Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Best cup of coffee in the neighborhood. Ask for a flat white!
122 locals recommend
Climpson & Sons Café
67 Broadway MarketBest cup of coffee in the neighborhood. Ask for a flat white!
Perfect for brunch in the park with plenty of outdoor space and views of the lake. After lunch, rent one of the pleasure boats and take it for a spin!
1666 locals recommend
Pavilion Cafe
Old Ford RoadPerfect for brunch in the park with plenty of outdoor space and views of the lake. After lunch, rent one of the pleasure boats and take it for a spin!
Incredible open-plan space which is great for a nice and trendy dinner night out or a light afternoon lunch. Still quite hidden and tucked away from the crowds--visit before it gets too popular!
20 locals recommend
The Laundry Building
2-18 Warburton RdIncredible open-plan space which is great for a nice and trendy dinner night out or a light afternoon lunch. Still quite hidden and tucked away from the crowds--visit before it gets too popular!
Delicious and affordable thin-crust pizzas. Avoid the queues and order takeaway and eat it in the park instead.
561 locals recommend
Franco Manca
52 Broadway MarketDelicious and affordable thin-crust pizzas. Avoid the queues and order takeaway and eat it in the park instead.
My favorite local gastropub. Warm and cozy inside serving up good drinks and food. Outdoor seating available.
95 locals recommend
The Hemingway Public House
84 Victoria Park RdMy favorite local gastropub. Warm and cozy inside serving up good drinks and food. Outdoor seating available.
Don't let the humble exterior or takeaway menu fool you. This place serves up tasty and authentic Chinese food if you ask for the real thing.
New Tastes
183 Mare StDon't let the humble exterior or takeaway menu fool you. This place serves up tasty and authentic Chinese food if you ask for the real thing.
Of the many Vietnamese restaurants in the area, this one has long been the best.
39 locals recommend
Tre Viet Hackney
245-249 Mare StOf the many Vietnamese restaurants in the area, this one has long been the best.
A proper Turkish restaurant that serves up great food with generous portions.
21 locals recommend
Tad Restaurant - Charcoal Grill
261 Mare StA proper Turkish restaurant that serves up great food with generous portions.
On a nice day, a pleasant walk along the canal towards Dalston brings you to the original restaurant/cafe pioneer. Plenty of other eating and drinking options in the area.
216 locals recommend
Towpath Café
42 De Beauvoir CresOn a nice day, a pleasant walk along the canal towards Dalston brings you to the original restaurant/cafe pioneer. Plenty of other eating and drinking options in the area.
No trip to East London is complete without sampling one of the legendary salt-beef beigels (or for a more authentic variation, try it on rye bread)
236 locals recommend
Beigel Bake
159 Brick LnNo trip to East London is complete without sampling one of the legendary salt-beef beigels (or for a more authentic variation, try it on rye bread)
Got a sweet tooth? The cake selection at this cute little cafe tucked along the picturesque Wilton Way is hard to say no to.
133 locals recommend
Violet
47 Wilton WayGot a sweet tooth? The cake selection at this cute little cafe tucked along the picturesque Wilton Way is hard to say no to.
Serving up delicious and unfussy French food paired with great wines. One of the best restaurants in the area by far.
162 locals recommend
Brawn
49 Columbia RdServing up delicious and unfussy French food paired with great wines. One of the best restaurants in the area by far.
London's best Indian restaurant has built it's reputation on spicy curries, smoky chargrilled meats, and affordable prices. Come here early to avoid the inevitably long queues.
381 locals recommend
Tayyabs
83-89 Fieldgate StLondon's best Indian restaurant has built it's reputation on spicy curries, smoky chargrilled meats, and affordable prices. Come here early to avoid the inevitably long queues.
If you're keen to explore more of the hipster neighborhood of Dalston, Mangal 1 (and it's sister restaurant Mangal 2) are the cornerstones of Turkish cuisine in the area.
