Guidebook for a Hackney based visit to London
Food Scene
Chatsworth Road is home to many good cafes and mid-range restaurants. On Saturdays, the market has many foodie treats.
Check out the Spa Supermarket for everyday essentials and amazing flowers
The coffe is great, the cakes are better, it's got wifi and tables in the sun.
And it's just around the corner.
133 locals recommend
Violet
47 Wilton WayThe coffe is great, the cakes are better, it's got wifi and tables in the sun.
And it's just around the corner.
local Vietnamese: inexpensive and great food. walking distance
19 locals recommend
Green Papaya Vietnamese Restaurant
97 Kingsland Rdlocal Vietnamese: inexpensive and great food. walking distance
bustling saturday market: great for food, flowers, clothes, vintage. Good barbers and hairdressers on the street too,
The many cafe's and restaurants are open all week
1735 locals recommend
Broadway Market
Broadway Marketbustling saturday market: great for food, flowers, clothes, vintage. Good barbers and hairdressers on the street too,
The many cafe's and restaurants are open all week
Chatsworth Road Market
46-51 Chatsworth RdThe original famous Mangal Turkish grill. there are other branches now, and Stoke Newington is home to many other excellent turkish restaurants, but this is the famous one. look out for `Gilbert and George who like to come here
150 locals recommend
Mangal 1
10 Arcola StThe original famous Mangal Turkish grill. there are other branches now, and Stoke Newington is home to many other excellent turkish restaurants, but this is the famous one. look out for `Gilbert and George who like to come here
Drinks & Nightlife
Our local gastro pub, at the end of the road:
great food and drinks, friendly pub with tables outside
41 locals recommend
The Prince Arthur
80-82 Eversholt StOur local gastro pub, at the end of the road:
great food and drinks, friendly pub with tables outside
Very close gastropub. lively and much loved by local hipsters. Gets a bit noisy for me, but younger folk would enjoy. Pretty beer garden
147 locals recommend
The Spurstowe Arms
68 Greenwood RdVery close gastropub. lively and much loved by local hipsters. Gets a bit noisy for me, but younger folk would enjoy. Pretty beer garden
Local pub ( 5 minutes walk from home) . friendly, mixed crowd. juke box, open fire, pool table. beer garden and food.
great place to go on your own for a drink
73 locals recommend
Prince George
40 Parkholme RdLocal pub ( 5 minutes walk from home) . friendly, mixed crowd. juke box, open fire, pool table. beer garden and food.
great place to go on your own for a drink
The Rochester Castle
143-145 Stoke Newington High StGood value weather spoons pub
The Last Tuesday Society
11 Mare Stweird and wonderful cocktail bar
The stock picture is a little misleading! yes it sells pizza, but its a cocktail bar with music. there's often dancing, and it might get messy. loved by the gay community
187 locals recommend
Dalston Superstore
117 Kingsland High StThe stock picture is a little misleading! yes it sells pizza, but its a cocktail bar with music. there's often dancing, and it might get messy. loved by the gay community
Vortex
11 Gillett SquareLocal jazz bar
Local pub on London Fields. A little bit grimy, but in a great location nearby and has a huge fenced terrance overlooking London Fields. This means you can take your dog or small children with no fear of them escaping. you can even snd them to the playwark nearby and keep an eye on them from the pub terrace. In summer the ice-cream van parks nearby so you can treat your kids while you relax in the sun with a beer or a glass of wine. Also serves food
162 locals recommend
Pub On The Park
19 Martello StreetLocal pub on London Fields. A little bit grimy, but in a great location nearby and has a huge fenced terrance overlooking London Fields. This means you can take your dog or small children with no fear of them escaping. you can even snd them to the playwark nearby and keep an eye on them from the pub terrace. In summer the ice-cream van parks nearby so you can treat your kids while you relax in the sun with a beer or a glass of wine. Also serves food
Essentials
Local recommendations for those things we all need
Turkish Food Centre, Ridley Road.
Local supermarket selling fresh veg, meat, cheese, olives, herbs: organic dry food section. Great range, great value.
Otto Lenghi shops here. long opening hours
25 locals recommend
TFC Dalston
89 Ridley RdTurkish Food Centre, Ridley Road.
Local supermarket selling fresh veg, meat, cheese, olives, herbs: organic dry food section. Great range, great value.
