Water Street, a city-centre street in Liverpool, is a destination that draws people from across the region and beyond, offering a mix of top-rated restaurants, cafés, and craftsmanship tucked beneath historic buildings.
Mowgli and Gaucho Lead the Dining Scene
Mowgli, the Indian restaurant chain founded by Nisha Katona, has a site on Water Street. It began as a single restaurant on Bold Street in 2014 and now has 25 locations nationwide. Known for its Indian small plates and homely atmosphere, Mowgli received rave reviews upon opening. Katona previously told the ECHO: "I built this brand alongside the people of Liverpool and on social media. It may sound stupid but when I speak at conferences in London they know it is a Liverpool brand. We were the Sunday Times' best company to work for and everyone knows we're a Liverpool brand. It's that feeling of home and I'm so proud of it. I'm uncompromising that this is a North West, Liverpool story."
Just a few doors down, Gaucho, the Argentinian steakhouse, opened its Liverpool location in 2022. Steak lovers across the UK have labelled it as one of the top venues for prime cuts. Former head chef Farhan Ali, speaking in 2023, said: "I learned so much but we were using the same ingredients, same methods and cooking the same food every day. It's an amazing place to be as a chef because you learn so much from the best but there's not really room to experiment or grow personally. When I first walked into the venue nothing was set up or ready. It was still a bomb site and so much had to be done before opening. All of that plus trying to manage a brand new team for a brand new venue. It was scary. However, I knew what the Gaucho team liked at this point so I was ready to start. In almost no time at all it was transformed into this beautiful venue. I could see the interiors and the building - it was stunning. It still is. To be able to work somewhere like this as a chef is amazing because you literally love where you work every day."
More Dining Options and New Openings
Across the way, 8 Water Street, a Mediterranean bar and grill under new management, now offers delivery platforms. Manager Chris Turner told the ECHO: "Water street is busy but not like Castle Street. There are only a few restaurants on this strip and we're doing really well. We love having a busy restaurant. We hold events across pride and bank holiday weekends. We're always doing something to cater for customers' needs."
On the horizon, the Tavern Co Social, an award-winning Smithdown Road favourite, is set to move into New Zealand House, the building most recently occupied by Liverpool Hooters. Posters promise a famous breakfast and brunch offering, with messages like: "Great food, freshly brewed, live sports, good vibes, friends and family." The brand was twice named as serving the UK’s Best Breakfast for its full English offering.
Luxury and Craftsmanship
Signature Bespoke, a tailor shop on Water Street, has been a firm favourite among the rich and famous for over a decade. Founder Mo Adass, trained by Italian Canali and worked for designers like Giorgio Armani, Dolce and Gabbana, Tom Ford, and Louis Vuitton, told the ECHO: "The street was empty when we first came here - even the India Building was empty. I've seen big changes. [We dress] footballers, boxers, business owners - they see themselves in a Signature Bespoke suit that complements their life and style. They're not short of cash but they choose Signature Bespoke." The store boasts over 153K Instagram followers, with celebrity clients including Tony Bellew, Jamie Carragher, Jordan Davies, and most recently Brookside star Phillip Olivier, who bought a suit for his wedding to Amy Virtue last month.
New Cafés Add to the Mix
The Coffee ザ・コーヒー, an international brand founded by brothers Alexandre, Carlos, and Luis Fertonani, opened its first UK café in Grade I listed Oriel Chambers on Water Street in December last year. The brand blends Japanese aesthetics with Brazilian coffee culture. Hussein Umar, the owner of the Liverpool site, said: "There’s a big coffee scene here. Since Covid, I think people became very interested in coffee and a lot of people became home baristas and invested in some kind of at home setup."
Cafe Lucaya has been on Water Street since 2018, run by Gareth Dyer and Paul Vernon, who also founded The Rococo Coffee House on Lord Street in 2008. Their success has led to expansion with Cafe Lucaya and Stanhope Coffee in the Baltic Triangle.
