Feeding the coffee addiction has become a serious business so where serves up the nicest coffee in Liverpool? We have supported locally-owned coffee shops to bring you Coffee Liverpool: Best Independent Coffee Shops where we list over 50 coffee shops in Liverpool. These are all located on foot from Liverpool’s city centre and do not include Lark Lane or Aigburth.
Side note: More coffee shops will be added as I discover more.
Enlarge
Why Independent Coffee Shops?
I first fell in love with coffee not so long ago (I was a late coffee bloomer), in Guatemala. I had no idea of the process of making coffee and I was shocked to learn that it takes 5 years to produce beans and that coffee farmers are paid an absolute pittance. This means that farmers and their families are constantly exploited and stand no chance of ever making it out of poverty.
Since then, I’ve been aware of where my coffee comes from and how it is sourced. I especially like to use independent coffee shops with mission statements because this shows they really care about how they treat people.
Plus independent coffee shops are more likely to employ local people, spend money in the local community and not be able to negotiate their tax bills like horrible Starbucks. This means they contribute to our society in a meaningful way rather than exploit.
Enlarge
Criteria For Coffee Liverpool
Setting the criteria for this was pretty hard so in the end, I opted for:
- Open no later than 10 am
- Must serve coffee (obviously)
- Within walking distance of Liverpool’s centre
- Be independent
- Preferably have a social conscience and understand the coffee process
Coffee Liverpool: Map of Best Independent Coffee Shops In Liverpool
Where to find these awesome and amazing independent coffee shops in Liverpool.
Coffee Liverpool: In Alphabetical Order
In alphabetical order here are some of Liverpool’s top coffee shops that are run independently. Always check the opening hours as some don’t open on Mondays or after 3 pm etc.
Please let me know in the comments below if I’ve missed your favourite coffee shop or if you know of one that should be on the list.
A Small Fish in a Big Pond
Oriel Chambers, 16 Water Street Lower Ground Floor, Liverpool L2 8TD
In 2020, A Small Fish In A Big Pond was given the Traveller’s Choice Award from TripAdvisor as it was voted in the top 10% of cafes & restaurants worldwide!
They pride themselves on sourcing local produce, being dog friendly and selling arts from local people. The coffee is roasted locally and the cakes are sourced from a local bakery.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Baby E Coffee & Deli
The Temple, 24 Dale St, Liverpool L2 5RL.
Based below the Temple Building, Baby E is run by locals Lauren & Chris. It is a coffee shop by day, deli by afternoon and sumptuous wine bar by evening. The cafe even serves a Sunday roast on Sundays.
Whether you’re looking for coffee and bagels on the sun terrace or homemade flatbread with sundried tomatoes for lunch, there’s a delicious dish for everyone. In fact, I think Baby E has the best smashed-avo on toast in the whole of Liverpool. They don’t do many vegan dishes but what they is top-notch and definitely a 10/10 for flavour & presentation.
Coffee is sourced from HasBean, a Stafford based supplier. See their menus here.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Baltic Bakehouse
46 Bridgewater St, Liverpool L1 0AY
Although bread is their speciality, the cafe in the Baltic serves a simple pressed coffee and breakfast. There’s not a huge amount of vegan dishes although the bread is delicious.
The interior is small and friendly with exposed brick and coffee sacks on the walls. I love exposed brick and the fact these old buildings are having a new lease of life.
Enlarge
Baltic Roastery 92 Degrees
Unit 51, 49 Jamaica Street, Liverpool L1 0AH.
Renamed from ‘Unit 51’ the Baltic Roastery sits slap bang in the beating heart of the Baltic Triangle and has a comprehensive impact statement mentioning both the environment and the source.
The Baltic Roastery is owned by 92 Degrees, apparently, the best temperature to brew coffee! 92 degrees have three other cafes, mentioned at the end of this post. As the name suggests, 92 degrees roast themselves and sell to other coffee shops. They also sell loads of teas and locally-sourced cakes and brownies.
They frequently have live music and a huge sun terrace sitting on the front of the building.
Other 92 degrees listed below.
Enlarge
Bean
Princes Dock, William-Jessop Way, Liverpool L3 1DJ
Sitting at the northern end of the pedestrianised dock area that dominates Liverpool’s waterfront is Bean. We adore the outdoor seating opposite the shop and the funny pedestrian bridge that crosses Princes Dock.
What we love about Bean is that it’s rarely packed (and big in size) but instead has a warm & friendly atmosphere with attentive staff. Their sustainability statement is impressive and the takeaway coffee cups are 100% compostable, sandwiches are wrapped in paper and paper straws are used. Sitting on the comfy sofas in the window is a highlight here with views over the dock.
