Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden is a colourful, calm corner of nature just across the road from Dalston Junction Overground station. Named after the old Eastern Curve Railway line, the garden opened in 2010. It’s run as a social enterprise, maintained by a team of volunteers who keep the place filled with plants, herbs and vegetables all year round.
The place is amazing, it has an outdoor area with trees and flowers to one side and on the other there's benches. Its like a big outdoor hut, that serves hot and cold beverages and alcohol. For colder weather they provide blankes and hotwater bottles now how cool is that.
It’s a sprawling space, filled with little nooks and crannies. There’s also a wooden pavilion at the end, which hosts performances like open mic nights and the wood burner music nights every Tuesday. The garden is open all year round, and stays open into the evening during Summer. You can bring your own picnic, but if you feel like supporting the garden it’s worth buying drinks from the bar. You can also buy pizza or other snacks from the Garden Cafe if you’re feeling peckish.
178 locals recommend
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
13 Dalston Ln Dalston Eastern Curve Garden is a colourful, calm corner of nature just across the road from Dalston Junction Overground station. Named after the old Eastern Curve Railway line, the garden opened in 2010. It’s run as a social enterprise, maintained by a team of volunteers who keep the place filled with plants, herbs and vegetables all year round.
The place is amazing, it has an outdoor area with trees and flowers to one side and on the other there's benches. Its like a big outdoor hut, that serves hot and cold beverages and alcohol. For colder weather they provide blankes and hotwater bottles now how cool is that.
It’s a sprawling space, filled with little nooks and crannies. There’s also a wooden pavilion at the end, which hosts performances like open mic nights and the wood burner music nights every Tuesday. The garden is open all year round, and stays open into the evening during Summer. You can bring your own picnic, but if you feel like supporting the garden it’s worth buying drinks from the bar. You can also buy pizza or other snacks from the Garden Cafe if you’re feeling peckish.
I will leave it to you but is one of Dalston's finest. It has a bar, regular events and exhibitions you must go see it for yourself.
203 locals recommend
Cafe OTO
18-22 Ashwin StreetI will leave it to you but is one of Dalston's finest. It has a bar, regular events and exhibitions you must go see it for yourself.
An American in Hoxton Square, there are a few eating places here so check them all out.
26 locals recommend
Red Dog Saloon - Hoxton Restaurant
37 Hoxton SquareAn American in Hoxton Square, there are a few eating places here so check them all out.
This is hearty homely cooking but done well with generous portions and low prices. Service is warm and friendly and I love the ramshackle kitschy atmosphere. Speaking of ramshackle don't miss the WC with the wash basin supported by a bicycle frame.
15 locals recommend
Escudo de Cuba
20 Stoke Newington RdThis is hearty homely cooking but done well with generous portions and low prices. Service is warm and friendly and I love the ramshackle kitschy atmosphere. Speaking of ramshackle don't miss the WC with the wash basin supported by a bicycle frame.
Rouge Dalston Junction (Unit A Gaumont Tower, Dalston Square, London, E8 3BQ), is a cafe/deli/bistro in the heart of bustling and vibrant Dalston. The food is well travelled and exciting; drawing inspiration from the Middle East and Mediterranean, whilst keeping a local, dynamic and modern spirit. Vibrant and welcoming, serving seasonal menus of breakfast, lunch and dinner made fresh every day. At the heart of the cafe is the amazing salad and deli counter that serves the most inspired salads and finest quality sourced charcuteries.
35 locals recommend
Café Rouge
Unit 4 The PiazzaRouge Dalston Junction (Unit A Gaumont Tower, Dalston Square, London, E8 3BQ), is a cafe/deli/bistro in the heart of bustling and vibrant Dalston. The food is well travelled and exciting; drawing inspiration from the Middle East and Mediterranean, whilst keeping a local, dynamic and modern spirit. Vibrant and welcoming, serving seasonal menus of breakfast, lunch and dinner made fresh every day. At the heart of the cafe is the amazing salad and deli counter that serves the most inspired salads and finest quality sourced charcuteries.
This has to be the best carribean ever, the food is spot on. You have to be quick because the sell out of those well sort after dishes quick but even then there is something that will set those taste buds on an amazing journey.
Survivor - carribean restaurant
6 Sandringham RdThis has to be the best carribean ever, the food is spot on. You have to be quick because the sell out of those well sort after dishes quick but even then there is something that will set those taste buds on an amazing journey.
At Angelina, we merge the techniques and flavours of Italian and Japanese cuisines to create distinctive and crowd-pleasing omakase and kaiseki tasting menus served in a warm, unfussy setting.We pay homage to both cuisines while challenging perceptions of what Japanese and Italian-inspired dishes look (and taste) like.
We are passionate about sourcing the finest standout ingredients to create unique, thought-out dishes using flavour combinations that challenge and excite our guests.Our 4 and 10-course omakase and kaiseki menus are available from Monday to Saturday evenings and now for Saturday lunch as well.
Although our tasting menus are chef’s choice only, with 72 hours’ notice we are able to adapt to most dietary requirements.
15 locals recommend
Angelina
56 Dalston LnAt Angelina, we merge the techniques and flavours of Italian and Japanese cuisines to create distinctive and crowd-pleasing omakase and kaiseki tasting menus served in a warm, unfussy setting.We pay homage to both cuisines while challenging perceptions of what Japanese and Italian-inspired dishes look (and taste) like.
We are passionate about sourcing the finest standout ingredients to create unique, thought-out dishes using flavour combinations that challenge and excite our guests.Our 4 and 10-course omakase and kaiseki menus are available from Monday to Saturday evenings and now for Saturday lunch as well.
Although our tasting menus are chef’s choice only, with 72 hours’ notice we are able to adapt to most dietary requirements.
