Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Violet
47 Wilton WayGreat coffee and cinnamon buns. Has a cute outside area
a great bakery which also has a cafe, I get my bread here every weekend. They also have baking classes
272 locals recommend
E5 Bakehouse
396 Mentmore Terracea great bakery which also has a cafe, I get my bread here every weekend. They also have baking classes
A great Italian restaurant, you would normally need to book to guarantee a table.
205 locals recommend
LARDO
201 Richmond RdA great Italian restaurant, you would normally need to book to guarantee a table.
great Indian restaurant - popular and you normally need to queue
475 locals recommend
Dishoom Shoreditch
7 Boundary Stgreat Indian restaurant - popular and you normally need to queue
The Dusty Knuckle Bakery
Abbot StreetNice coffee, bread and baked goods
Bread and pastries by day and restaurant by night. The pasta dishes are sublime
45 locals recommend
Pophams Bakery
19 Prebend StBread and pastries by day and restaurant by night. The pasta dishes are sublime
Recently awarded a Michelin star. Booking advised. Set menu at around £49 a head. Well worth it
8 locals recommend
Casa Fofó
158 Sandringham RdRecently awarded a Michelin star. Booking advised. Set menu at around £49 a head. Well worth it
Climpson & Sons Café
67 Broadway MarketGreat coffee
Allpress Espresso Roastery & Cafe
55 Dalston LnGreat coffee - roasted on site
Little Duck - The Picklery
68 Dalston LnGreat breakfast and dinner - advisable to book
Great neighbourhood restaurant that has a Michelin star. Set menu around £50 a head. Booking advised
91 locals recommend
Pidgin
52 Wilton WayGreat neighbourhood restaurant that has a Michelin star. Set menu around £50 a head. Booking advised
OREN
89 Shacklewell LnReally good Middle Eastern food
Pavilion Cafe
Old Ford RoadNice cafe by the lake in Victoria park
Franco Manca
52 Broadway MarketGood pizza
Great restaurant for brunch or dinner. Hard to find which adds to the charm
271 locals recommend
Bistrotheque
23-27 Wadeson StGreat restaurant for brunch or dinner. Hard to find which adds to the charm
Great restaurant on Columbia Road. Go on Sunday when the street has the flower market on
162 locals recommend
Brawn
49 Columbia RdGreat restaurant on Columbia Road. Go on Sunday when the street has the flower market on
This is in Bethnal Green Town Hall. They also have a great cocktail bar
44 locals recommend
Corner Room
8 Patriot SquareThis is in Bethnal Green Town Hall. They also have a great cocktail bar
Brat x Climpson's Arch
374 Helmsley Plgreat reviews, great food
Super Nature X SITE
198 Hackney RdReally nice vegan cafe
Turkish restaurant - staple in Kingsland road. Nothing fancy in terms of decor but good food and not expensive
150 locals recommend
Mangal 1
10 Arcola StTurkish restaurant - staple in Kingsland road. Nothing fancy in terms of decor but good food and not expensive
Great Italian Japanese fusion restaurant with a reasonably priced set menu
15 locals recommend
Angelina
56 Dalston LnGreat Italian Japanese fusion restaurant with a reasonably priced set menu
Kricket Soho
12 Denman StWe buy Kricket takeaway often. Amazing Indian food
Footnote
51 Wilton WayReally nice local cafe
Lucky & Joy
95 Lower Clapton RoadGreat modern Chinese restaurant, a lot of vegetarian options
Hackney Coterie Restaurant
Lovely food and wine
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a popular pub with a beer garden and good food. They play a good selection of music
147 locals recommend
The Spurstowe Arms
68 Greenwood RdThis is a popular pub with a beer garden and good food. They play a good selection of music
Newly re-opened pub. It has a great space in the back where they have regular gigs
30 locals recommend
The Victoria Dalston
451 Queensbridge RdNewly re-opened pub. It has a great space in the back where they have regular gigs
Cafe OTO
18-22 Ashwin StreetA live music venue, normally seated. A great space and a good programme
