Guidebook for London
Drinks & Nightlife
A new venue in Hackney, right next to the train station. They host indie gigs and club nights. But the restaurant is also delicious - serving up Nordic dishes and a variety of gourmet burgers.
148 locals recommend
Oslo Hackney
1A Amhurst RdA new venue in Hackney, right next to the train station. They host indie gigs and club nights. But the restaurant is also delicious - serving up Nordic dishes and a variety of gourmet burgers.
Quite new wine bar and deli, very close to our house. I've not been here yet, but I've heard mixed things.
24 locals recommend
Verden
Quite new wine bar and deli, very close to our house. I've not been here yet, but I've heard mixed things.
LGBTQ+ orientated bar with club nights. Has been a favourite of mine for years
187 locals recommend
Dalston Superstore
117 Kingsland High StLGBTQ+ orientated bar with club nights. Has been a favourite of mine for years
Gentrification at it's finest. Carribean-themed bar with a great atmosphere. Hipster central.
134 locals recommend
Ridley Road Market (Stop P) station
Gentrification at it's finest. Carribean-themed bar with a great atmosphere. Hipster central.
This former builders merchants has been transformed into a cosy and friendly local bar. Live acoustic sessions on Wednesdays and a pianist on Thursdays.
16 locals recommend
Biddle Bros Builders
This former builders merchants has been transformed into a cosy and friendly local bar. Live acoustic sessions on Wednesdays and a pianist on Thursdays.
The Clapton Hart
231 Lower Clapton RdFriendly local pub, serving craft beer and hearty food.
Stylishly renovated Victorian pub with a gastro menu, an upstairs dining room and outdoor terrace. Cosy and overlooking the canal!
104 locals recommend
The Princess Of Wales
27 Villiers StStylishly renovated Victorian pub with a gastro menu, an upstairs dining room and outdoor terrace. Cosy and overlooking the canal!
Food Scene
The perfect place for a romantic meal for two, hidden away so it's only visited by locals. Serving up great Georgian food (such as stews, and cheesebread) - bring your own bottle of wine for free.
50 locals recommend
Little Georgia Hackney
87 Goldsmiths RowThe perfect place for a romantic meal for two, hidden away so it's only visited by locals. Serving up great Georgian food (such as stews, and cheesebread) - bring your own bottle of wine for free.
Sleek French restaurant. L’Entrepôt is also a wine bar offering around 30 wines by the glass at any one time.
74 locals recommend
L'Entrepot
Sleek French restaurant. L’Entrepôt is also a wine bar offering around 30 wines by the glass at any one time.
Quirky French restaurant, sometimes with live music. Bit pricey, but if you like French food, it's amazing
11 locals recommend
Oui Monsieur
182 Stoke Newington RoadQuirky French restaurant, sometimes with live music. Bit pricey, but if you like French food, it's amazing
Best street for eating and drinking in all of London. From the buzzed-about Ottolenghi, to perennial favourite Le Mercury, and turkish food in Cafe Gallipoli. For bars: John Salt, The Bull, Taproom
193 locals recommend
Upper Street
Upper StreetBest street for eating and drinking in all of London. From the buzzed-about Ottolenghi, to perennial favourite Le Mercury, and turkish food in Cafe Gallipoli. For bars: John Salt, The Bull, Taproom
What it is: Coffee shop with large windows and minimal furniture. Coffee-focussed with food such as red pepper and prosciutto coddled egg, and spinach, chestnut mushrooms and comte.
49 locals recommend
119 Lower Clapton
119 Lower Clapton Rd What it is: Coffee shop with large windows and minimal furniture. Coffee-focussed with food such as red pepper and prosciutto coddled egg, and spinach, chestnut mushrooms and comte.
Scandinavian-influenced cafe and cuisine popular with locals. Great for a Nordic-style breakfast or freshly-ground coffee.
62 locals recommend
Cooper and Wolf
145 Chatsworth RoadScandinavian-influenced cafe and cuisine popular with locals. Great for a Nordic-style breakfast or freshly-ground coffee.
LARDO
201 Richmond RdPizza etc. Very good if you are hanging around Hackney for the cinema.
Sodo Pizza Clapton
126 Upper Clapton RdGreat pizza and surroundings.
One of a growing number of hip little cafés that have been popping up in unlikely Hackney locations
55 locals recommend
Pacific Social Club
8 Clarence RdOne of a growing number of hip little cafés that have been popping up in unlikely Hackney locations
Black Cat café
76A Clarence Rd100% vegan cafe.
Independent cafe with mid-twentieth century, northern European inspired menu. Breakfast/brunch is popular with eggs benedict, eggs florentine etc.
18 locals recommend
Dreyfus Cafe
19 Lower Clapton RoadIndependent cafe with mid-twentieth century, northern European inspired menu. Breakfast/brunch is popular with eggs benedict, eggs florentine etc.
L' Epicerie 56 London
56 Chatsworth Rddelicatessen that serves coffees and pastries
I think this is the best food in the area. European cusine in atmospheric surroundings.
68 locals recommend
The Elephants Head
43 Lower Clapton RdI think this is the best food in the area. European cusine in atmospheric surroundings.
Essentials
Our local shop is very different from a regular off license. It's as much a place for socialising as it is for shopping. Pick up your organic groceries, and get a coffee or hot food whilst you do it!
