I am spending a few days in Liverpool next week and need suggestions of places to eat and drink while I'm there. I'll be staying centrally and don't want to get drawn into any chain places that you usually find in city centres. I'm looking for informal places with veggie/fish options in which to eat, relaxed bars with good gin stocks and/or real ale (can the two co-exist?) and good coffee places from which to people watch.

I've already spotted Delifonseca and ThisisTea but any recommendations from other Brits out there or well travelled others would be welcomed.