A BRAZILIAN-THEMED restaurant is launching a new sports bar in Liverpool city centre.

Maracanã, named after the Maracanã stadium in Rio de Janerio, first opened on Bold Street in 2023.

The restaurant has now undergone a refurbishment which focuses on football. Maracanã Sport Bar will launch on Wednesday, February 14 with its brand-new 2024 menu.

Whether guests are there to view a sporting event, or just to enjoy a meet-up and some casual dining, there are plenty of offerings to add flavour when stopping by Bold Street.

From traditional Brazilian chicken coxinha, rump steak with cassava, tasty ‘pastel’ pastries with a variety of savoury and sweet fillings and the popular Brazilian desserts and options for kids. The team also want to honour the nation’s signature flagship foods of pichana and ribs, also served with cassava.

Lohan Munhoz, co-owner and co-founder of Maracanã Sport Bar said: “I totally understand and appreciate the link between football culture and entertainment which links my home country to Liverpool, which I have also seen reflected during my travels as a professional footballer around the world.

“To me, the Maracanã stadium in Rio is iconic, and so I was so proud to bring its name to this city, which has its own rich history not just in football, but also in music and culture. My strong connection to the game and friendships with wonderful Brazilian players has meant putting an authentic stamp on our venue.

“Of course, as our name suggests, we look forward to welcoming everyone who wants to watch the very best sporting occasions with us. We know that Liverpool's welcoming city centre is a wonderful mix of local visitors, national tourists and international guests already, so we envisage seeing a variety of football shirts in attendance.

“Based in such a busy retail and cultural area of the city, we also aim to be the perfect casual venue for a meal and drinks for shoppers, couples, families, friendships groups and new visitors who want to relax and enjoy our brand-new menu.

“We also look forward to putting on some wonderful seasonal events, and of course, we will be here to welcome football fans who want to soak up the atmosphere here with us in Liverpool, with our own unique Brazilian flavour.”

The restaurant will be fully licensed and the venue is currently being refurbished with a new bar area being added on the ground floor. Moving forward the venue hopes to create a private dining space in the lower ground floor area.