Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Delicious coffee and food in a cool setting shared with a design firm. Also a great place to work.
36 locals recommend
The Common E2
53 Old Bethnal Green RdDelicious coffee and food in a cool setting shared with a design firm. Also a great place to work.
If you're ready to (really) splash out on a really beautiful dinner, Jason Atherton's The Typing Room is just a 5min walk away
70 locals recommend
Typing Room
Patriot SquareIf you're ready to (really) splash out on a really beautiful dinner, Jason Atherton's The Typing Room is just a 5min walk away
For an inventive, seasonal menu (and great, unusual wine list) in a lovely sunny dining room
162 locals recommend
Brawn
49 Columbia RdFor an inventive, seasonal menu (and great, unusual wine list) in a lovely sunny dining room
Great coffee shop and food spot, perfect for brunch or a work session, and with regular art shows to boot
32 locals recommend
Long White Cloud
151 Hackney RdGreat coffee shop and food spot, perfect for brunch or a work session, and with regular art shows to boot
Our favourite stop for breakfast/brunch – theirs is one of the best around and really reasonably priced, and the staff are lovely (cash only though)
63 locals recommend
Hackney Bureau
3 Mare StOur favourite stop for breakfast/brunch – theirs is one of the best around and really reasonably priced, and the staff are lovely (cash only though)
Market Cafe
2 Broadway MarketA nice spot by the canal for a drink and a snack or dinner
A must-stop spot if you're taking a sunny stroll down the canal – delicious food and snacks (and great breakfasts/brunches) while you watch the ducks and runners go by
216 locals recommend
Towpath Café
42 De Beauvoir CresA must-stop spot if you're taking a sunny stroll down the canal – delicious food and snacks (and great breakfasts/brunches) while you watch the ducks and runners go by
Lovely, well-reviewed restaurant in an old Victorian school with a sunny courtyard and simple but delicious menu (daytime only)
80 locals recommend
Rochelle Canteen
16 Playground GardensLovely, well-reviewed restaurant in an old Victorian school with a sunny courtyard and simple but delicious menu (daytime only)
A traditional British pub that's had a bit of a makeover and recently took on a high-end chef. Delicious (and very well-reviewed) British food in a wood-panelled dining room, and good bar snacks/beers
95 locals recommend
Marksman Public House
254 Hackney RdA traditional British pub that's had a bit of a makeover and recently took on a high-end chef. Delicious (and very well-reviewed) British food in a wood-panelled dining room, and good bar snacks/beers
Low cost modern Thai from Alan Yau (of Hakkasan, Yauatcha et al) – lots of delicious fresh dishes (they also deliver via Deliveroo)
36 locals recommend
Busaba Shoreditch
36 Bethnal Green RdLow cost modern Thai from Alan Yau (of Hakkasan, Yauatcha et al) – lots of delicious fresh dishes (they also deliver via Deliveroo)
24 hour bagels! Need we say more. This place has been going since 1977 and is a bit of a local legend.
236 locals recommend
Beigel Bake
159 Brick Ln24 hour bagels! Need we say more. This place has been going since 1977 and is a bit of a local legend.
This little cafe is a taste of the old East End: a 1900 diner with formica tables and stained glass. The food is of the greasy spoon variety – huge english breakfasts etc – but it's a great place to stop if you want an authentic London 'caff' experience.
160 locals recommend
E Pellicci
332 Bethnal Green RdThis little cafe is a taste of the old East End: a 1900 diner with formica tables and stained glass. The food is of the greasy spoon variety – huge english breakfasts etc – but it's a great place to stop if you want an authentic London 'caff' experience.
Fuckoffee
429 Bethnal Green RdCool little coffee shop
Fun rustic cafe just inside the Hackney City Farm. Lots of tasty dishes using local, seasonable produce. We especially like going for their huge delicious breakfasts/brunches, but they also do lots of lunch dishes, home-made cakes, Sunday roasts etc etc.