The coffee here is cooked and ground locally, they have a large selection available as well as a selection of vegan cakes and other drinks. I had a turmeric latte here which was delicious.
Enlarge
Bean Coffee and Cocktails
3 St Paul’s Square, Liverpool L3 9RY
Sadly Bean Coffee & Cocktails has been permanently shut during the pandemic and despite skating past it a few times every week, we’ve never managed to support it.
If you want to support this company, you can still visit Bean in Princes Dock or purchase coffee online and as a monthly subscription.
This is a photo from their Princes Dock store.
Enlarge
Bluecoat
Bluecoat Chambers, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX .
Bluecoat is in a delightfully quiet, cool & shaded area that you’d never know was tucked into the back of Liverpool One. The building was constructed in 1716–17 as a charity school and is the oldest surviving building in central Liverpool.
The Espresso Cafe is located on the ground floor Hub although you can also drink the coffee in their garden. Bluecoat also sells leaf teas, craft ales and wine as well as sandwiches, salads, cakes and biscuits.
Once you’ve enjoyed your coffee you can explore the gallery’s exhibitions.
Enlarge
Bloom & Bean
6a Victoria St, Liverpool L2 6QE.
Bloom & Bean is a truly unique cafe with a pink & gold floral design that specialises in a unique range of drinks and cakes.
Some of their mouthwatering concoctions are, rose & beetroot latte, hibiscus & dragonfruit latte, blueberry & lavender latte, turmeric & ginger latte and pumpkin spice latte. Don’t worry though if you’re more of a traditional coffee drinker, they also serve up a mean Americano and Flat White.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Bold Street Coffee
89 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4DG.
This award-winning coffee shop is always busy and sits at the top of Bold Street. It has a loud vibe with people spilling out on the street in the warmer months.
The coffee is provided through HasBean and they grind it themselves. The extensive range of coffee varies from house espresso Has Bean shots, to guest pour-overs from across the globe with African and South American blends particularly popular. Food is served until 4 pm every day and live music, art and tasting evenings also take place regularly.
Bold Street has walls filled with artwork & photography which you can buy and loads of outdoor seating if the sun is out.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Butter
28 Slater Street, Liverpool L1 4BS
Butter is the newest opening in Liverpool and only one I’ve managed to walk past so far.
From coffee to cocktails and nibbles in between, Butter is amazingly vegan friendly. Located in Ropewalks and just a few minutes from Bold Street, Butter has a gorgeous interior with exposed brick.
All of their coffees are made with Oatly Barista milk and the coffee is provided through Crosby Coffee.
Cafe Tabac
126 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4JA
The longest-running coffee shop in Liverpool, Cafe Tabac was established in 1974. That’s before we were born!
The cafe seems small but seems to go on forever at the back. It has a full menu with plenty of vegan food. In fact, if you want to try vegan scouse, here is the place.
Cafe Tabac has become a much loved Liverpool institution and is open late into the night selling cocktails with a party atmosphere. It serves the best Espresso Martini I’ve ever had!
Cat Cafe
10 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4DS
Liverpool’s Cat Cafe is definitely one for cat lovers however the entrance fee is a little steep. The only concession is that you don’t have to pay for drinks once inside. It’s £12 per hour.
Unlike the Bratislava Cat Cafe we went to, this cafe source purebred pedigree kittens and rehome them with staff members when necessary.
No photos as it’s unlikely I’ll ever visit. I have three feline friends who would be most disgruntled if I petted other cats.
CBD Cafe (Yogee Treats)
109 mulberry Street, L7 7EE
A cafe that sells hemp and CBD oil-infused produce. More details and photos coming soon.
Chantilly Beatles Cafe
8 Mathew St, Liverpool L2 6RE
Located in the Cavern Walks area, Chantilly Beatles serve all-day breakfasts, a large range of hot drinks including coffee. The iced mocha is my favourite for hot days.
A dark, cosy interior that celebrates all walks of life and of course, has a huge amount of music memorabilia on the walls.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Chapters Of Us
44 Simpson St, Liverpool L1 0AX
Located in the Baltic area, Chapters Of Us is a coffee shop, bar and low waste eatery with a whole range of seating.
They sell coffee from local roastery, Neighbourhood, natural wines from Bunch, rotating craft beers, cocktails, boozeless cocktails and local kombucha.
