HIDDEN GEMS IN LIVERPOOL

I’ve been set a challenge by Think Money to find only £40 and locate some of the best hidden places to head around Liverpool, and no stranger to independent locations around my hometown I’m gonna show you the best restaurants, shops, museums and chill out spots in Liverpool.

EAST VILLAGE ARTS CLUB OR (EVAC) 

Formerly known as The Masque this place has got some history my parents used to gig and dine here. It’s on my favourite street in the whole of Liverpool, Seel Street. It has everything I want along one road. The EVAC is a location for some of the best acts to play whilst out front is a bar, pool table, chill out corners and the best sweet potato fries in town. On Mondays they have 50% off, or with a Liverpool Independant Card (Which I highly reccomend) 10% off on all days. 

My go to at lunch is their grilled chorizo sandwiches but no no no, today I was feeling frivalous and went for the Jambalaya (£5.50) A spicy Cajun rice dish, with peppers,
tomatoes, onion & fresh chillies and add chicken and chorizo for £2.50. There is ALOT of it! The EVAC certainly don’t leave you feeling hungry afterwards, bursting with flavors, spice and colour I suggest going for this if you like healthy dining with taste.

I took them up on their Top 8 offer, picking a double Captain Morgans and coke to wash down my scrummy meal, all 8 beverages all £2.85

90 Seel St, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 4BH

THE EGG CAFE

I’ve been going to this place for as long as I’ve been attending gigs, this was always the cool go-to hangout spot slap bang in the middle of town. The Egg has been home to all Vegan/Vegetarian and free-range food types. There’s a vibe like no other, in fact the only way I can compare this place is to the entirety of the Northern Quarter in Manchester it’s a unique setting that you’d find in a book.

The food is all home cooked and served up within minutes of ordering at the front desk, I always opt for the Spicy Burger, which comes with a yummy colourful salad, vegan pasta, pesto, pita bread and the biggest veggie burger you’ll ever lay your eyes on. For the mere price of £5.65. 

The egg is a no-go for alcohol but there’s a corking fee if you want to bring your own wine, personally if I had it my way I’d go here for breakfast everyday, the atmosphere is so refreshing and I’ve been known to bring down the macbook and get some posts done whilst overlooking Bold Street and picking at a piece of cheese on toast!

For desserts I wholeheartedly reccomend trying their vegan cakes, carrot cake? Beetroot cake? For less than £3? Do not knock it til you’ve tried it and bought 3 more to follow…

Top Floor, 16-18 Newington, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 4ED

THE JACARANDA

The holy grail of cheap finds, this is our go-to before a night out and with £1.50 Carslbergs it makes the ideal meeting place to have a catch up in one of their underground cubby holes, whilst watching some of the North Wests best talent on an intimate stage. What is an untold secret not known to many is that the Beatles played here more often than The Cavern. so you really feel you’re a part of Beatles-mania. They’ve got the snazziest Juke Box which is full working order to eat your heart out to The Kinks. 

I ordered everything the barlady reccomended me, to my memory it was a Eternity Sugar Wray Lemon, and some kind of strawberry gin mixture. Either way the bill only came to £7 as cocktails are buy one get one free and not of the standard of your typical cocktail, they pride themselves in making you a funky drink bursting with character and flavor! 

I often get chatting to the lady behind the bar as she’s such a doll and lets me try tasters of everything, and even introduced me to gin, if you want entertainment, a good conversation, immense music and to sit in one of the swankiest places around The Jacaranda is calling your name!

21-23 Slater St, Liverpool, Merseyside L1 4BW

LUCHA LIBRE

You may have noticed all my hidden gems of liverpool have been within a small perimeter of each other as all the best restaurants, bars and attractions are within the same area, I try to stay outside of commercial Liverpool as L1 is renowned for its chain restaurants but the real gems are hidden in the side streets, like Lucha Libre, directly opposite Fact Cinema. You’ll enter a world of mexican cuisine, interesting music, bright colours and wrestling masks everywhere!

If you’re expecting cheesy waiters shaking maracas wearing sombreros and ponchos as they bring you food you’re at the wrong place, this effortlessly cool vibe brings all the elements of a fine dining to a hip food establishment with an extensive range of cocktails to try.

We opted for the Street Food Tray which is perfect for people that like to try small portions of everything (me!) 

It includes: 2 x Pibil Tacos, 2 x Lucha Fried Chicken Tacos, 2 x Rib
Taquitos, 2 x Chicken Tostada & 1 x Chorizo & Potato
Quesadilla all for the price of £19.95 (ultimate mexican dining for under a tenner per person) 

Expect grilled cheese heaven in the form of variations of spice levels and the perfect portion size, the food can get a bit messy but what street food isn’t eh?

We were a bit naughty and got some churros (best decision ever!)

They’re £4.25 and were surprisingly nicer than churros we had in Barcelona so if you’re churros mad like me then Lucha Libre is your calling. Although my only snag is the drinks prices, apparently the pint prices are a bit much so stick to the cocktails, which look heavenly! But when doing Mexican try a Margarita!

96 Wood Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 4DQ

Liverpool is brimming with so much culture and food varieties and it seems impossible to not find somewhere new to try, even on a budget!

Let me know what your hidden gems are!

Ps: Enjoy this post, check out more food posts!