street art paste up baltic triangle liverpool cultural quarter UK

The Baltic Triangle Brings Cool to Liverpool

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Austere-industrial and graffiti-filled with dramatic architecture, the Baltic Triangle’s up and coming art quarter makes Liverpool cool. I first found the Baltic Triangle as I plotted my Liverpool Biennial itinerary.

street shot sunset baltic triangle liverpool cultural quarter UK
Streets of The Baltic Triangle - Liverpool

The Triangle is fairly off-the-beaten Liverpool path, so you have to actively seek it out. And if you’re armed with a list of bars, food establishments, and cultural venues, you will be rewarded with an exhilarating and inspiring experience. Yet simply wandering the streets of the Baltic Triangle has its own rewards, as you are sure to happen upon whimsical street art and stunning historic buildings.

street art paste up baltic triangle liverpool cultural quarter UK
Stencil on Jamaica Street

The Historical Baltic Triangle

This quarter is certainly dense with history. Propelled by the success of Liverpool’s pivotal position as a major trade port in the 18th and 19th centuries - including the repugnant slave trade - a system of industry and warehouses sprung up in the Baltic Triangle to support the nearby docks. Because of Liverpool’s pioneering role in dock technology and complex logistics that manipulated a major world port of the British Empire, six areas of Liverpool’s historic center are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a Mercantile Maritime City.

Grapes Inn pub baltic triangle liverpool cultural quarter UK

As industry declined, so did the docks and the warren of surrounding warehouses in The Baltic Triangle. In recent years, the derelict industrial buildings were a natural draw for artists and startups. While this is the edgier, artsy side of town, the renaissance of The Baltic Triangle is generally reflective of the broader urban renewal that has swept over Liverpool.

Baltic Triangle - The Cultural Quarter

street art paste up baltic triangle liverpool skate park cultural quarter UK
Super Rat Sits Atop Colorful Skateboard Park
street art paste up baltic triangle liverpool skate park cultural quarter UK

The Baltic Triangle, known as Liverpool’s Cultural Quarter, feels raw and authentic. It is filled with character and inventive spots that have organically sprouted from creative minds.

street art paste up baltic triangle liverpool cultural quarter UK

Imaginative entrepreneurs have embraced the Triangle’s architectural details and history, incorporating them as an integral backdrop where vintage meets contemporary and cutting-edge.

street art paste up by Tristan Brady-Jacobs @trisbj baltic triangle liverpool cultural quarter UK
Paste-up by Tristan Brady-Jacobs @trisbj

Eating, Drinking & Nightlife in The Baltic Triangle

A pilgrimage to gawk at Cains Brewery’s stunning architecture would alone make the journey to The Baltic Triangle worthwhile. But this past summer, the the former brewing establishment was revived as a destination with a hip street food market and plenty of watering holes for a perfect Baltic Triangle respite.

Cains Brewery Higson Brewery red brick Architecture baltic triangle liverpool cultural quarter UK
Cains Brewery Facade

In its food hall, The Baltic Market hosts 10 vendors running the gamut from Haloumi Fries to Cuban street food. Currently, The Market is open only during the long weekend of Thursday to Sunday.

Courtesy Baltic Market  - Street Food Market at Cains Brewery with Range of Ethnic Options
Courtesy Baltic Market - Street Food Market at Cains Brewery with Range of Ethnic Options
 Courtesy Baltic Market
Courtesy Baltic Market

The new Cains Brewery also features a couple of new bars taking up residence in the brewery’s architectural nooks. Kiosk, featuring Italian wine and bar fare such as charcuterie, has squeezed into the brewery's former security house - but has additional outdoor seating when the bar surpasses twenty. And Dockleaf is housed in the former quality control room. Both of these new bars stem from the proprietors of one of my favorite Baltic Triangle spots, the Botanical Garden.

entrance to the botanical garden gin bar baltic triangle liverpool UK
Entrance to The Botanical Garden

I discovered the seasonal Botanical Garden as I explored a graffiti-filled alley. Almost like Alice-in-Wonderland, I was compelled by an open colorful gate in the alley that led to a vibrantly decorated garden. I was drawn deeper into the mural laden patio filled with picnic tables, finding cozy alcoves and sharply decorated rooms of what turned out to be a Gin Bar.

My favorite space was the covered shabby chic bar filled with vintage tables, cushy couches, and a bar made from an old VW bus as its base. As the lights dimmed, candes were lit and I sank into a citrusy, herbaceous gin cocktail.

Botanical Garden Gin Bar street art paste up baltic triangle liverpool cultural quarter UK
Grapefruit-Thyme Gin Cocktail, Made with Local Bloom Gin by One of the Worlds Few Women Distillers
Botanical Garden Gin Bar street art paste up baltic triangle liverpool cultural quarter UK
Coffee & Fandisha for Artisan Coffee Baltic Triangle Cultural Quarter Liverpool UK

Back to wandering The Triangle’s streets, I found an array of food and drink options, plus super cool conceptual venues that mixed food, bar, music, and more.

The Triangle also has perfect spots for a caffeine fix, like the modern Coffee & Fandisha. Among the typical brick warehouses, this artisan coffee spot also serves pastries and light breakfasts and lunch. But to make choosing even more difficult, there’s also Unit 51 and the Baltic Bakehouse.

Coffee & Fandisha Artisan Coffee Baltic Triangle Cultural Quarter Liverpool UK
Coffee & Fandisha for Artisan Coffee in The Baltic Triangle

Not wanting to be typecast, Camp and Furnace bills itself as a cultural hangout. All you need to do is take a look at their calendar to see that it runs the spectrum of music, comedy, special events, and food. Particularly intriguing is their Friday Nightgarden and Food Slam with pop-up kitchen.

Camp and Furnace Baltic Triangle Cultural Quarter Liverpool UK
Camp and Furnace Corner

Another conceptual Triangle spot with a range of cultural events and large outdoor garden is Constellations. From Brunch Club to live music, Constellations has a lot going on.

Constellations Baltic Triangle Cultural Quarter Liverpool UK
Constellations Cultural Venue for Food and Music
Constellations Outdoor Garden Baltic Triangle Cultural Quarter Liverpool UK
Constellations Outdoor Garden and Event Space
Constellations Baltic Triangle Cultural Quarter Liverpool UK
Constellations Front Facade

You’ll also find plenty of craft beer spots in the Baltic Triangle like Baltic Social and Baltic Fleet.

Courtesy Baltic Social - For Craft Beer and Casual Eats
Courtesy Baltic Social - For Craft Beer and Casual Eats
Baltic Fleet for Craft Beer
Baltic Fleet for Craft Beer

If, like me, you love urban renewal and the way creative vision can restore a derelict quarter while still incorporating its history, then you will love The Baltic Triangle. Between exploring, chilling, and nightlife, you could easily spend a full day in The Triangle – and you would already be thinking about coming back to revisit your favorites.

street art paste up baltic triangle liverpool cultural quarter UK
street art paste up Paste-up by Tristan Brady-Jacobs @trisbj baltic triangle liverpool cultural quarter UK
Paste-up by Tristan Brady-Jacobs @trisbj

Liverpool, in general, has plenty to keep you busy with myriad museums, architecture hunting, pubs, and some tasty food – but The Triangle with its unique vibe is destination-worthy in its own right.

But… Warning: Explore The Baltic Triangle while it still feels like a creative, bubbling petrie dish – who knows what future commercialization could plunder.

Navigating The Baltic Triangle

See Planet Gusto’s Baltic Triangle Map below for more ideas.

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