Commercial District Hotspots

Break up the working week with some after-work plans at the Commercial District!

A weekday doesn't mean all work and no play...the Commercial District is full of fantastic restaurants that you can enjoy with work colleagues, friends, family or by yourself. There is no need deprive yourself of a tasty treat until the weekend as all these locations are just a short walk from a Merseyrail station - Moorfields or James Street, which means you can catch the train on the way home no problem. 

Read on to find out our top Commercial District picks and plan your journey with Merseyrail. 

Ma Boyles

The popular Alehouse and Eatery is just a stone’s throw from the Albert Dock and Pier Head, so easily accesible via Merseyrail as its just a short walk from Moorfields and James Street station. The cool exterior and the warm atmosphere add to the charm of the classic restaurant, which dates back to 1860. Their menu changes regularly to suit your fresh and seasonal tastes, but you can’t go wrong with their traditional Sunday roast. If you want a more lively night out, Ma Boyle's hosts Jazz Saturdays and a brillant bottomless brunch for £35 per person. So for great cocktails, local ales, delicious home-cooked food and wonderful company...head to Ma Boyle's. 

Sanskruti

This veggie eatery tucked around the corner from Moorfields on Bixteth Street is one of the best curry houses in the city, never mind the Commercial District. Meat-lovers won’t believe just how good their jackfruit curry is – from the melt-in-your-mouth texture of the South Indian fruit to the perfectly balanced mix of fragrant spices. We reckon it could convert the most voracious of meat-eaters (for one night only, at least). As well as offering Gujarati and Punjabi mains, their menu takes inspiration from Indian street food and you’ll be spoiled for choice with their selection of dosas, dumplings and loads of vegan options too. Try their take on a pizza – the uttapam – a rice and lentil based pancake topped with tomatoes and spices. We can also guarantee that at least one person in your party will feel compelled to ask for a recipe – these guys really know how to do a curry.

Etsu

If you’re looking for an authentic Japanese dining experience in the city, Etsu, nestled between Brunswick Street and The Strand, will transport you to Tokyo’s backstreets with its array of Japanese delicacies. Between their three highly skilled Japanese chefs – who collectively share over 70 years of culinary experience – and their knowledgeable waiting staff who are on hand to answer any queries about their cuisine, you know you’re in capable hands. With an extensive menu of rice, noodle and curry dishes, plenty of pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan options, and a mountainous array of mouth-watering appetisers, once you’ve been once, you’ll find yourself returning again and again to sample more of their delights. Space is limited too so we recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.

Trattoria 51

Experience a slice of Italian life in the heart of the city’s commercial district. The independent Old Hall Street eatery is housed in a grand Victorian building but its modern Italian décor will transport you to the sophisticated cool of 1950s Rome. Their stonebaked pizzas are baked on demand and – coeliacs rejoice – Trattoria 51 are the first restaurant in the UK to team up with DS-gluten free to launch a range of specially made gluten free pizzas. There really is something to satisfy all tastes but for seafood lovers, our top pick has got to be the Linguine Allo Scoglio – King Prawns, Calamari, Mussels, Samphire, Queen Scallops, White Wine, Garlic, Courgettes, Chilli and Tomatoes – take your first ample mouthful, close your eyes and we’re pretty sure you could be sitting on a terrazza overlooking the Amalfi Coast. Like everything else on the menu, it’s that good.

So Salsa Castle Street 

Good tapas can be hard to come by this side of the English Channel but So Salsa are doing plenty to bridge this divide. On Castle Street – in close proximity to  both Moorfields and James Street stations – you can enjoy a delectable array of tapas dishes from cuisines across the globe, not just Spain. The family run restaurant surrounds strike the balance between being relaxed and brimming with atmosphere expertly, and the glowing reviews of the service and food speak for itself. The menu consists of affordable and delicious meat, seafoof and veggie tapas, as well as scrumpcious sweet treats to finish. Our mouths are watering already.

Fazenda

Carnivores, this one’s for you. The cream of the crop of Liverpool’s offering of Brazilian restaurants, Fazenda is one luxurious dining experience that’s excellent value too – depending on how much your stomach can take. In a picturesque corner of the historic Exchange Flags, you can – literally – eat as much meat as you like. And it’s not just any meat either – fillet mignon rubs shoulders with minted lamb, rump steak, chicken thighs, gammon and much, much more, as servers with skewers make their way to your table and delicately carve as much meat as you like onto a plate for you. The generosity doesn’t end there either; before you’re presented with the revolving array of meats, you can head to their salad bar for the biggest and tastiest array of couscous, pastas, olives, cheese, vegetables, pickles we’ve ever seen outside a deli. Not one for the fainthearted – we recommend trousers with an elasticated waistband to make the most of this offer.

City Wine Bar + Kitchen

Not just a very sophisticated wine-tasting restaurant, City Wine Bar + Kitchen offers the perfect vibes for your after work catch-up with your colleagues or loved ones. It is located on Old Hall Street - an ideal location as it is near to Moorfields station and around the corner from James Steet station. The bar and restaurant has a strong focus on using fresh local ingredients, so you know you’re getting quality produce. And, with their frequently changing wine specials, you’ll be in capable hands when it comes to selecting the perfect tipple to accompany your choice. 

Get to The Commercial District with Merseyrail

Each destination mentioned is just a short walk away from a Merseyrail station. Plan your journey with Merseyrail via the Journey Planner here.