22 locals recommend
Frizzante
1a Goldsmiths RowFun rustic cafe just inside the Hackney City Farm. Lots of tasty dishes using local, seasonable produce. We especially like going for their huge delicious breakfasts/brunches, but they also do lots of lunch dishes, home-made cakes, Sunday roasts etc etc.
Delicious delicious Middle Eastern and North African BBQ/grill place in a cool spot under the railway arches near Haggerston. Great for cozy dinner but also great for brunch. No bookings, but worth the wait.
81 locals recommend
Berber & Q - Grill House
338 Acton MewsDelicious delicious Middle Eastern and North African BBQ/grill place in a cool spot under the railway arches near Haggerston. Great for cozy dinner but also great for brunch. No bookings, but worth the wait.
Really good low key ramen spot with delicious ramen, dumplings and a good beer/drinks selection
139 locals recommend
Tonkotsu East
1a Dunston StReally good low key ramen spot with delicious ramen, dumplings and a good beer/drinks selection
New, very exciting addition to the neighbourhood – sister restaurant to the amazing Moro and Morito on Exmouth Market. Chefs Sam & Sam Clark are masters of delicious Spanish/Moorish food and this place does heavenly tapas-style small plates. A world away from the greasy-chorizo-and-patatas-bravas offering you might get at some tapas places, the food is super fresh, inventive, and utterly delicious (also good for vegetarians).
162 locals recommend
Morito
195 Hackney RdNew, very exciting addition to the neighbourhood – sister restaurant to the amazing Moro and Morito on Exmouth Market. Chefs Sam & Sam Clark are masters of delicious Spanish/Moorish food and this place does heavenly tapas-style small plates. A world away from the greasy-chorizo-and-patatas-bravas offering you might get at some tapas places, the food is super fresh, inventive, and utterly delicious (also good for vegetarians).
Cozy tapas place with lovely fresh and creative dishes using locally sourced ingredients, right by Broadway Market.
34 locals recommend
Poco
129A Pritchard's RdCozy tapas place with lovely fresh and creative dishes using locally sourced ingredients, right by Broadway Market.
Drinks & Nightlife
Our favourite local drinks spot – killer cocktails and a great craft beer selection in a cool contemporary take on the traditional pub, with lovely staff and a cosy atmosphere
53 locals recommend
The Swan Tavern
77/80 Gracechurch StOur favourite local drinks spot – killer cocktails and a great craft beer selection in a cool contemporary take on the traditional pub, with lovely staff and a cosy atmosphere
A really lovely local pub with a great atmosphere and delicious food
175 locals recommend
The Royal Oak
73 Columbia RdA really lovely local pub with a great atmosphere and delicious food
Smart wine bar with a lovely interior, great wine list and bar snacks
112 locals recommend
Sager + Wilde Wine Bar
193 Hackney RdSmart wine bar with a lovely interior, great wine list and bar snacks
Cool bar with a long cocktail list, quirky interior and fun music
189 locals recommend
Satan's Whiskers
343 Cambridge Heath RdCool bar with a long cocktail list, quirky interior and fun music
A nice traditional pub with wood panelling and a great Sunday roast
82 locals recommend
The Plough at Swan Wharf
60 Dace RdA nice traditional pub with wood panelling and a great Sunday roast
A local favourite bar/pub with vaulted ceilings, original Victorian tiling and a serious craft beer selection.
83 locals recommend
Well & Bucket
143 Bethnal Green RdA local favourite bar/pub with vaulted ceilings, original Victorian tiling and a serious craft beer selection.
A fun party pub with regular DJs and disco nights, and increasingly good food – they have guest chefs and a mean Sunday roast from the folks behind Bacchus.
56 locals recommend
The Star of Bethnal Green
359 Bethnal Green RoadA fun party pub with regular DJs and disco nights, and increasingly good food – they have guest chefs and a mean Sunday roast from the folks behind Bacchus.
