Nelson Street · Chinatown
Cafés near Chinatown & the Chinese Arch
There are 15 cafés within about an 8-minute walk of Chinatown & the Chinese Arch (Nelson Street · Chinatown). The closest is DEREK’S Coffee & Sandwiches, about 4 minutes away at 44A Berry Street, Liverpool. 5 of the 9 with a published food hygiene rating are rated 5 (very good).
- Within walking distance
- 15
- Closest
- 4 min
- Hygiene rating 5
- 5
- With an OTL guide
- 2
Old Town Liverpool guides
With the story behind the building
On this spot
What was here before Chinatown & the Chinese Arch
Liverpool's Chinese community dates back to the 19th century: many seamen arrived in the late 1860s with Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel Line. The 13.5-metre arch on Nelson Street was made in Shanghai and assembled here in 2000.
- 1834
A ship arrives directly from China to trade silk and cotton wool.
- 1860s
The Blue Funnel Line brings Chinese seamen to the port.
- 1890s
Chinese-run businesses open near the docks.
- 1942
Chinese mariners strike for equal pay.
- 2000
The Chinese Arch opens on Nelson Street.
Old Town Time Meter
49/100
Historic
- Time on this spot166 years, since 1860 (Chinese seamen of the Blue Funnel Line)22/40
- Age of the present building26 years, built 20003/20
- Layers of history5 documented chapters15/15
- Continuity136 years in the same use (Chinese-run businesses)9/10
An index of the documented time and history held by this place, part of Old Town Liverpool's Quantum Energy Mapping. How it is measured.
Every café nearby
Nearest first
- 1DEREK’S Coffee & Sandwiches44A Berry Street, Liverpool, L1 4AQ 4 minFood hygiene 4 – Good (inspected Jun 2025)
- 2Ditto CoffeeUnit 4 10 - 14 Jamaica Street, Liverpool, L1 0AF 5 minFood hygiene 5 – Very good (inspected Jan 2020)
- 3The Brink Cafe15 - 21 Parr Street, Liverpool, L1 4JN 5 minFood hygiene 5 – Very good (inspected Jul 2019)
- 4Open Coffee21 Norfolk Street, Liverpool, L1 0BE 5 minFood hygiene 5 – Very good (inspected Jun 2025)
- 5West Coast Coffee2 Bold Place, Liverpool, L1 9DN 5 minFood hygiene Awaiting inspection
- 6Time Cafe2A Colquitt Street, Liverpool, L1 4DE 6 minFood hygiene 4 – Good (inspected Feb 2024)
- 7Artefact Cafe71 Roscoe Street, Liverpool, L1 9DW 6 minFood hygiene 5 – Very good (inspected Sep 2023)
- 8Mother Espresso82 Wood Street, Liverpool, L1 4DQ 6 minFood hygiene 4 – Good (inspected Aug 2025)
- 9Bold Street Coffee OTL guide89 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HF 7 minFood hygiene 4 – Good (inspected Feb 2023)
- 10Soho’s Coffee80 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HR 7 minFood hygiene Awaiting inspection
- 1192 Degrees Coffee49 Jamaica Street, Liverpool, L1 0AH 7 minFood hygiene 5 – Very good (inspected Feb 2023)
- 12Maison Cafe74 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4HR 7 minFood hygiene Awaiting inspection
- 13chill-O Cafe79 Renshaw Street, Liverpool, L1 2SJ 8 minFood hygiene Awaiting inspection
- 14Joe and the Juice60 Bold Street, Liverpool, L1 4EA 8 minFood hygiene Awaiting inspection
- 15The Italian Club Bakery OTL guide43 Duke Street, L1 5AP 8 min
Distances are straight-line estimates converted to walking time. Food hygiene ratings are the Food Standards Agency's current published ratings at the date shown; they describe hygiene standards, not food quality.
Make an evening of it
What's on nearby
Things to do
Tours that start nearby
- Bus tours · Sightseeing from £15 per adult City Explorer Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour City Explorer Liverpool (Maghull Coaches) Times, prices & meeting point
- Beatles · Bus tours from £20 per adult Beatles Explorer Bus Tour City Explorer Liverpool (Maghull Coaches) Times, prices & meeting point
- River cruises · Sightseeing from £14 per adult Mersey Ferries River Explorer Cruise Mersey Ferries Times, prices & meeting point
Around Chinatown & the Chinese Arch
Good to know
Cafés near Chinatown & the Chinese Arch: your questions
What is the closest café to Chinatown & the Chinese Arch?
DEREK’S Coffee & Sandwiches, 44A Berry Street, Liverpool, about 4 minutes on foot.
How many cafés are there near Chinatown & the Chinese Arch?
15 within about an 8-minute walk, based on Food Standards Agency records and Old Town Liverpool's own venue guides.
Which cafés near Chinatown & the Chinese Arch have a 5 food hygiene rating?
Ditto Coffee, The Brink Cafe, Open Coffee, Artefact Cafe and 92 Degrees Coffee. Ratings are published by the Food Standards Agency.
What was on the site of Chinatown & the Chinese Arch before?
Liverpool's Chinese community dates back to the 19th century: many seamen arrived in the late 1860s with Alfred Holt's Blue Funnel Line. The 13.5-metre arch on Nelson Street was made in Shanghai and assembled here in 2000.
For businesses
Run a café near Chinatown & the Chinese Arch?
Get an Old Town Liverpool guide with your building's history, and the featured place on this page.
Sources: Wikipedia: Chinatown, Liverpool; Food Standards Agency food hygiene rating data (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 16 October 2026.