’s list of the best 23 places to eat, with Maray in Bold Street taking the number one slot to help secure the city accolade.

Time Out added:

“Alongside the exciting newbies, old faves are as popular and delicious as ever; find Indian street food and old-school Italian joints, and on a sunny day in Liverpool, you’ll see the small plates spots overflowing with as many customers as the restaurants that have been around since the ’70s. 

“Whatever your flavour, the best restaurants in Liverpool won’t disappoint.”

To reveal the best cities for food (and drink, and coffee) in the UK right now Time Out – who earlier this week listed the world’s best cities with Liverpool coming only just outside the top 20 at 26 – used data from thousands of Brits who took part in a survey about food in their city and how they rated the quality and affordability.

It combined that with scores from a panel of Time Out food experts, Time Out’s writers, food critics and Time Out Market chefs, who were asked to share their insights.

Crowning Maray in Bold Street as number one, Time Out’s Alice Porter says the restaurant – with another in Albert Dock – is a ‘cosy but lively restaurant’ which ‘takes plant-based cooking to a whole new level’ while also offering a tantalising selection of meat and fish dishes. 

She explains:

“You’ll feel immediately relaxed when you enter Maray. Known for its Middle Eastern sharing plates, it attracts locals and tourists alike, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself agreeing to go out with a group of chatty scousers after your meal.”

With ‘reasonable pricing’ Alice adds: “It’s renowned for its disco cauliflower, bound to be the most exciting head of cauliflower you’ll come across, slathered in chermoula, harissa and tahini.

“The halloumi drowned in pomegranate molasses is also well worth a go, and make sure you order all of the dips to dunk fresh warm pitta into. Hummus and baba ganoush are both great but the whipped goats cheese paired with pickled apple is a winner.”

Celebrated chef Paul Askew’s The Art School in Sugnall Street is number two in Time Out’s list thanks to its ‘marvellous food in a historic Victorian building’.

Alice says:

“Old-school fine dining … you’re in for a fancy, fad-free and delicious meal.

“Art School isn’t cheap, but you won’t be paying over the odds for what is a seriously swanky dining experience. Head chef at The Art School Paul Askew is well-known across the city for championing regional produce, so you’ll spot lots of local supplier’s names on the menu. Although there are vegetarian and pescatarian menus, Askew’s menu shines best for its meat and fish; the sirloin beef with ox cheek is enough to turn any veggie anyway.”

‘Relaxed fine dining’ takes Manifest in the Baltic Triangle to number three. Since being opened in 2022 by chef Paul Durand and wife Charlotte Jones, it’s quickly made a name for itself.

“Tucked away down a side road in an old factory building, the idea is simple,” says Alice, “seasonal plates, both small and large, local ingredients, expertly paired with a variety of wines. All of the good food, none of the pretentiousness.”

NORD, Buyers Club, The Egg Café, Wreckfish Bistro and Panoramic have all made it onto Time Out’s top 23, with the full list showing how, as Time Out food & drink editor Leonie Cooper says: “There’s so much more to this country than pie’n’mash, chicken tikka masala and fish and chips.”

Liverpool’s top 23 according to Time Out:

1. Maray
2. The Art School Restaurant
3. Manifest
4. Madre
5. NORD
6. Buyers Club
7. The Egg Café
8. Italian Club
9. Hafla Hafla
10. Belzan
11. Wreckfish Bistro
12. Panoramic 34
13. The London Carriage Works 
14. A Tavola
15. Etsu
16. Down the Hatch
17. Salt House
18. The Quarter
19. Hanover Street Social Brasserie and Bar
20. Pen Factory
21. American Pizza Slice
22. Saffron
23. Backchich

To read more about why the restaurants have made it into the top 23 and won Liverpool the Time Out title of Best City for Food in the UK, go to the Time Out website.

Find all the latest Liverpool news here.