150 locals recommend
Mangal 1
10 Arcola StIf you're keen to explore more of the hipster neighborhood of Dalston, Mangal 1 (and it's sister restaurant Mangal 2) are the cornerstones of Turkish cuisine in the area.
Hidden on a side street in the industrial units close to the London Fields rail station is this coffee roastery-turned-restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating and a tasty menu.
37 locals recommend
Brat x Climpson's Arch
374 Helmsley PlHidden on a side street in the industrial units close to the London Fields rail station is this coffee roastery-turned-restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating and a tasty menu.
Entertainment & Activities
Lovely heated outdoor swimming pool open year-round. Come to enjoy the sun, splash around, or do some serious laps.
591 locals recommend
London Fields
London Fields West SideLovely heated outdoor swimming pool open year-round. Come to enjoy the sun, splash around, or do some serious laps.
Great museum to let the little ones catch a glimpse into the past. Plenty of activities during the weekend and weekdays.
418 locals recommend
V&A Museum of Childhood
Cambridge Heath RoadGreat museum to let the little ones catch a glimpse into the past. Plenty of activities during the weekend and weekdays.
Plenty of green open space to run around. Look out for the award-winning V&A Playground and the waterpark/splash pools open during the summer.
1666 locals recommend
Pavilion Cafe
Old Ford RoadPlenty of green open space to run around. Look out for the award-winning V&A Playground and the waterpark/splash pools open during the summer.
Historic theater with a diverse program of events including live music and pantomime.
202 locals recommend
Hackney Empire
291 Mare StHistoric theater with a diverse program of events including live music and pantomime.
Come to see the farm animals, stay to eat at the cafe with their good food and generous portions.
269 locals recommend
Hackney City Farm
1a Goldsmiths RowCome to see the farm animals, stay to eat at the cafe with their good food and generous portions.
Drinks & Nightlife
Off Broadway
63-65 Broadway MarketBe careful, they pour the stiffest drinks in the entire area.
East London's most notorious late-night going out venue. Almost everyone ends up here at some point in the night--whether they like it or not!
55 locals recommend
The Dolphin Tavern
44 Red Lion StEast London's most notorious late-night going out venue. Almost everyone ends up here at some point in the night--whether they like it or not!
Underground nightclub in Dalston good place for dancing and people watching.
42 locals recommend
The Alibi
91 Kingsland High StreetUnderground nightclub in Dalston good place for dancing and people watching.
Dream Bags Jaguar Shoes
32-36 Kingsland RdBest bar in the heart of Shoreditch's nightlife scene.
A summertime pop-up restaurant overlooking London Fields. Good food and a nice place to spend a lazy sunny afternoon.
11 locals recommend
Coppa Bar & BBQ
A summertime pop-up restaurant overlooking London Fields. Good food and a nice place to spend a lazy sunny afternoon.
Serving up small sharing plates of food and good drinks, Mr. Buckley's is a sociable and tasty place to start a night of drinking.
41 locals recommend
Mr. Buckley's
277 Hackney RoadServing up small sharing plates of food and good drinks, Mr. Buckley's is a sociable and tasty place to start a night of drinking.
A pub with a music venue / dance floor out back. Lights are dim and the crowd is good looking. What's not to love?
79 locals recommend
The Shacklewell Arms
71 Shacklewell LnA pub with a music venue / dance floor out back. Lights are dim and the crowd is good looking. What's not to love?
This pub has been the cornerstone of the Broadway Market social scene for many many years. It's recent renovation has upped the glam factor, but don't let that deter you from enjoying a pint.
150 locals recommend
The Cat & Mutton
76 Broadway MarketThis pub has been the cornerstone of the Broadway Market social scene for many many years. It's recent renovation has upped the glam factor, but don't let that deter you from enjoying a pint.
Tucked away on a quiet street off Hackney Road, the Sebright is typically heaving on a weekend night with folks enjoying their pints and the famous Lucky Chip burgers.
