The Lounge Bar (Previously Lounge69)

You'll find yourself on one of Liverpool's best stretches for a night out, surrounded by the Georgian architecture that makes this bit of town feel like you've stepped somewhere better than most. The Lounge Bar's the kind of place where you can actually have a conversation—it's not trying to out-loud the person next to you. Whether you're after a proper cocktail that's been thought through or just a decent drink after work, they've got the measure of what people actually want rather than what looks good on Instagram. The crowd's proper mixed: regulars who've been coming since it was Lounge69, couples after somewhere quieter than the madness round the corner, and people who actually know their stuff when it comes to a drink.