A great little bar - opens fairly late. Normally a youngish crowd
134 locals recommend
Ridley Road Market (Stop P) station
A great little bar - opens fairly late. Normally a youngish crowd
The Three Compasses
99 Dalston LnThis bar won best bar in Hackney recently.
A nice bar - a good alternative if you want somewhere a bit quieter. They have a beer garden at the front and some nice pub grub
73 locals recommend
Prince George
40 Parkholme RdA nice bar - a good alternative if you want somewhere a bit quieter. They have a beer garden at the front and some nice pub grub
Sager + Wilde Wine Bar
193 Hackney RdBinch
Cute local bar with nice wines
Finley's
Great wine bar championing female wine producers (a friend of mine!)
Everything Else
Roof top bar open during the summer, it also hosts music nights and an outdoor cinema
79 locals recommend
Dalston Roof Park
18-22 Ashwin StRoof top bar open during the summer, it also hosts music nights and an outdoor cinema
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
13 Dalston LnA cute community garden which has a cafe
Hackney Picturehouse
270 Mare StA great Cinema with some nice bars inside
London Fields Fitness Studio
379 Mentmore TerraceThey do circuit training in London Fields
Arts & Culture
Arcola Bar
24 Ashwin StA small theatre with a few stages and a nice bar in the back
Essentials
Our local. The fruit and veg are consistently good. I’m always surprised by the variety of produce here. Loads of dietary choices catered for
16 locals recommend
Greenwood Food & Wine
Greenwood RoadOur local. The fruit and veg are consistently good. I’m always surprised by the variety of produce here. Loads of dietary choices catered for
TFC Dalston
89 Ridley RdA nice turkish supermarket, the fresh produce is good and cheap
I don’t eat meat. But this butcher is meant to be great. Also a restaurant by night
65 locals recommend
Hill & Szrok Master Butcher & Cookshop
60 Broadway MarketI don’t eat meat. But this butcher is meant to be great. Also a restaurant by night
Food shop that’s a bit like Whole Foods. Has all the weird and wonderful ingredients you can’t find elsewhere
Figs and Grain
19-21 Broadway MarketFood shop that’s a bit like Whole Foods. Has all the weird and wonderful ingredients you can’t find elsewhere
Sutton and Sons Fish & Chips
90 Stoke Newington High StreetPopular fishmonger on Broadway market
Borough Wines & Beers
163 Stoke Newington Church StGreat wine shop
Marks and Spencer
351 Mare StNice supermarket
Sainsbury's
112 High StBig chain supermarket. Has all you would do need
Entertainment & Activities
London Fields
London Fields West SideOpen air pool - get's busy on sunny days so go early
You will need to book a court and can only do this a week in advance
http://hackneytennis.co.uk/courts_bookings/online_booking/book_londonFields.html
7 locals recommend
London Fields Tennis Courts
Richmond RoadYou will need to book a court and can only do this a week in advance
http://hackneytennis.co.uk/courts_bookings/online_booking/book_londonFields.html
Rio Cinema
107 Kingsland High Streetgreat independent cinema
Hackney City Farm
1a Goldsmiths RowCute little farm, great for kids and it’s free
Sightseeing
Great strip ful of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Climpson and Sons do great coffee.
There's a good fishmonger and a butcher
Go on a Saturday as they have a bustling market
1735 locals recommend
Broadway Market
Broadway MarketGreat strip ful of shops, cafes and restaurants.
Climpson and Sons do great coffee.
There's a good fishmonger and a butcher
Go on a Saturday as they have a bustling market
Go on a Sunday for the flower market. I go early or late (3pm) to avoid the crowds. They have street buskers and food stalls too
1660 locals recommend
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadGo on a Sunday for the flower market. I go early or late (3pm) to avoid the crowds. They have street buskers and food stalls too
Bermondsey Street
Bermondsey Streetgreat neigbourhood wit bars and restaurants
Free museum of toys through the ages - also a good place for kids
418 locals recommend
V&A Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath RoadFree museum of toys through the ages - also a good place for kids
Museum of the Home
136 Kingsland Road