Guidebook for Hackney
Essentials
Organic-focused medium sized food shop. Generally quite good, though never cheap. Caters well for veggies / vegans. Closes late evening.
113 locals recommend
The Grocery
52-56 Kingsland RdOrganic-focused medium sized food shop. Generally quite good, though never cheap. Caters well for veggies / vegans. Closes late evening.
Food Scene
Fabulous, fresh Vietnamese. 5 Star TimeOut. Bring your own alcohol at no charge. Mains are ~£7. Try the Salt and Pepper Tofu for starter, as well as the prawn fresh rolls. Open lunch until around 11pm
77 locals recommend
Mien Tay
106-108 Kingsland RdFabulous, fresh Vietnamese. 5 Star TimeOut. Bring your own alcohol at no charge. Mains are ~£7. Try the Salt and Pepper Tofu for starter, as well as the prawn fresh rolls. Open lunch until around 11pm
Great Vietnamese, more elaborate presentation and higher price. Open from lunch until around 11pm.
59 locals recommend
Viet Grill
58 Kingsland RdGreat Vietnamese, more elaborate presentation and higher price. Open from lunch until around 11pm.
Great Moroccan food. Try the lamb tagine, delicious slow cooked law that comes off the bone like butter. (mains £10). Cheapest red (£15) is a great table wine. Outdoor area to smoke tobacco water pipe
Bogayo
320 Old StGreat Moroccan food. Try the lamb tagine, delicious slow cooked law that comes off the bone like butter. (mains £10). Cheapest red (£15) is a great table wine. Outdoor area to smoke tobacco water pipe
"asparagus soup, rabbit brawn and cornichons, or peas, broad beans and rocket, before ordering roast chicken, pearl barley and aïoli, or halibut, . . . –4 Star Time Out. Noon–3pm, Mon-Fri. No dinner.
80 locals recommend
Rochelle Canteen
16 Playground Gardens"asparagus soup, rabbit brawn and cornichons, or peas, broad beans and rocket, before ordering roast chicken, pearl barley and aïoli, or halibut, . . . –4 Star Time Out. Noon–3pm, Mon-Fri. No dinner.
Café tied to a community operated farm. 10am – 3pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Weekends.
269 locals recommend
Hackney City Farm
1a Goldsmiths RowCafé tied to a community operated farm. 10am – 3pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Weekends.
Easy pizza / Italian take-away, and you can eat in at the somewhat ‘too cool for school’ establishment next door. Check the chalkboard menu at the take-away portion for specials.
25 locals recommend
Amici Miei
Easy pizza / Italian take-away, and you can eat in at the somewhat ‘too cool for school’ establishment next door. Check the chalkboard menu at the take-away portion for specials.
Cheap food, brought to you by students learning the culinary arts. Held them learn, deliciously. Open September – June, Monday – Friday noon – 2p and 5pm-9pm.
6 locals recommend
OKN1
40 Hoxton StCheap food, brought to you by students learning the culinary arts. Held them learn, deliciously. Open September – June, Monday – Friday noon – 2p and 5pm-9pm.
Slightly overpriced diner style food. 8am – 10pm + weekdays, 9am – midnight weekends.
172 locals recommend
The Breakfast Club
1 Crossrail PlSlightly overpriced diner style food. 8am – 10pm + weekdays, 9am – midnight weekends.
SAF
152-154 Curtain Rd Vegetarian. Mains at £15. 4 Stars Time Out. Open Lunch and Dinner.
Top of Bricklane, 24 hours. Salt beef sandwich on rye for £4.30, beigel and lox £1.80, strudel £0.50 and lots in between!
236 locals recommend
Beigel Bake
159 Brick LnTop of Bricklane, 24 hours. Salt beef sandwich on rye for £4.30, beigel and lox £1.80, strudel £0.50 and lots in between!
‘Tail to snout eating.’ Lots of traditional British food, with an upscale twist. Mains around £12. Great selection of wines, available cheaply for take away, or on premises at a mark up.
136 locals recommend
St. JOHN Restaurant
26 St John St‘Tail to snout eating.’ Lots of traditional British food, with an upscale twist. Mains around £12. Great selection of wines, available cheaply for take away, or on premises at a mark up.
Pakistani. Large bustling restaurant, where you can bring your own alcohol free. I only order starters (Mutton tikka, chiken tikka, Panneer, and roti). Easily stuff a hungry hippo here for under £10.
381 locals recommend
Tayyabs
83-89 Fieldgate StPakistani. Large bustling restaurant, where you can bring your own alcohol free. I only order starters (Mutton tikka, chiken tikka, Panneer, and roti). Easily stuff a hungry hippo here for under £10.
Drinks & Nightlife
Pub / large food selection / Sunday Roasts / outdoor seating. Good beer selection too, and friendly staff.