Cinnamon Cafe Bar
39 Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9PP
Based in the heart of the business district, I haven’t been able to get into this building.
Coffee & Fandisha
5 Brick St, Liverpool, L1 0BL
Tucked away in the Baltic Triangle is gem Coffee & Fandisha. You can’t miss it because of the impressive coffee bean mural on the front of the building.
Coffee & Fandisha is an Ethiopian inspired coffee house which serves freshly brewed coffee, Ethiopian spiced dishes, acai bowls, vegan cakes and more. The coffee is generally dark and delicious with full flavour and I think that’s also a great description of the cafe itself.
The interior of C&F is elegant and stylish with the ochre & dark blue walls contrasting with the funky exposed brick and modern metal lighting. There’s a really warm & welcoming atmosphere with displays of local artwork and a display of eco-friendly items to buy.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Enlarge
Cook Street Coffee
Castle Chambers, 12 Cook Street, Liverpool L2 9QU
More info coming soon.
Enlarge
Cuthberts Bakehouse
103 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5TB
A cake shop and bakery in the Knowledge Quarter. Serving a range of breads, breakfasts, lunches and teas. They also do an afternoon tea takeout.
I’ve not managed to get in yet so photos to follow.
Dale Street Kitchen
90 Dale St, Liverpool L2 5TF
Dale Street seems to be always busy and after the first lockdown pandemic, there were frequently queues too.
With a big menu, it was also awarded a Traveller’s Choice from Tripadvisor. It has a laid back atmosphere with a lot of natural light.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Ditto Coffee
Unit 4, 10-14 Jamaica Street, Liverpool L1 0AF
Ditto Coffee has an awesome impact statement and they source all of their ethical coffee from Neighbourhood Coffee who pay above fairtrade prices to farmers. The coffee comes from Brazil, Nicaragua and Guatemala.
The shop is pretty small but has a great shop. Located opposite the Baltic Garden you could takeout your coffee as all the packaging is eco friendly.
Check out the amazing tiled floor and as a bonus, they serve iced coffee.
Enlarge
Eighty-One
81 Renshaw St, Liverpool L1 2SJ
81 Renshaw Street is best known for selling vinyl and hosting live music but it also has a small cafe.
Photos to come.
Esquires Coffee
Walker House Exchange Flags, Liverpool L2 3YL
If you’re impressed by Liverpool’s architecture, you’ll love the square where Esquire’s is. Flanked by impressive buildings at enormous height, given their age, you can eat inside or outside in Esquire’s little garden.
Esquire’s is chic in a rustic & reused way. We love the reconditioned wood & metal decor they have chosen and they have big mugs to compliment the spacious and light room.
Qudos for having vegan cheesecake too.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Fab4 Cafe
Open “eight days a week”, the Beatles themed cafe at the Beatles Story on the Royal Albert Dock sells coffee and food in the basement. They also play Beatles music for you to listen to.
The Fab4 Cafe at Pier Head is located within the Mersey Ferries terminal building on the waterfront, directly opposite the Beatles Statues. We frequently get take out coffee here and are pleased that their takeaway cups are sourced from vegetables.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Hart & Co
Vauxhall Rd, Liverpool L3 2BB
In the students’ district on the way to Vauxhall, near the large yellow Lambanana (you can’t miss it) is this emerging hairdresser which also has a coffee bar.
Sleek & stylishly decorated, the interior is dark blue with gold finishings. Now with a range of comfy seating and tables, they have a coffee machine and a barista! This is a really nice chilled space.
Hemingways
64A Tithebarn St, Liverpool L2 2EE
Situated in the financial district, this unpretentious coffee shop has good natural light and a range of coffees and syrups too.
More info & photos to come.
Key Lime Coffee
178 Market Way, Liverpool L1 1NG
Don’t be put off by the surroundings and the decor because what key Lime Coffee lacks in personality it makes up for with its fresh leaf teas, coffees and food.
They sell a surprisingly large range of vegan cakes and the cafe has a sunny disposition opposite Lime Street Station. The cafe has some comfy seating to the back wall and in the windows.
Enlarge
Kimos Cafe
6 Myrtle St, Liverpool L7 7DP
Close to the main campuses, Kimos Cafe (not to be confused with Kimos Restaurant) is a small shop offering good-sized breakfasts.
Sadly they had nothing vegan on their menu and no plant-based milks so we didn’t stay.
No photos.
Leaf
65-67 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4EZ
Beginning life as a small bar inside a gallery, Leaf has grown into its new premises on Bold Street and is a very popular location. Their motto is ‘where there’s life there’s tea’ and although they do sell coffee, Leaf sells a large selection of tea.