96 locals recommend
Palm 2
156 Lower Clapton RdOur local shop is very different from a regular off license. It's as much a place for socialising as it is for shopping. Pick up your organic groceries, and get a coffee or hot food whilst you do it!
Cheaper than Palm 2, but much more generic. It's small for a supermarket, but it has everything you need.
163 locals recommend
Tesco Express
82-84 Forest RdCheaper than Palm 2, but much more generic. It's small for a supermarket, but it has everything you need.
A big supermarket if you need it, with all the groceries you'll ever need. Reasonable prices.
89 locals recommend
Tesco Superstore
55 Morning LnA big supermarket if you need it, with all the groceries you'll ever need. Reasonable prices.
Shopping
If you like alcohol, you've come to the right place. Clapton Craft have over 300 local and imported craft beers from London and the UK; Belgium; the Netherlands; Scandinavia; and the USA.
32 locals recommend
Clapton Craft
97 Lower Clapton RdIf you like alcohol, you've come to the right place. Clapton Craft have over 300 local and imported craft beers from London and the UK; Belgium; the Netherlands; Scandinavia; and the USA.
If you really like shopping, this is the largest shopping centre in Europe, mixing UK high street with high-end retailers. Easy to get to on the bus (anything to 'Stratford') or London Overground.
17 locals recommend
Aspers Casino Westfield Stratford City
312 Montfichet RoadIf you really like shopping, this is the largest shopping centre in Europe, mixing UK high street with high-end retailers. Easy to get to on the bus (anything to 'Stratford') or London Overground.
Explore this road on the other side of our house if you're looking for hip coffee houses, bakeries or restaurants. There is a market here every Sunday from 11am-4pm too!
185 locals recommend
Chatsworth Road
Chatsworth RoadExplore this road on the other side of our house if you're looking for hip coffee houses, bakeries or restaurants. There is a market here every Sunday from 11am-4pm too!
If Palm 2 is not good enough - try this. Clapton is a perfect area for vegetarians and those who like to eat organically.
9 locals recommend
Organic & Natural
191 Lower Clapton RdIf Palm 2 is not good enough - try this. Clapton is a perfect area for vegetarians and those who like to eat organically.
Hip market every Saturday, with plenty of hot food and vintage clothing. The road has plenty of pubs and food establishments all week longh too.
1735 locals recommend
Broadway Market
Broadway MarketHip market every Saturday, with plenty of hot food and vintage clothing. The road has plenty of pubs and food establishments all week longh too.
Burberry Outlet
29-31 Chatham PlDiscounted outlet store from Burberry - sometimes good bargains.
Sightseeing
London's overlooked river, the Lea is beautiful to walk or cycle up, with large fields and wetlands incorporated, you feel in the countryside only 10 minutes from our house.
22 locals recommend
River Lea
London's overlooked river, the Lea is beautiful to walk or cycle up, with large fields and wetlands incorporated, you feel in the countryside only 10 minutes from our house.
Take a stroll along the beautiful canal in the daytime. See all of the houseboats and discover a part of London tourists always overlook. Join it in Hackney and walk to Islington, Camden and Kings X.
80 locals recommend
London Canal Museum
12/13 New Wharf RdTake a stroll along the beautiful canal in the daytime. See all of the houseboats and discover a part of London tourists always overlook. Join it in Hackney and walk to Islington, Camden and Kings X.
At the corner of Broadway market, this is the most convienent place to hire a bike. There are docking stations across London, and plenty near the canal - so take a ride down to Regents Park or Camden!
11 locals recommend
Regent's Row
Regent's RowAt the corner of Broadway market, this is the most convienent place to hire a bike. There are docking stations across London, and plenty near the canal - so take a ride down to Regents Park or Camden!
Everything Else
Use this train station if you are going to the City of London (not central, but the banking district). Southbound to Liverpool Street.
22 locals recommend
Clapton station
Upper Clapton RoadUse this train station if you are going to the City of London (not central, but the banking district). Southbound to Liverpool Street.
Main station with services to Stratford going east, or Highbury & Islington going west for interchange with the tube (Victoria line). Services also go to Dalston, West Brompton and Hampstead Heath.
98 locals recommend
Hackney Central station
off Amhurst RdMain station with services to Stratford going east, or Highbury & Islington going west for interchange with the tube (Victoria line). Services also go to Dalston, West Brompton and Hampstead Heath.
The Pizza Man
71 Lower Clapton RdGood takeaway pizza
Homerton University Hospital
Homerton RowHospital - just in case!
Arts & Culture
One of the best cinemas in London, with a great bar attached. It shows mainly arthouse and foreign language cinema. But big releases from Hollywood also are on the programme.
445 locals recommend
Hackney Picturehouse
270 Mare StOne of the best cinemas in London, with a great bar attached. It shows mainly arthouse and foreign language cinema. But big releases from Hollywood also are on the programme.
Theatre with a great schedule and reasonable admission prices. Everything from music, comedy, family shows and opera.
202 locals recommend
Hackney Empire
291 Mare StTheatre with a great schedule and reasonable admission prices. Everything from music, comedy, family shows and opera.
Theatre standing on reclaimed space, formerly a paint factory. Great seasons (and sometimes my work host music nights in the bar). Explore Dalston if you can!
199 locals recommend
Arcola Bar
24 Ashwin StTheatre standing on reclaimed space, formerly a paint factory. Great seasons (and sometimes my work host music nights in the bar). Explore Dalston if you can!