Celebrated table

El Gato Negro Liverpool

Name: El Gato Negro Liverpool
Address: Unit 2, Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool, Merseyside, L2 3YL, Liverpool, GB
Telephone: 0151 236 1331

Explore Simon Shaw’s acclaimed Spanish tapas kitchen in Liverpool’s Exchange Flags courtyard, recognised in The Good Food Guide for consistent excellence.

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The story

El Gato Negro Liverpool | Award-Winning Spanish Tapas by Simon Shaw

The chef and his kitchen

El Gato Negro Liverpool serves a refined Spanish menu crafted by Chef Patron Simon Shaw. Shaw originally launched the concept in Yorkshire during 2005 before relocating to Manchester in 2016. He brought his acclaimed small plates to the Exchange Flags courtyard in August 2019. The kitchen pairs quality traditional flavours with locally sourced produce to create seasonally influenced dishes.

Signature plates

Diners frequently order the salt cod croquetas and pinchos morunos featuring spicy marinated Ibérico pork served alongside sobrasada sauce. The kitchen also prepares caramelised cauliflower dressed with shabu-shabu dressing and chargrilled baby pork ribs glazed with Pedro Ximénez sherry. Seasonal rotations keep the offerings fresh while maintaining the core Castilian and Catalan foundations. Sweet finishes like tarta Santiago with salted caramel mousse round out the experience.

The dining room and drinks

Set within an expansive courtyard space near Liverpool City Hall, the restaurant features smart furnishings and a relaxed atmosphere. The bar team curates a selection of modern Spanish wines alongside established sherries to match the food. House cocktails utilize local artisanal craft spirits while the dessert list highlights classics like baked Basque-style cheesecake with Turrón sauce. Recent recognition from The Good Food Guide underscores the consistent execution of these dishes.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026

The Good Food Guide

Good

Ambience

A glimpse inside

Details

At a glance

The Good Food Guide 2026 — Good

Cuisines Spanish

Services Bar, Cocktails, Dinner, Events, Lounge, Lunch, Outdoor Seating, Private Parties, Private Room, Table Service, Vegan, Vegetarian, Wine Pairing

History

On the record

2026

The Good Food Guide — Good

This Spanish Black Cat lurks in one corner of the Exchange Flags courtyard by Liverpool City Hall, behind a monument to Nelson and four of his poignantly chained French captives. Inside is an expansive, impressive space, smartly furnished and run by enthusiastic, courteous and hard-working staff who know all about the extensive tapas menus. The dishes are mostly familiar items from the Castilian and Catalan traditions, rendered with a panache that inspires confidence, but incorporating the odd outlier. Caramelised cauliflower with shabu-shabu is off-piste, likewise harissa-roasted butternut squash, although the classics also get a decent outing: look for salt cod croquetas, super-fresh boquerones, patatas bravas, little chorizos in thickly reduced cider sauce and pinchos morunos (skewers of spicy marinated Ibérico pork with sobrasada sauce and salsa verde). Cheeses and charcuterie are there for the taking too. When it comes to dessert, the Spanish classics are the ones to go for: dense, moist tarta Santiago with salted caramel mousse; baked Basque-style cheesecake with Turrón sauce. A party of three can eat for £20 up till 5pm most days, while cocktails and international wines should keep things swinging – although it can get very noisy at peak times.

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Established

Location

Find us

Unit 2, Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool, Merseyside, L2 3YL
Liverpool, United Kingdom
0151 236 1331
liverpool@elgatonegrotapas.com
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