36 locals recommend
Strongroom Bar
120-124 Curtain RdPub / large food selection / Sunday Roasts / outdoor seating. Good beer selection too, and friendly staff.
Relaxed place for a pint. Fireplace in the winter, roof garden in the summer. Can get busy weekend evenings. Furniture from a 70’s student flat, multiple levels of sitting, feels cavernous.
179 locals recommend
The Red Lion
Crete Hall RoadRelaxed place for a pint. Fireplace in the winter, roof garden in the summer. Can get busy weekend evenings. Furniture from a 70’s student flat, multiple levels of sitting, feels cavernous.
One of the best clubs since Sosho burned. Not always open so check, usually Midnight-3am is prime time. Shoreditch types, though not as haggard as average. Most people have jobs but wouldn’t admit it
96 locals recommend
XOYO
32-37 Cowper StOne of the best clubs since Sosho burned. Not always open so check, usually Midnight-3am is prime time. Shoreditch types, though not as haggard as average. Most people have jobs but wouldn’t admit it
Great place to read a newspaper with a pint on a Sunday. Clientele do try a bit too hard with their frocks, but somehow the charm shines through.
38 locals recommend
Commercial Tavern
142 Commercial StGreat place to read a newspaper with a pint on a Sunday. Clientele do try a bit too hard with their frocks, but somehow the charm shines through.
One of the less offensive places in Hoxton Square. Food mediocre. Nice sitting area during the day, can get busy at night. Some performances. Occasionally hosts Ukulele Karaoke
18 locals recommend
Zigfrid von Underbelly
11 Hoxton SquareOne of the less offensive places in Hoxton Square. Food mediocre. Nice sitting area during the day, can get busy at night. Some performances. Occasionally hosts Ukulele Karaoke
Owned by Duvel (Belgian Beer Co). Large performance space, top quality beers. They are commercialising it more, so it has begun to have queues at night, but a top pick particularly during the day time
Bar Music Hall
134 Curtain RdOwned by Duvel (Belgian Beer Co). Large performance space, top quality beers. They are commercialising it more, so it has begun to have queues at night, but a top pick particularly during the day time
A fairly well known, legitimate bar / club place that people outside of East London may have heard of. Often charges cover. Lots of music, interior space, expensive cocktails (£10). Open fairly late.
88 locals recommend
Cargo
83 Rivington StA fairly well known, legitimate bar / club place that people outside of East London may have heard of. Often charges cover. Lots of music, interior space, expensive cocktails (£10). Open fairly late.
CATCH
22 Kingsland RdJust down the road, often have people queuing to get in, and open fairly late.
A pre-drinks gay place in the neighbourhood. Most popular at 8pm – 11pm when it closes. Expect some weird outfits, and a somewhat mixed crowd. Drinks are overpriced, particularly mixed drinks.
28 locals recommend
The George and Dragon
A pre-drinks gay place in the neighbourhood. Most popular at 8pm – 11pm when it closes. Expect some weird outfits, and a somewhat mixed crowd. Drinks are overpriced, particularly mixed drinks.
Popular, gay. Got name-checked by Bloc Party in “On.” Less mixed crowd, late 20s to early 40s age. Get there before 11.30pm or so as they charge £5 cover after that normally. Minimal chic. Bring cash
10 locals recommend
The Joiners Arms
35 Denmark HillPopular, gay. Got name-checked by Bloc Party in “On.” Less mixed crowd, late 20s to early 40s age. Get there before 11.30pm or so as they charge £5 cover after that normally. Minimal chic. Bring cash
Late night (6am), gay. After midnight, you will likely have to queue. Can be as much as £10, save w/ guest list. Usually live DJ sets. Underground location is claustrophobic, but energetic crowd.
217 City Rd
217 City RoadLate night (6am), gay. After midnight, you will likely have to queue. Can be as much as £10, save w/ guest list. Usually live DJ sets. Underground location is claustrophobic, but energetic crowd.
Everything Else
Sunday 8am to 3pm ish. Lots of fun! http://www.columbiaroad.info/flowermarket.html
1660 locals recommend
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadSunday 8am to 3pm ish. Lots of fun! http://www.columbiaroad.info/flowermarket.html
Market most days of the week, check for more info http://www.oldspitalfieldsmarket.com/ . Large portions of it are newly done-up, sparkling and news but lost a bit of charm in the process.
117 locals recommend
Spitalfields Market
65 Brushfield StMarket most days of the week, check for more info http://www.oldspitalfieldsmarket.com/ . Large portions of it are newly done-up, sparkling and news but lost a bit of charm in the process.
9am to 5pm on Saturdays. Tasty cheese and all sorts of sundry items at 100+ stalls. http://www.broadwaymarket.co.uk/
1735 locals recommend
Broadway Market
Broadway Market9am to 5pm on Saturdays. Tasty cheese and all sorts of sundry items at 100+ stalls. http://www.broadwaymarket.co.uk/