Riva Blu Italian Restaurant & Bar is an elegant Southern Italian dining destination located in the bustling heart of the city centre on Castle Street in Liverpool.
Housed within a striking building, the venue accommodates around 130 covers and features a plush interior in shades of teal and duck-egg blue, an open kitchen, a lively cocktail bar, and a generous alfresco terrace, bringing a touch of la dolce vita to Merseyside. The venue is wheelchair-accessible, offers free Wi-Fi, baby-change facilities, and includes a private dining room - the bullion room - set within a former vault and seating up to 50 guests, ideal for events or gatherings.
The menu draws inspiration from Southern Italy, particularly the Amalfi Coast and Naples, and is expansive in scope. Starters and sharing plates include fritto misto (an assortment of calamari, wild prawns, red mullet and whitebait with garlic and chilli mayonnaise), as well as panzarotti formaggio, a Neapolitan-style potato and Parmesan croquette served with confit garlic aioli. For mains, signature dishes range from linguine all’aragosta to branzino. Seasonal highlights might include linguine vongole, tuna tartare, and authentic street foods like arancini and frittatina cacio e pepe, as well as pizzas on house-made biga dough served table-side. Desserts feature indulgent Southern Italian classics such as semifreddo (chocolate & amaretto parfait with hazelnut brittle and amarena cherries), delizia al limone, bombolini (lemon, Nutella and vanilla-filled doughnuts), tiramisu and Baileys panna cotta.
The drinks list offers a sophisticated selection of Italian wines and Prosecco, crafted cocktails, premium spirits, beers and zero-alcohol options. A full bar complements the terrace setting and summer aperitivo sessions, which feature DJs, lemon-tree décor and live music.
Nestled in Liverpool’s thriving commercial and cultural core, Riva Blu brings a lively yet refined slice of Southern Italy to the city, combining glamour, generous cuisine and Mediterranean warmth.