It’s a large, friendly and versatile location because it doubles up as music & fair venue and has a delicious menu. There are live open mic nights and life drawing classes upstairs. It’s an eclectic place but it works really well.
Lovelocks
6 Old Haymarket, Liverpool L1 6ER
Lovelocks use 100% Arabica beans which are roasted in Merseyside and freshly ground inhouse. The cafe itself is cute and cosy but has many outdoor tables which soak up the sun on what is an almost pedestrianised street.
The cafe sits on a quiet tree-lined avenue just a few minutes walk from the World Museum. Filled with plants and art, it’s like an oasis with drinks and seasonal bites.
I particularly like the iced-coffee and the number of vegan plates they serve. It has a laidback and friendly atmosphere and the staff are lovely.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Love Thy Neighbour
3 Hatton Garden, Liverpool L3 2FE
Up in studentsville, close to the large yellow Lambanana, is Hatton Garden. Love Thy Neighbour is a large open place that serves up beetroot latte, peanut butter hot chocolate, smoothies and cocktails too. Before 11 am they serve up a coffee and a bagel for £5.
It’ll be no surprise that the decor here (given its location) is based on a New York-style coffee bar inspired by Friends. You’ll find sofas and classic American food including smoothies.
You can also stay at their Sleep Eat Love Hostel just next door.
Photos coming soon.
Lucaya
Tower Bldg, 22 Water St, Liverpool L3 1BH
Owned by Rococco, Lucaya is not far from the Pier Head. A quiet, gentile place with navy blue and wood seating contrasted by large, leafy green plants.
The downside is there is no vegan food here, although they serve up a delicious fresh mint tea as well as coffees. There is a quiet & calm atmosphere here.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Lucy In The Sky
Unit 2, Imperial Court, Exchange St E, Liverpool L2 3PQ
Can you even visit Liverpool and not visit a cafe named after the famous Beatles song? Also owned by a Lucy, Lucy in the sky is ranked number one on TripAdvisor.
Lucy uses a local coffee supplier based up the road in Vauxhall and the cakes they serve come from the Three Graces Bakery in Aigburth. It’s a lovely little place with a great atmosphere and pretty decor.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Organico
74 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4HR
Selling juice, coffees and delicious vegan and vegetarian cakes and food, Organico is new to Bold Street and opened during lockdown!
It can seat 50 but has a range of delicious fresh-serve foods to take-away. The menu has been designed by Chef to the stars, Sean Paul Redding, who has previously cooked for Paul McCartney and Kate Moss. The interior is pink & green with cute lighting and looks very instagrammable.
Our favourites so far include the ‘golden mylk’ turmeric latte with oat milk and the vegan pizza, although everything looks delicious! What we also like are the easy-to-read labels that clearly list vegan foods.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Enlarge
Malmo Mat Kaffee
65-67 Hanover St, Liverpool L1 3DY
Malmo Mat is a breakfast & brunch restaurant on Hanover Street. I’d walked past a thousand times before it even registered that it sold coffee.
With a lush interior of wood and light seating, the menu here is so reasonably priced and fresh and as delicious as you’d expect from a Swedish-style eatery. Opened by Jessie & Amy (originally Moose Coffee) Malmo Mat has a significant range of vegan food as well as coffee.
What I love here is that Hanover Street is a busy and bustling street with hoards of people all passing but Malmo Mat is quiet and serene and you can watch the people busy past whilst enjoying your own solitude to breathe. 
Maluco – Castle Street Coffee
2 Castle St, Liverpool L2 0NA
Maluco is owned by Bold Street Coffee and is probably better known for its lunches and phenomenal wood-fired pizzas than coffee. However, they also serve up a delicious coffee and supposedly the best hot chocolate in Liverpool. Or at least this is what one of their guys told my daughter, who agreed.
Maluco is a busy restaurant which is bursting full of everything that makes Liverpool so wonderful. That vibrant atmosphere that makes your heart swell with pride, that’s this place. Take a seat in one of Maluco’s windows or sit outside and watch Castle Street flow and ebb as it does.
What we love about Maluco is the shop they have at the entrance, selling coffee paraphernalia, vegetables and vegan-friendly goods from local independent producers.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Merseymade
98 Paradise St, Liverpool L1 3HJ
Situated in The Chancery, a Flemish-Gothic building originally constructed in 1899 as the Gordon Smith Institute for Seamen, Merseymade is another new creative space and currently just less than a year old (Nov 2020). Featuring a number of local artists and local merchants, it sells everything from coffee to crochet and cake to cactus.
