420
27%
5
62
Explore by suburb
Market Overview
Liverpool has 420 restaurants competing for the city's half-a-million residents — and that's before you count the 514 fast food outlets, 360 cafes, and 508 pubs also vying for food spend. The market is dense and diverse, with 62 distinct cuisine types represented.
Indian and Chinese restaurants lead the field with 36 each, closely followed by Italian (29) and pizza-focused outlets (22). British, Greek, and chicken-focused restaurants each number 12, while Turkish establishments round out the top tier at 11. Beyond these, there are dozens of smaller cuisine categories — from Thai to Ethiopian — meaning almost every culinary niche is already occupied by multiple competitors.
For a city of its size, Liverpool's restaurant scene is crowded. The sheer volume of fast food (514) and pub dining (508) options means standalone restaurants aren't just competing with each other — they're fighting for share of wallet against cheaper, more convenient alternatives at every turn.
Perhaps the most telling figure: only 113 of Liverpool's 420 restaurants — 27% — have a website. That leaves 307 businesses with no discoverable web presence beyond third-party directories and review platforms. In a market this competitive, the gap between having an online presence and not having one is significant. Restaurants without websites are effectively invisible to the growing number of diners who search and book online.
Top Types in Liverpool
What Customers in Liverpool Care About
Proximity to the waterfront
Liverpool's Albert Dock and Pier Head draw heavy footfall, and diners often choose restaurants within walking distance of these landmarks over better-rated options further out.
Menu variety for groups
With 62 cuisine types available, Liverpool diners — especially large groups — expect a menu that can accommodate different tastes and dietary needs in one sitting.
Value beyond the meal
With over 500 pubs and 360 cafes offering cheaper food, standalone restaurants need to justify their pricing through portion sizes, atmosphere, or extras that casual venues can't match.
Online booking and reviews
Over 70% of Liverpool restaurants have no website, so those that do — and that display real-time availability and customer reviews — immediately stand out to search-savvy diners.
Authenticity over chains
Independent restaurants like Il Forno, Etsu, and Etsu attract loyal followings by being clearly rooted in a specific cuisine, which matters in a city saturated with generic options.
Restaurants operating in Liverpool
A sample of real restaurants in this area. Want ratings, reviews, and exactly where you rank against them? Run a free report on your business.
| Business | Type |
|---|---|
| The Purple Olive | Indian |
| 3345 | Restaurant |
| PanAm | Restaurant |
| Stag and Rainbow | British |
| New Star | Chinese |
| Il Forno | Italian |
| Mayur | Indian |
| Sapporo Teppanyaki | Japanese |
| Maranto's Restaurant & Bars | Restaurant |
| RNK restraunt | Restaurant |
| Bebington Balti Spice | Restaurant |
| Alam Balti | Restaurant |
Business listings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Tips for Restaurants Owners in Liverpool
Claim your online space — most of your competitors haven't
Only 27% of Liverpool restaurants have a website. Registering on Google Business, building even a basic one-page site, and ensuring you appear on mapping platforms puts you ahead of roughly 307 competitors who haven't done the same.
Differentiate by cuisine, not by price
With Indian, Chinese, and Italian restaurants each numbering in the high 20s to 30s, competing on price alone is a losing strategy in Liverpool. Lean into what makes your offering distinct — a regional speciality, a signature dish, or a cooking method — rather than trying to undercut the dozens of similar outlets nearby.
Position yourself against fast food and pubs, not just other restaurants
Liverpool has more fast food outlets (514) and pubs (508) than it does restaurants (420). Your biggest competitive threat may not be the restaurant next door, but the casual dining option down the road. Make the case for why your experience is worth the extra time and money.
Competition Snapshot
Liverpool's restaurant market is heavily saturated in a handful of cuisines — Indian, Chinese, Italian, and pizza collectively account for nearly a third of all 420 restaurants. Beyond these, British, Greek, chicken, and Turkish options are also well-represented. The real competition, however, extends beyond restaurants: 514 fast food outlets and 508 pubs mean diners have over a thousand cheaper or more casual alternatives at hand. Standing out requires more than good food — it requires a visible online presence (something 73% of competitors lack), a clear identity, and a reason for customers to choose you over the dozens of similar options nearby.
Restaurants by Suburb
Click any suburb for detailed market intelligence.
Other Industries in Liverpool
Restaurants in Other Cities
Own a restaurant in Liverpool?
See your exact rank against nearby competitors, what customers say about them, and where you can win.