Otto Lenghi shops here. long opening hours
Greenwood Road
Greenwood RoadLaunderette offering service washes... very friendly guy there
GREENWOOD STORE
closest convenience store: open late. good selection of organic and health foods and excellent selection of wines at reasonable prices.
location of the nearest ATM (fee £1.65)
E8 1AB
Greenwood RoadGREENWOOD STORE
closest convenience store: open late. good selection of organic and health foods and excellent selection of wines at reasonable prices.
location of the nearest ATM (fee £1.65)
There's no local department store, so for those essentials you've forgotten ( a warm coat, a swimsuit, an umberella, a corkscrew, a sandwich box or a good book) you can either trek off to Oxford Street or Westfield stratford City, or drop in to our local huge charity shop, where you can normally find anything you need without adding to the amount of products already in existence in the world.
6 locals recommend
Oxfam Dalston
514 Kingsland RdThere's no local department store, so for those essentials you've forgotten ( a warm coat, a swimsuit, an umberella, a corkscrew, a sandwich box or a good book) you can either trek off to Oxford Street or Westfield stratford City, or drop in to our local huge charity shop, where you can normally find anything you need without adding to the amount of products already in existence in the world.
Fabulous florist. Worth a look even if you don't want to buy flowers. Specialise in unusual and huge arrangements
Rebel Rebel
117 Mare StFabulous florist. Worth a look even if you don't want to buy flowers. Specialise in unusual and huge arrangements
Getting Around
There are many car pool rental possibilities around: it takes a little time to sign up, do so in advance if you can, but it's a cheap and convenient way to rent a car by the hour or by the day. Cars are located on the street in many locations there's bound to be one within 1/2 a mile.
11 locals recommend
Zipcar
There are many car pool rental possibilities around: it takes a little time to sign up, do so in advance if you can, but it's a cheap and convenient way to rent a car by the hour or by the day. Cars are located on the street in many locations there's bound to be one within 1/2 a mile.
Overground station: a quick way to link up with the tube network.
148 locals recommend
Dalston Junction station
Overground station: a quick way to link up with the tube network.
Mainline Station: goes direct in to Liverpool Street in less than 10 minutes
73 locals recommend
Hackney Downs station
Mainline Station: goes direct in to Liverpool Street in less than 10 minutes
Overground Station. good for reaching Stratford international, or Highbury and Islington to link to the underground.
10 minutes walk, or you can take a bus 2 or 3 stops from Graham Road
98 locals recommend
Hackney Central station
off Amhurst RdOverground Station. good for reaching Stratford international, or Highbury and Islington to link to the underground.
10 minutes walk, or you can take a bus 2 or 3 stops from Graham Road
the nearest bus stops are here
38 takes you to the west end, and victoria station ( it's not the quickest route to victoria, (which would be dalston junctions to highbury and islington then victoria line), but it is the easiest, especially if you are carrying luggage.. almost door to door!
other buses:
242
277
Other good places for buses are Kingsland Road and Mare Street. I like to use TFL journey planner to help me plan my travel.
Graham Road
Graham Roadthe nearest bus stops are here
38 takes you to the west end, and victoria station ( it's not the quickest route to victoria, (which would be dalston junctions to highbury and islington then victoria line), but it is the easiest, especially if you are carrying luggage.. almost door to door!
other buses:
242
277
Other good places for buses are Kingsland Road and Mare Street. I like to use TFL journey planner to help me plan my travel.
This is a minor stop on the main line train route to Liverpool Street: good to jump off here if you want to walk home across London Fields, but start your journey at Hackney Downs instead because not all trains stop here.
429 locals recommend
London Fields station
This is a minor stop on the main line train route to Liverpool Street: good to jump off here if you want to walk home across London Fields, but start your journey at Hackney Downs instead because not all trains stop here.
Entertainment & Activities
heated Lido with hot showers. gets very busy when it's sunny so go early or late... open from 6 am til 9pm
nice Cafe: Dalston Beach
591 locals recommend
London Fields
London Fields West Sideheated Lido with hot showers. gets very busy when it's sunny so go early or late... open from 6 am til 9pm
nice Cafe: Dalston Beach
Brighton
It's the easiest coastal town by train from London: great day out.