The lower floor of this large and dreamy building showcases local produce from eighty-one different stockists including jewellery, plants, food, clothing and art and the Gordon Smith Cafe. Whilst upstairs are ten open studios where you can both buy artwork and watch the artists.
Everything here is designed & produced locally and really does support the local community.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Enlarge
Moose Coffee
6 Dale St, Liverpool, L2 4TQ. 88 Hope St, Liverpool, L1 9BW. 157 College Rd, Crosby, L23 3AS
I wasn’t expecting much from a Canadian inspired shop with antler chandeliers and paintings of moose everywhere. However, much to my surprise Moose Coffee have a social responsibility and a foundation. They use local suppliers from the north-west of England sourcing food from Manchester to the Lake District and their coffee is fairtrade.
Moose also use 100% biodegradable paper straws for drinks and 100% compostable smoothie straws, serve drinks in glass bottles, have multiple vegan options and they’re registered as a refill station, allowing you to refill your water bottle for free.
They have coffee specials too and the day we visited we had salted caramel coffee with oat milk.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Enlarge
Mother Espresso
82 Wood St, Liverpool L1 4DQ
Mother Espresso is in a building called the Tea Building. Look past this irony because they have a superb range of coffee. Espresso, cold brew & nitro are a few choices alongside some amazing looking pastries and doughnuts as well as big breakfasts.
The coffee is sourced from HasBean for espressos and single origin for filters. Plus they offer £1 filter coffee refills with any food order.
Mother Espresso is in an industrial-looking building and has a number of communal tables in its centre.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Mrs Danvers
Port of Liverpool Building, Pier Head, Liverpool L3 1BY
Hidden away inside the Port of Liverpool building, Mrs Danvers takes its name from the Daphne du Maurier thriller ‘Rebecca’.
The menu features everything from homemade quiche to pancakes and bespoke afternoon tea however it is temporarily closed due to covid and sadly I haven’t been able to visit.
Photos coming soon.
Papillon
31 Hope St, Liverpool L1 9BQ
This big and spacious area is described as a gastropub although there’s not much for vegans to eat, to be frank.
The decor is chic but welcoming and you instantly feel at home here. The interior has lovely colour combos and lots of plants which give it the ambience that someone really cares.
The restaurant has live jazz on a Friday and there’s plenty of outside seating.
Peaberry Coffee House & Kitchen
Units 1, 2a The Colonnades, Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AA
Located in the Albert Dock and named after the Brazilian Peaberry Bean which produces a single coffee seed, Peaberry is a relaxed and homely place with views over the water.
Peaberry has an elaborate menu including vegan choices. The smoothie bowl is delicious as is the Buddha bowl but mostly we just end up getting takeout coffee so we can go skateboard on Pier Head!
Enlarge
Petit Cafe Du Coin
60 Berry St, Liverpool L1 4JQ
Just at the corner before you get to China Town from the bombed-out church, this French cafe bar is on the corner of Berry Street and a brilliant place to chill and hang out with friends over a coffee or a glass of vino & a cocktail.
This place is nearly always full which is probably no surprise as they have live jazz & swing music every Thursday to Sunday evening. The coffee is limited (in that puritanical French way) but the service is genuine and friendly with a cosy feel & a great atmosphere.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Piazza Cafe Bar
Metropolitan Cathedral Steps, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5TQ
Located on the entrance steps to Liverpool’s weirdest looking building. I haven’t been yet and know nothing about it.
In true Christian style, the Piazza was closed down because the christians ordered them out due to non-payment during covid. I’m leaving this up here as a testament to a heartless cult.
Potts Cafe
18a Slater St, Liverpool L1 4BS
Liverpool’s only vegan cafe! Everything is 100% plant-based so there’s no need to ask what the ingredients are.
Potts is a small, modern cafe with intimate seating and it’s dog friendly. It’s in the boutique, cobbled area of Ropewalks which is delightful. Potts sells coffee beans and coffee apparel too. They have an environmental impact & sustainability statement, they source locally and support the local community, which we love.
My favourites from here are iced latte and the cookies, of which there are usually 4 to 5 choices. My kids love the superfood smoothies, the pancake stacker (of course) and the breakfast bagel.
Potts uses coffee from Brazil & Colombia where workers are given fair wages & good housing. Their website names the coffee sources so you can fly over and check for yourself… if you want.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Pres Bros Coffee, Baltic Market
107 Stanhope St, Liverpool L8 5RE
Owned by 3 brothers
Tucked into the corner opposite the main stage in the Baltic Market, Pres bros is a tiny space with a lot of personality.