59 locals recommend
Sebright Arms
31-35 Coate StTucked away on a quiet street off Hackney Road, the Sebright is typically heaving on a weekend night with folks enjoying their pints and the famous Lucky Chip burgers.
A great bar/nightclub with a varying calendar of live music and danceable DJs.
148 locals recommend
Oslo Hackney
1A Amhurst RdA great bar/nightclub with a varying calendar of live music and danceable DJs.
A down-to-earth East End boozer which serves up honest ales and very good Thai food of all things.
302 locals recommend
The Dove
24-28 Broadway MarketA down-to-earth East End boozer which serves up honest ales and very good Thai food of all things.
A great pub for a late afternoon Sunday roast after you've had your fill of the flowers.
175 locals recommend
The Royal Oak
73 Columbia RdA great pub for a late afternoon Sunday roast after you've had your fill of the flowers.
Everything Else
Post Office
Rosebery AvenueLocal post office branch tucked into the back of a stationers shop.
HSBC
465 Bethnal Green RdNearest bank for foreign cash card ATM withdrawals.
HSBC
465 Bethnal Green RdNearest bank for foreign cash card ATM withdrawals.
Great place to pick up a nice bottle of wine and sample a craft beer.
36 locals recommend
Bottle Apostle
95 Lauriston RdGreat place to pick up a nice bottle of wine and sample a craft beer.
Sightseeing
A beautiful way to spend a Sunday morning and afternoon.
1660 locals recommend
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadA beautiful way to spend a Sunday morning and afternoon.
A brilliant local food and vintage market. Open Saturdays 9:30am - 4:30pm. Look out for McSweeny's and try a Macbeth Toastie (grilled cheese and haggis sandwich).
1735 locals recommend
Broadway Market
Broadway MarketA brilliant local food and vintage market. Open Saturdays 9:30am - 4:30pm. Look out for McSweeny's and try a Macbeth Toastie (grilled cheese and haggis sandwich).
An offshoot of Saturday's Broadway Market, the food options here are particularly good. Try the pork buns at Bao Bar or one of the famous burgers at Lucky Chip.
60 locals recommend
Netil Market
13-23 Westgate StAn offshoot of Saturday's Broadway Market, the food options here are particularly good. Try the pork buns at Bao Bar or one of the famous burgers at Lucky Chip.
On Sundays, Brick Lane turns into a vintage, flea, and foodie market. Great for a leisurely stroll to grab a bite to eat and people watch.
878 locals recommend
Brick Lane
Brick LaneOn Sundays, Brick Lane turns into a vintage, flea, and foodie market. Great for a leisurely stroll to grab a bite to eat and people watch.
Essentials
The Deli Downstairs
211 Victoria Park RdGourmet deli and groceries.
Ginger Pig
99 Lauriston RdOne of the best gourmet butchers in London.
A well-stocked grocery store and off-license open late. The Turkish proprietors are friendly and much loved in the neighborhood.
13 locals recommend
Umut Supermarket
61-63 Westgate StA well-stocked grocery store and off-license open late. The Turkish proprietors are friendly and much loved in the neighborhood.
A great fishmonger supplying fresh and sustainably sourced fish. Closed on Mondays.
88 locals recommend
Sutton and Sons Fish & Chips
90 Stoke Newington High StreetA great fishmonger supplying fresh and sustainably sourced fish. Closed on Mondays.
Arts & Culture
Movie theater showing all the latest releases. Good cafe for a bite to eat before and afterwards as well.
445 locals recommend
Hackney Picturehouse
270 Mare StMovie theater showing all the latest releases. Good cafe for a bite to eat before and afterwards as well.
A movie theatre and event space combined. Good place to catch a pre or post-dinner flick if you're down in the Shoreditch area.
260 locals recommend
Rich Mix
35-47 Bethnal Green RdA movie theatre and event space combined. Good place to catch a pre or post-dinner flick if you're down in the Shoreditch area.