I went to the café hidden inside one of Liverpool’s most famous buildings

I don’t know how many times I’ve passed through The Strand in Liverpool city centre. As someone who lived in Wirral, it was the first thing I'd encounter after leaving the dock exit of the Birkenhead Tunnel.

The three graces, alongside the beautiful art-deco George's Dock Building which provides ventilation to the tunnel, often get the most attention. But The Tower Building opposite the Liver Building often caught my eye.

The white glazed terracotta means it fits in with the other buildings around it. Unsurprising given the person who designed it, Walter Aubrey Thomas, was also the architect of the Liver Building. However, its impressive turrets give it the look of a grand presidential palace rather than a pretty apartment block.

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It was only recently I discovered there was a coffee shop on the ground floor called Café Lucaya that is open to everyone. It seemed I wasn't the only one. One reviewer on TripAdvisor said: “It’s a hidden gem like everything else in the business district.” Another added: “We were in the area and searched for a local café. It was hidden inside a building.”

Located just a short walk from the ECHO’s offices in St Paul’s Square, I decided to swap my usual meal deal for dinner in one of Liverpool’s most famous buildings. Its only visible from Water Street between a maze of office buildings and apartment blocks. My first impression was how beautiful it is inside.

The white walls were framed by plenty of plants that hung over the tables and touched the ceiling. I was given a further boost by the menu.

Initially I’d accepted I’d be having a cold lunch although I was regretting not having a bigger breakfast that morning. However, when I looked at what was on offer, I was caught pleasantly surprised to see toasted sandwiches on the menu as well as an all-day breakfast menu.

I opted for the breakfast option, with scrambled egg and bacon on ciabatta bread, along with a large hot chocolate. It was very busy inside - clearly it attracts a regular crowd of nearby office workers who know about it.

Thankfully there were two spaces available downstairs. There was far more space upstairs which overlooks the lower floor, but I thought it would be nicer to be amongst the crowd.

I wasn’t let down by either of my choices. The ciabatta was toasted perfectly, the scrambled eggs were soft and creamy and the bacon had a great texture. I was taken aback by how large and hot my drink was but that just meant I had more time to soak in the café atmosphere and enjoy a more relaxing lunch break than usual.

I was tempted to try out the cakes but decided to save that for another time. In the end, the meal came to £11.90. I had lunch in the Liver Building a few months ago and came to the same conclusion. We praise so many of this city’s famous buildings without ever going inside. Just because it’s a grand building doesn’t mean you can’t check it out for yourself.