African and Caribbean Food and Hair on Smithdown Road and Wavertree, Liverpool (2026)
Smithdown Road into Wavertree is a smaller cluster, but it covers the essentials. For Nigerian food there is Obe's Kitchen, for a top rated cut there is Haile's Barbershop, for curl care try PR Hair Curl Specialists, and for modest fashion there is Islamic Touch on Lawrence Road.
African Stores Editorial Team
The short answer
Smithdown Road into Wavertree is a smaller cluster, but it covers the essentials. For Nigerian food there is Obe's Kitchen, for a top rated cut there is Haile's Barbershop, for curl care try PR Hair Curl Specialists, and for modest fashion there is Islamic Touch on Lawrence Road. You can find more African and Caribbean food shops near you on African Stores.
What to remember
- Smithdown Road runs out from the city towards Wavertree, and the African and Caribbean places along it are spread rather than tightly grouped.
- Between them you can eat Nigerian home cooking, get an Afro cut or a barber's fade, have your curls or salon hair done, and pick up modest fashion.
- Hair and barbers make up most of the cluster here, with two shops holding perfect Google scores.
- It is a compact scene, so these few are well worth knowing.
Knowing the barber who gets your fade right, the kitchen that cooks the way home does, and the shop that carries what you are looking for turns a long road into a familiar one. Smithdown Road may be spread out, but between these few names it covers the essentials, and a short list like this saves you the guesswork of walking the whole stretch.
Restaurants and food
1. Obe's Kitchen Obe's Kitchen is the Nigerian kitchen of this stretch, run by owner Obe, who opened the doors in April 2023 in tribute to the founder's late mother. Google reviewers give it 3.8 from 44 reviews, so it is finding its feet, and it has already been featured in Liverpool Underlined. If you want Nigerian home cooking without heading into town, this is the local option, and the story behind it is a warm one. You will find it at 387 Smithdown Rd, Liverpool L15 3JJ.
Hair and barbers
2. Haile's Barbershop Haile's Barbershop is the standout of the cluster, run by owner Haile and holding a perfect Google rating of 5.0 from 63 reviews, which is a lot of happy heads for a shop this size. When a barber keeps a score that high across that many cuts, it usually means a steady hand and regulars who keep coming back. If you want a reliable fade or trim on Smithdown Road, start here. You will find it at 173 Smithdown Rd, Liverpool L15 2HD.
3. PR Hair Curl Specialists PR Hair Curl Specialists is run by owner Paige, a curl specialist, and also holds a perfect 5.0 on Google, from 7 reviews so far. The review count is small, so it is newer to the listings, but the focus is clear: this is the place on the parade for curl care done properly. You can book and see more online at vagaro.com/prhaircliniclimited before you visit. You will find it at 427A Smithdown Rd, Wavertree, Liverpool L15 3JL.
4. Destiny Barbers Destiny Barbers is the busiest barber name here by review count, with a Google rating of 4.6 from 113 reviews, so a lot of people have sat in the chair. It sits just off Smithdown Road on Lawrence Road, and it keeps a social presence on Instagram at @destiny_barbers if you want to see recent work before you go. You will find it at 12 Lawrence Rd, Wavertree, Liverpool L15 0EG.
5. Ebony Ebony is a hair salon on Smithdown Road with a Google rating of 4.4 from 27 reviews. It covers salon hair care on this stretch, and you can get a feel for the styles on Instagram at @ebonysalonuk before booking in. You will find it at Smithdown Rd, Liverpool L15 2HD.
6. Moussou Hair Salon Moussou Hair Salon sits a little further along in Wavertree village, holding a Google rating of 4.4 from 22 reviews. It rounds out the hair options in this part of the area, so it is a handy name to know if you are up towards the High Street end. You will find it at 5A High St, Wavertree, Liverpool L15 8HE.
Other
7. Islamic Touch Islamic Touch is the modest fashion and clothing shop of the cluster, on Lawrence Road near Destiny Barbers, with a Google rating of 4.3 from 32 reviews. It is the place to head for modest fashion in this part of Wavertree, and its spot on Lawrence Road means you can pair a visit with the barber a few doors along. You will find it at 99 Lawrence Rd, Liverpool L15 0EF.
How we put this together We hold data on the African and Caribbean businesses across Merseyside and pulled out the ones along Smithdown Road into Wavertree, keeping only places that are genuinely trading and reading the reviews so the strengths we mention are the ones people actually value. Because this is an area roundup, we include the smaller and newer places too, so everyone gets a mention, not just the big names. A couple of nearby names, Desta and Raggas, sit in the neighbouring guides for Toxteth and Kensington, so we have kept this list to the Smithdown Road cluster to save you seeing the same places twice. Small shops change their hours, so it is always worth a quick call before you travel.
Where to find African and Caribbean food shops near you Smithdown Road is a long stretch rather than a single hub, so the places here are spread out: Obe's Kitchen and Haile's Barbershop sit on the main road, PR Hair and Ebony are close by, and Destiny Barbers and Islamic Touch cluster together on Lawrence Road, with Moussou up in Wavertree village. If you are outside this area, or you want to see what else is close to you, African Stores lists African and Caribbean food shops near you wherever you are, and you can browse African hair salons near you when you need a cut, a curl or a salon appointment.
Frequently asked questions
What African and Caribbean businesses are on Smithdown Road and in Wavertree, Liverpool?
The cluster along Smithdown Road into Wavertree includes Obe's Kitchen for Nigerian food, Haile's Barbershop, Destiny Barbers, PR Hair Curl Specialists, Ebony and Moussou Hair Salon for hair and barbering, and Islamic Touch for modest fashion. Nearby names Desta and Raggas are covered in the Toxteth and Kensington guides.
Where can I get an Afro cut or my hair done near Smithdown Road?
Haile's Barbershop at 173 Smithdown Rd holds a Google rating of 5.0 from 63 reviews, Destiny Barbers on Lawrence Road has 4.6 from 113 reviews, and PR Hair Curl Specialists on Smithdown Road specialises in curls with a 5.0 from 7 reviews. Ebony and Moussou Hair Salon also cover salon hair in the area.
Where can I eat Nigerian food on Smithdown Road?
Obe's Kitchen at 387 Smithdown Rd, Liverpool L15 3JJ, cooks Nigerian food and holds a Google rating of 3.8 from 44 reviews. It opened in April 2023 and has been featured in Liverpool Underlined.
Is there anywhere for modest fashion in Wavertree?
Yes. Islamic Touch at 99 Lawrence Rd, Liverpool L15 0EF, sells modest fashion and clothing and holds a Google rating of 4.3 from 32 reviews. It sits close to Destiny Barbers on the same road.
How do I find more African and Caribbean shops near me?
African Stores lists African and Caribbean food shops, hair salons and services near you across Merseyside and beyond, so you can find the closest places wherever you are.