With an impressive coffee menu of both hot coffee and alcoholic coffee cocktails, it is definitely worth the extra distance from Liverpool’s centre over here.
Enlarge
Rough Hand Made
Unit 2A, Britannia Pavilion Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AD
More of a boutique bakery than a coffee shop, Rough Hand Made is in the Albert Dock but has a small area where you can sit and enjoy a fresh espresso.
It’s a beautiful shop and location but the downside is they have very limited vegan options. However, at the end of the day anything not sold goes to charities. Rough Hand Made is unique in that it doesn’t name its produce, just a list of ingredients accompanies the deliciously fragrant cakes and sandwiches.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Enlarge
Ryde Liverpool
Northern Lights, 5 Mann St, Liverpool L8 5AF
Housed a few steps from their old location in the historic Baltic Cains Brewery, Ryde has moved to the Northern Lights Building at the back of the Baltic Market.
They have a passion for bikes and great coffee. It might surprise you to discover that they also roast their own coffee.
Their signature Redchurch Blend is a medium roast combining coffees from Brasil, Colombia, Guatemala and Sumatra. The café also serves up breakfast and lunch, ranging from a full English and pastries to freshly made naan pizzas, quesadillas and pasta.
You can cycle here, leave your bike out the front or even get your bike serviced while you eat. Ryde have a range of services and workshops too and they sell their coffee for you to take home with you.
Rococo
First Floor, 61 Lord St, Liverpool L2 6PB
Rococo gets its name and inspiration from the 18th-century Rococo movement (an ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding and trompe l’oeil frescoes to create the illusion of motion and drama).
Its tiny entrance is misleading but climb the steep stairs to be rewarded with three large, airy and sunny rooms and a faux-Victorian hallway. Rococo’s house is actually the second oldest building on Lord Street and its vast history dates back to 1882 which includes a stint as a 1960s pirate radio station.
Rococo has developed their own blend of fair trade coffee that they serve daily so you can get comfy in the luxurious couches and elegant decor. The vegan chocolate cake is moist, super-rich and just delicious. They also serve fruit smoothies and a range of teas.
Enlarge
Root Coffee
52 Hanover St, Liverpool L1 4AF
Root Coffee is at the back of the city’s Premier Inn, almost opposite iconic Lunya. It’s a large space filled with tables made from a local oak company using reclaimed oak and resin. With its super clean white tiles and variety of seating, Root welcomes a hive of home-workers and offers free internet.
Root Coffee uses beans from roasters all over the world and they have monthly specialities as well as a pretty unique range of hot drinks. If you like beetroot or caramel crunch or even red velvet alongside your latte, this is the place for you.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Enlarge
Ropes and Twines
70 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4HR
Ropes & Twines is a speciality shop bringing both coffee, coffee-inspired cocktails and wine on Bold Street.
The space here is divided into an upstairs and downstairs. Upstairs features a minimalistic design with a white interior whilst downstairs has an arched roof and wine cellar.
The coffee machine used here is one of only six in the UK and is described as a below eye-level coffee machine. It looks more like a beer pull than a coffee machine! R& T source their coffee beans from all over the world and rotate them fortnightly. The coffee is sourced directly from farmers who can’t afford a Fair Trade certificate. Similarly, tea is stocked from independent sources.
On the walls you’ll find Lightbox Gallery; a showcase of photographic work exclusively developed using traditional film and darkroom techniques.
What I love the most is that R&T advertise themselves as work-friendly with high-speed internet and dedicated workspaces. It’s a truly unique space with a lovely atmosphere and Swedish style interior.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Enlarge
Siren
54 St James St, Liverpool L1 0AB
Siren has a big reputation but sadly it’s been closed and I haven’t been able to visit, although not through lack of trying.
Photos to come as soon as it re-opens.
Enlarge
Slim’s
108 Bold St, Liverpool L1 4DJ
An American style diner situated at the top end of Bold Street and which has a surprising number of vegan items on the menu.
Most famous for its Sunday roast dinner, Slim’s is open from morning to night and serves everything from coffee to cocktails. It’s interior is large, open, bright and full of colour. The staff are welcoming and the coffee is fresh.
Strawberry Fields
Kansas Buildings, Mathew St, Liverpool L2 6RE
Located inside the YHA building in the Cavern Quarter, Strawberry Fields has an all-day menu but has sadly been closed and I haven’t been able to go yet.
