Short Trip: Liverpool
Liverpool is more than just the home of the Beatles. But the fact that John Lennon and Paul McCartney went from boys to men and the mushroom heads to rock stars is something that hits you in the forehead at every turn. Here, being English means drinking ale in the pub every night and ranting about the weather and soccer at the same time. The wave of globalization is only slowly rolling up from south London – and that means that there are still districts without a Starbucks branch, and not everyone buys their jeans at H&M. We take the opportunity to let Ben York show us the places where Liverpool is still original.
Living
Wooden floors and leather sofas give the rooms of the Hope Street Hotel on the street of the same name the coziness that one looks for in foreign cities. The Hard Days Night Hotel dedicates its interior entirely to the best band in the world, the Beatles, and the Aloft Liverpool is the ideal starting point for nights out. Design fans will be delighted with the stylishly furnished apartments from Visionapartments in Duke Street.
Hope Street, 40 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9DA, www.hopestreethotel.co.uk
Hard Days Night Hotel, Central Buildings, North John Street, Liverpool, L2 6RR, www.harddaysnighthotel.com
Aloft Liverpool, No. 1 North John Street, Liverpool, L2 5QW, www.marriott.com
Liverpool – VISIONAPARTMENTS, 37-41 Duke Street, Liverpool, visionapartments.com
Food
The Blakesrestaurant , named after the designer of the Beatles album Sgt Pepper, is not only the place to go for mushroom head fans, but also for foodies. The best view of Liverpool is from Panoramic 34 – which you unfortunately have to pay for at the end of the evening. Yee Rah, one of the best addresses for delicious Thai dishes, is more affordable and catapults you far away, at least in culinary terms. Share a few plates of tasty treats in a relaxed atmosphere, accompanied by a beer or a glass of wine: the Nordic-inspired HUS is the perfect place for this. Rooftop view included.
Blakes, Central Buildings, North John Street, Liverpool, L2 6RR, www.harddaysnighthotel.com
Panoramic 34, 34th Floor, West Tower, Brook St, Liverpool, L3 9PJ, www.panoramic34.com
Yee Rah, 14 Paradise Street, Liverpool, L1 8JF, www.yeerah.co.uk
HUS, The Tempest Building, 12 Tithebarn St, Liverpool L2 2DT, www.we-are-hus.co.uk
Shopping
Muse offers something for everyone: fashion, beauty, interiors – unfortunately not quite as affordable, but they are pieces for life. Beauty junkies are sure to go completely crazy in Harvey Nichols Beauty Bazaar; just to be on the safe side, leave your credit card at home! Souvenirs that go beyond the charm of standard fridge magnets are best bought from Utility. The Farmer’s Market really comes into its own on the fourth Saturday of the month: Vegetables and fruit come from farms within a 50-kilometer radius, and as silly as it sounds, you can taste it!
Beauty Bazaar, 16 Manesty’s Lane, Liverpool, L1 3DL, www.harveynichols.com
Utility, 8 Paradise Place, Liverpool, L1 8BQ, www.utilitydesign.co.uk
Party
The name says a lot about a bar: Dirty Little Secret speaks for itself. What happens here does not belong in any social media feed. Two drinks for the price of one and a three-floor party at Liverpool’s Electrik Warehouse. Typically English is Heebie Jeebie’s, a club slash bar in the basement where Wannabe DJs play indie tunes on the turntables .
Dirty Little Secret, 18-22 Wood St, Liverpool L1 4AQ, www.dirtylittlesecretliverpool.co.uk
Electrik Warehouse, 16 Wood St, Liverpool, L1 4AQ, www.electrikliverpool.co.uk
Heebie Jeebie’s, 80-82 Seel St, Liverpool L1 4BH, www.facebook.com
Quarters
Hipsters are currently congregating in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. The coolest bars and cafés, even a garden for concrete-ridden city dwellers can be found here. Some musician is always strumming his guitar somewhere, and the alleyways work even without Instagram filters.
Must do
Nobody can avoid a visit to the Albert Dock in Liverpool. Just as little as the Beatles, whose history is as closely linked to this city as chocolate is to Switzerland. The associated exhibition is also located here on the dock right by the water.
Events
LightNight 17.5. The doors of various galleries, museums and other cultural hotspots are open late into the night. Like “Night at the Museum” – only cooler.
Ben York
is a graphic designer.
loves espresso.
hates electric bikes.