The Monro

You'll find this place exactly where Duke Street starts getting interesting, in one of those handsome Georgian buildings that makes you remember why Liverpool's city centre actually works. The Monro gets cocktails right without any of the usual theatrics – no smoke machines or bartenders who think they're performing surgery, just properly made drinks that taste like someone gives a damn. The space feels grown-up but not stuffy, with dark wood and brass that's clearly been chosen rather than inherited. Come for after-work drinks on a Thursday and you'll get the office crowd letting off steam, but weekend evenings bring a more relaxed mix. The staff know their way around a shaker, and they're not precious about tweaking drinks to your taste.