Sightseeing
Renowned Sunday flower and food market with a great atmosphere
1660 locals recommend
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadRenowned Sunday flower and food market with a great atmosphere
Great Saturday market with delicious street food, fashion, books, records, buskers and some good coffee and cocktails spots to stop by
1735 locals recommend
Broadway Market
Broadway MarketGreat Saturday market with delicious street food, fashion, books, records, buskers and some good coffee and cocktails spots to stop by
Renowned for its bustling market, vintage shops, art galleries, late night beigels, infamous cereal cafe, and of course some of London's best curry, Brick Lane is well worth a stroll and only 10m away
825 locals recommend
Brick Lane Sunday Market
Brick LaneRenowned for its bustling market, vintage shops, art galleries, late night beigels, infamous cereal cafe, and of course some of London's best curry, Brick Lane is well worth a stroll and only 10m away
Shopping
Very cool pop-up mall made from shipping containers, with independent fashion and lifestyle stores, a bar and cafe, and our favourite Voodoo Ray's pizza
377 locals recommend
BOXPARK Shoreditch
2-10 Bethnal Green RdVery cool pop-up mall made from shipping containers, with independent fashion and lifestyle stores, a bar and cafe, and our favourite Voodoo Ray's pizza
Cosmos Records London
324d Hackney RdOur favourite local record store
Parks & Nature
Amazing outdoor swimming if you're brave enough! (and the park around it is nice too if you're not :)
591 locals recommend
London Fields
London Fields West SideAmazing outdoor swimming if you're brave enough! (and the park around it is nice too if you're not :)
Buzzy local park and a major hang out and BBQ spot on sunny days
9 locals recommend
London Fields East Side
London Fields East SideBuzzy local park and a major hang out and BBQ spot on sunny days
Beautiful local park with a rich history, good running trails, a lovely cafe and playground
1666 locals recommend
Pavilion Cafe
Old Ford RoadBeautiful local park with a rich history, good running trails, a lovely cafe and playground
Entertainment & Activities
Lovely little yoga studio if you want to keep up your practise while you visit
20 locals recommend
Stretch
6 Ada StLovely little yoga studio if you want to keep up your practise while you visit
For something a little different ! A bona fide (if tiny) farm in the heart of the city, also boasting a great cafe/restaurant and pottery classes
269 locals recommend
Hackney City Farm
1a Goldsmiths RowFor something a little different ! A bona fide (if tiny) farm in the heart of the city, also boasting a great cafe/restaurant and pottery classes
Getting Around
Central line tube station – be at Oxford Circus in 15mins, Notting Hill in half an hour, or head east to Stratford or even up to Epping Forest
184 locals recommend
Bethnal Green (Stop D) station
Central line tube station – be at Oxford Circus in 15mins, Notting Hill in half an hour, or head east to Stratford or even up to Epping Forest
London Overground station, with routes up to Islington and down to south London (New Cross, Peckham, Clapham)
364 locals recommend
Shoreditch High Street
Shoreditch High StreetLondon Overground station, with routes up to Islington and down to south London (New Cross, Peckham, Clapham)
London Overground station with routes to Liverpool Street, Clapton, Stoke Newington
30 locals recommend
Cambridge Heath Station (Stop N)
London Overground station with routes to Liverpool Street, Clapton, Stoke Newington
London Overground station, with routes up to Islington and down to south London (New Cross, Peckham, Clapham)
53 locals recommend
Hoxton station
Geffrye StreetLondon Overground station, with routes up to Islington and down to south London (New Cross, Peckham, Clapham)
Bus stop with routes to Old Street, Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Oxford Circus, St Pauls, London Bridge, Waterloo and more
Warner Place (Stop HD) station
Bus stop with routes to Old Street, Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Oxford Circus, St Pauls, London Bridge, Waterloo and more
Tube station on the Hammersmith & City and District lines, as well as the Overground
83 locals recommend
Whitechapel Station
263c Whitechapel RdTube station on the Hammersmith & City and District lines, as well as the Overground