They offer a cuppa and cake for £3.95 so we’re looking forward to them re-opening.
Enlarge
Sugar & Dice
My kids love this place and when we come, we easily spend 3 hours here because it is not only a coffee shop and cafe but also a board game haven.
Sugar & Dice is personable, lively and they have more than 400 board games with games for all ages and abilities.
The coffee is supplied from awesome local roasters, Joe Blacks, and craft beer from brewers of Merseyside. All of the cakes are made on site and the menu features a large amount of vegan food including vegan pies, fresh salad, soup, chilli and nachos.
Enlarge
The Bagelry
The Bagelry sits bang in the middle of China Town and is nearly always busy with a bustling and happy atmosphere. The windows are flooded with morning sunshine & the outside seating area is perfect for basking in its warmth.
These guys offer up all your favourite flavours of bagels & doughnuts and of course coffee to match.
We recommend the vegan BLT on sesame bread, the cinnamon & raisin bagel (we ordered urs for takeaway & had them hot with vegan butter) and the cinnamon donut. Although everything here looks amazing and any choice would be nice.
The Bagelry is only open for a short period every day but it is always full of happy, chatting people.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Enlarge
The Brunch Club
37-41 Duke St, Liverpool L1 5AP
Meet the Brunch Club on Duke Street; a seriously green space which serves up large brunches & breakfast dishes amongst a jungle-themed backdrop.
Coffee sort of takes a back burner in comparison to the beautiful cocktails but it still features. I was in two minds as to whether to feature these restaurant-style cafes but I decided to try and keep the coffee aspect as broad as possible so I could feature more places.
Enlarge
Enlarge
The Egg Cafe
Top Floor, 16-18 Newington, Liverpool L1 4ED
Egg Cafe is a plant-based based in a renovated Victorian warehouse. You’ll see the elaborately coloured door and staircase leading to the third floor before anything else. Full of natural light and colour The Egg Cafe is a large, welcoming space with long wooden tables which you can share if you want. There’s a lovely atmosphere here which matches their delightfully colourful mezzanine area with its sparkly fairy lights.
All the menu is plant-based (Yippeee) and where possible homemade with a gorgeous selection of mouthwatering cakes. The bread is sourced locally and the coffee from local suppliers Coffee Republic & Joe Black. Their mission statement reads “where possible our ingredients are sourced from local, sustainable and environmentally conscious suppliers and all of our waste is recycled.”
As well as coffee & teas, they also have smoothies, milkshakes and kombucha! I know this is a post is about coffee but I do love a good kombucha too.
Don’t forget to check out the original wooden beams and also the art on the walls too.
Enlarge
Enlarge
The Little Shoe
112 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4HY
Scarpetta in Italian is that piece of bread you use to mop up the juices from your plate. It translates to ‘Little Shoe’ which seems fitting for a micro-bakery.
Not only is this place a bakery where you can buy fresh bread and rolls but it’s a fine little cafe serving food, coffee & even wine & cocktails. There’s a busy but welcoming atmosphere bustling with life and gorgeous smells.
With a cute blue and mustard interior, comfy armchairs and sweeping arches, The Little Shoe on Bond Street is a popular place. We recommend the vegan breakfast which comes with freshly fried bread, seasoned mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach. Order an extra Scarpetta because the tomatoes are juicy!
What we loved about The Little Shoe is that we ordered breakfast to takeaway for one of the homeless guys locally and they did it without question, packaged it nicely and even provided cutlery & sugar!
Enlarge
Enlarge
The Nakery
Bursting with colour, this small shop on the outskirts of China Town and close to both the Petit Cafe Du Coin and the Bombed Out Church, is a vegan, raw cake & drink shop. They sell a lovely turmeric latte and a range of power smoothies too (we like the red one) but their big selling point is the raw cakes. Which are phenomenal.
The interior is tiny but full of atmosphere and colour and it’s impossible to leave with what you came in for. I always end up buying a week’s worth of cakes and scoffing them inside the weekend!
Enlarge
Enlarge
The Red Berry Club
Another of Liverpool’s new coffee shops is The Red Berry Club, named after the origins of the coffee bean which turns a vibrant red when ready to pick.
The Red Berry Club is an extraordinarily thin building opposite the Baltic Garden and next door to coffee friend, Ditto. They pride themselves on sourcing local coffee from Crosby Coffee and selling sustainable fashion.
Expect exposed brick, an enormous piece of street art on the wall, funky tunes and don’t forget to visit the upstairs clothes shop.