Drinks & Nightlife
The atmosphere is lively and friendly, so close to the West End China Town too so a great little area to dine or drink any day of the week.
576 locals recommend
Soho
The atmosphere is lively and friendly, so close to the West End China Town too so a great little area to dine or drink any day of the week.
Lovely little bar not too far from the nightlife in Shoreditch. Great music and atmosphere and do great live events.
45 locals recommend
The Glory
281 Kingsland RdLovely little bar not too far from the nightlife in Shoreditch. Great music and atmosphere and do great live events.
Great music and delicious and cheap slushy cocktails. Quiet in the early evenings but livens up a lot at night and the dance floor gets going.
134 locals recommend
Ridley Road Market (Stop P) station
Great music and delicious and cheap slushy cocktails. Quiet in the early evenings but livens up a lot at night and the dance floor gets going.
This place is a somewhat hidden gem. Lovely atmosphere for summer days into night. Some great live music and drinks.
79 locals recommend
Dalston Roof Park
18-22 Ashwin St
This place is a somewhat hidden gem. Lovely atmosphere for summer days into night. Some great live music and drinks.
Tipsy Bar
20 Stoke Newington RdTipsy is downstairs from Escudo de cuba ,
I Love this place, whether you stop by for breakfast, brunch, or a drink after work even a night out there is something for everyone with an amazing atmosphere and great music.
187 locals recommend
Dalston Superstore
117 Kingsland High StI Love this place, whether you stop by for breakfast, brunch, or a drink after work even a night out there is something for everyone with an amazing atmosphere and great music.
Sightseeing
If you are interested in the Royal this is a must and the changing of guards is good to see also.
1912 locals recommend
Buckingham Palace
If you are interested in the Royal this is a must and the changing of guards is good to see also.
Parks & Nature
I love this park, they have recently made so renovations to it. It has a little lake with ducks, there's seagulls, wild life and you can feed the swans too. In the summer there's an outdoor paddling pool which is quite popular in the summer. There's Tennis courts, a children's play area, picnic areas and an amazing little café in the middle of it all.
505 locals recommend
Clissold Park
Green LanesI love this park, they have recently made so renovations to it. It has a little lake with ducks, there's seagulls, wild life and you can feed the swans too. In the summer there's an outdoor paddling pool which is quite popular in the summer. There's Tennis courts, a children's play area, picnic areas and an amazing little café in the middle of it all.
Arts & Culture
This has two studios and a bar/café with a Terrace. It shows mainly fringe productions and operas which are all quite good.
It’s relatively small size doesn’t stop it from putting on bold, ambitious productions. These have included co-productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, operas and musicals featuring emerging fringe theatre talent as well as established names.
The theatre has a strong community focus, and a long-running Pay What You Can ticket scheme, where it sells a limited number of PWYC tickets on a first come, first serve basis. The average contribution is £5.00, but as the name suggests, just pay what you can. It’s worth getting down early to nab a cheaper ticket, from 6pm on the night of the performance.
If you don’t get lucky, pop around the corner to Cafe Oto for some experimental music instead—plenty of the best things to do in Dalston are concentrated around Ashwin Street.
199 locals recommend
Arcola Bar
24 Ashwin StThis has two studios and a bar/café with a Terrace. It shows mainly fringe productions and operas which are all quite good.
It’s relatively small size doesn’t stop it from putting on bold, ambitious productions. These have included co-productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, operas and musicals featuring emerging fringe theatre talent as well as established names.
The theatre has a strong community focus, and a long-running Pay What You Can ticket scheme, where it sells a limited number of PWYC tickets on a first come, first serve basis. The average contribution is £5.00, but as the name suggests, just pay what you can. It’s worth getting down early to nab a cheaper ticket, from 6pm on the night of the performance.
If you don’t get lucky, pop around the corner to Cafe Oto for some experimental music instead—plenty of the best things to do in Dalston are concentrated around Ashwin Street.
Shopping
You could spend the day here because what is doesn't have is worth seeing. So shop till you drop, eat, drink and have a night out Westfields has it all.
1214 locals recommend
Westfield Stratford City
157 Montfichet RdYou could spend the day here because what is doesn't have is worth seeing. So shop till you drop, eat, drink and have a night out Westfields has it all.
Head over to the Dusty Knuckle to bag yourself a fistful of flour-based goods. It’s a cafe as well as a bakery, serving up fresh bread, pastries, coffee, salads and ‘knockout’ (they’re really running with the pun) sandwiches. They’re not kidding though, fillings aren’t your run-of-the mill cheese and pickle. We’re talking roasted spiced cauliflower here.
Daily breads include the house Sourdough, White Potato Sourdough and Seed and Grain, and there’s always the option of a coffee and a pastry to go too.
47 locals recommend
The Dusty Knuckle Bakery
Abbot StreetHead over to the Dusty Knuckle to bag yourself a fistful of flour-based goods. It’s a cafe as well as a bakery, serving up fresh bread, pastries, coffee, salads and ‘knockout’ (they’re really running with the pun) sandwiches. They’re not kidding though, fillings aren’t your run-of-the mill cheese and pickle. We’re talking roasted spiced cauliflower here.
Daily breads include the house Sourdough, White Potato Sourdough and Seed and Grain, and there’s always the option of a coffee and a pastry to go too.
Dalston Cross Shopping Centre
Everything Else
The 276 bus runs from here to Stoke Newington if you stay on the right hand side of the road or cross over to go towards Newham, passing Stratford City on the way.
Amhurst Road
Amhurst RoadThe 276 bus runs from here to Stoke Newington if you stay on the right hand side of the road or cross over to go towards Newham, passing Stratford City on the way.