North Greenwich Pier station
Emirates Royal Docks station
27 Western GatewayAmazing free museum. My favourite place in London. Don't miss it!
183 locals recommend
Sir John Soane's Museum
13 Lincoln's Inn FieldsAmazing free museum. My favourite place in London. Don't miss it!
Dennis Severs' House
18 Folgate Stbecause it's magical
Highgate Bathing Pond
Highgate RoadKenwood Ladies' Bathing Pond
Magical garden and cafe by day, loved by families: enjoy the log burner and a sofa in the greenhouse.
At night the lanterns come out and it turns into a fairyland garden and bar. Good in summer and in winter you will need to dress warm, and they may have a blanket to lend you.
Don't miss it... you are welcome here even if you don't want to buy a drink or food,,, it's a community garden for al to enjoy. there's a really wide-ranging noticeboard where you can find details of workshops, events and complimentary healthcare practitioners
178 locals recommend
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
13 Dalston LnMagical garden and cafe by day, loved by families: enjoy the log burner and a sofa in the greenhouse.
At night the lanterns come out and it turns into a fairyland garden and bar. Good in summer and in winter you will need to dress warm, and they may have a blanket to lend you.
Don't miss it... you are welcome here even if you don't want to buy a drink or food,,, it's a community garden for al to enjoy. there's a really wide-ranging noticeboard where you can find details of workshops, events and complimentary healthcare practitioners
Shopping and Markets
My favourite shops, shopping areas and markets
Sunday Morning market: go for flowers, or just to marvel and enjoy the bustle. great place for breakfast/coffee and quirky & vintage shopping
1660 locals recommend
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadSunday Morning market: go for flowers, or just to marvel and enjoy the bustle. great place for breakfast/coffee and quirky & vintage shopping
Because it's the best place to get a feel for Hackney's Cultural mix.
And for the Ararat Bakery flatbread
And the Chinese man who offers TCM herbs and chair massages at very reasonable cost
And the essential Oils and soaps
And the Incense Man
And fresh fish
And every vegetable you can imagine
And very cheap clothes and household goods
7 locals recommend
Ridley Road
Ridley RoadBecause it's the best place to get a feel for Hackney's Cultural mix.
And for the Ararat Bakery flatbread
And the Chinese man who offers TCM herbs and chair massages at very reasonable cost
And the essential Oils and soaps
And the Incense Man
And fresh fish
And every vegetable you can imagine
And very cheap clothes and household goods
Netil Market
13-23 Westgate StSunday morning market... small and not too crowded;
Free range meat, eggs and pies,
Fresh fish and oysters from Gary the Fisherman and Oyster Farmer ( sometimes only pulled out of the sea the same morning)
Home-made chakra balancing chocolates with essential oils and crystal vibrations from Maria the Mystic
Amazing organic vegetables at two different stalls
Fresh-pressed apple juice straight from the orchard
Coffee
Kombucha
Bread and cakes
Bikes and Bike spares at very reasonable prices
random pop-up offerings. starts about 8 am, closed by 2pm
London Fields Sunday Market
Westgate StreetSunday morning market... small and not too crowded;
Free range meat, eggs and pies,
Fresh fish and oysters from Gary the Fisherman and Oyster Farmer ( sometimes only pulled out of the sea the same morning)
Home-made chakra balancing chocolates with essential oils and crystal vibrations from Maria the Mystic
Amazing organic vegetables at two different stalls
Fresh-pressed apple juice straight from the orchard
Coffee
Kombucha
Bread and cakes
Bikes and Bike spares at very reasonable prices
random pop-up offerings. starts about 8 am, closed by 2pm
Easily accessible from Hackney Central to Stratford station: huge shopping mall, near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
For the full Stratford E15 experience, don't forget to pop into the old stratford shopping centre on the other side of the road, where you can find low cost options, including a chinese food supermarket and Poundland
1214 locals recommend
Westfield Stratford City
157 Montfichet RdEasily accessible from Hackney Central to Stratford station: huge shopping mall, near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
For the full Stratford E15 experience, don't forget to pop into the old stratford shopping centre on the other side of the road, where you can find low cost options, including a chinese food supermarket and Poundland
Arts & Culture
Sir John Soane's Museum
13 Lincoln's Inn FieldsBecause it's amazing
Hackney Empire
291 Mare StOne of Londons most iconic theatres and it's on your doorstep
Museum of the Home
136 Kingsland RoadNational Trust - Sutton House
2 and 4 Homerton High StArcola Bar
24 Ashwin St