The coffee here is a house blend of Brazilian, Columbian & Ethiopian, alongside a monthly Guest Blend. When we visited there were a number of cookbooks on the shelf behind the counter and we loved one of them so much that we bought it.
Enlarge
The Vibe Cafe
Unit 1a, Chancery House, Paradise St, Liverpool L1 3HE
Liverpool’s newest and biggest plant-based cafe is run by Andy & Maria, a father-daughter vegan combo who have big plans for this wonderful space.
The cafe is full of wood tables, plush-covered chairs and a lush interior. The menu is entirely plant-based and their drinks menu contains the regular coffees as well as a range of special lattes and vitamin fuelled smoothies. The coffee is Fairtrade which comes from a female-led co-op in Honduras.
The Vibe has an amazing atmosphere, a bright and colourful interior full of fun and smiles and it’s one of our favourite places to go in Liverpool.
Thoughtfully Cafe
15 Cleveland Square, Liverpool L1 5BE
Thoughtfully Cafe on Cleveland Street is the one my kids know as ‘that nice one next to the vets‘. For me, it has an unmatched vibe anywhere else & I think that’s down to the friendly staff.
Thoughtfully is a seriously chilled-out space with a welcoming attitude, friendly locals and home to all things lovely. Opposite a little park with squirrels, there’s plenty of seating outside or upstairs on the mezzanine. There’s one table in the window which is usually basked in sunlight and is especially nice in the autumn hues.
The menu is incredibly vegan friendly and over 90% of their cakes are vegan. The ginger cupcakes and banana cake are supreme!
There’s a corner of the cafe dedicated as a shop which sells British handmade goods and a selection of monthly coffees.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Enlarge
Tranquil Evolution
13 Waterloo Rd, Liverpool L3 7BB
An organic cafe just on the outskirts of town and accessible from the northern docks, Tranquil Evolution serve a range of coffees, teas, juices, smoothies and hearty food.
The interior is clean, bright & modern with wooden tables and they used to have some gorgeous spinny chairs in the window that I think have been removed for covid purposes.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Wake & Cate
13-17 Tarleton St, Liverpool L1 1DS
Really a cake & pastry lovers paradise, Wake & Cate have an extensive coffee and loose leaf tea menu. They work with local roasters Addams & Russell and use fairtrade single estate Brazilian Ipanema beans.
The cakes and gateaux contain no e-numbers, artificial sweeteners or preservatives and are all handcrafted in-house, using fresh, natural ingredients. However, NONE are vegan.
Wake & Cate is a large venue and benefits from a sheltered outdoor space too.
Enlarge
Enlarge
92 Degrees Coffee
With FOUR locations, 92 degrees is Liverpool’s first combined micro-roastery and coffee shop and is housed in the city’s neoclassical Grade II listed Old Blind School building.
Named after the optimum temperature for the extraction of espresso, their four cafes are located on
They have a variety of locally-sourced cakes & brownies & our favourite space is Hardman Street, located just on the corner of Hope Street. We’d describe it as chic-rustic, inviting with friendly staff and a light bright atmosphere.
Enlarge
Enlarge
200 Degrees Coffee Shop
The Met Quarter, 35 Whitechapel, Liverpool L1 6DA
Roasting coffee every day is 200 Degrees claim to fame and they have eleven shops and five barista schools around the UK. They also roast at 200° centigrade to give a full-bodied, smooth taste.
200 degrees coffee beans are mostly from Rainforest Alliance farms although they also support smaller farmers who don’t qualify.
With a rustic wood interior and delicious fresh food, you can also buy freshly roasted beans here. 200 degrees has long opening hours and is located just a few minutes walk from the Cavern Quarter. They also have a small counter in the Liverpool Playhouse.
It has a gorgeous interior, staggered floors and even a faux fire to keep you warm. They have a large range of vegan food including this scrumptious brownie.
Enlarge
Enlarge
Sign Up To Independent Liverpool For Coffee Discounts
Do you want to support independent coffee Liverpool and get a discount?
You can pay £15 a year for a special card or £2 a month for an app that gives discounts to independent retailers in Liverpool.
Head over to Independent Liverpool which gives you up to 20% off selected retailers.
Enlarge
Come & Visit Liverpool
Liverpool is my favourite city in the UK, even beating London and Norwich which come in a close second and third.
Stay in one of these beautiful houses and get to know Liverpool better. You won’t regret it.
Pin This Post
Looking for travel inspiration? Head over to our Pinterest boards for more travel related Pins.
Relevant Posts
