Socialising in the city

Liverpool’s reputation as a city that works hard and plays hard is well founded. Whatever your persuasion, Liverpool has an after-dark excursion to match it, and then some.

Yes, music is at the heart of many a memorable Liverpool late night. But Liverpudlians are a sociable lot, as you’ll discover in one of the richly atmospheric Victorian pubs. You’ll find the craic is as fanciful and elaborate as the moulded ceilings and rococo flourishes of set-piece boozers such as the Philharmonic Dining Halls, The Crown or (John Lennon’s favourite) Ye Olde Cracke.

And if our tall tales don’t nourish you, our fab food will. Of late, Merseyside’s culinary scene is enjoying a purple patch - with Wirral’s Fraiche grabbing a Michelin star and ‘restaurant of the year’ from the Sunday Times, and Delifonseca’s rustic cooking grabbing ‘Best Independent Retailer’ at the Observer Food Awards.

Elsewhere there’s seriously seductive Indian street food, hearty bowls of scouse, fiery Moroccan tagines, and deep-fried lasagna bites to tempt you: and that’s just in a fifty metre stretch of Bold Street, the epicentre of independent dining, Liverpool-style.

Yes, Liverpool’s ‘World in One City’ slogan is no empty epitaph - from Eritrean entrees to Portuguese custard tarts the city’s an irresistible stew of cultures, cuisines and craft beers. Oh, don’t get us started on the craft beers...

Time to dance off that extra slice of deep fried jam butty (a must-try, should you head to 60 Hope Street’s trim townhouse restaurant)?  We’d suggest you head to the Ropewalks - a tight lattice of streets harbouring the city’s best late-night bars, clubs and music joints.

Then again, you could always head to Mathew Street. A night in the Cavern is still something of a Liverpool rite of passage. And a great way to meet your new best friends.