Guidebook for London
Food Scene
Amazing coffee, cakes and sandwiches (try the bacon sandwich or the avocado on toast)
54 abantu bendawo batusa
Wilton Way Cafe
63 Wilton WayAmazing coffee, cakes and sandwiches (try the bacon sandwich or the avocado on toast)
Cafe OTO
18-22 Ashwin StreetGreat coffee and obscure but often wonderful (usually jazz) music.
Mouse & De Lotz
103 Shacklewell LnCoffee, tea, cake
Good Turkish food (though pretty much all the Turkish places on this stretch of road are good) during the day try the pancakes the women sitting in the window are making.
9 abantu bendawo batusa
Evin Restaurant
115 Kingsland High StGood Turkish food (though pretty much all the Turkish places on this stretch of road are good) during the day try the pancakes the women sitting in the window are making.
Really REALLY good cakes - cupcakes, brownies, muffins, whoopie pies (the salted caramel and pumpkin ones are amazing). You can sit in and eat or take-away.
132 abantu bendawo batusa
Violet
47 Wilton WayReally REALLY good cakes - cupcakes, brownies, muffins, whoopie pies (the salted caramel and pumpkin ones are amazing). You can sit in and eat or take-away.
It might not look like much but this place does the BEST breakfast for about £4. Very much recommended (particularly for a hangover). It can get really busy after 11am on a weekend though.
19 abantu bendawo batusa
Mess Cafe
38 Amhurst RdIt might not look like much but this place does the BEST breakfast for about £4. Very much recommended (particularly for a hangover). It can get really busy after 11am on a weekend though.
Really good pizza in super-stylish surroundings. Book in advance or be prepared to wait a while in the bar (not such a bad thing).
1660 abantu bendawo batusa
Columbia Road Flower Market
Columbia RoadReally good pizza in super-stylish surroundings. Book in advance or be prepared to wait a while in the bar (not such a bad thing).
Pretty much the best Indian in London, serving delicious Keralan food. The restaurant on the South of Church st is Vegetarian and the one opposite serves meat. At the vege one get the 'feast'.
171 abantu bendawo batusa
Rasa South Indian Vegetarian Restaurant
55 Stoke Newington Church StPretty much the best Indian in London, serving delicious Keralan food. The restaurant on the South of Church st is Vegetarian and the one opposite serves meat. At the vege one get the 'feast'.
Great Vietnamese served in charming-but-scruffy surroundings. The service is terrible but the food makes up for it. Worth booking as it can get very busy.
14 abantu bendawo batusa
Vietnamese Canteen-Huong Viet
12-14 Englefield RoadGreat Vietnamese served in charming-but-scruffy surroundings. The service is terrible but the food makes up for it. Worth booking as it can get very busy.
I've only had coffee or breakfast here - both of which are great. The main food is expensive but apparently delicious.
48 abantu bendawo batusa
A Little Of What You Fancy
464 Kingsland RoadI've only had coffee or breakfast here - both of which are great. The main food is expensive but apparently delicious.
Yummy pizza by the slice, a good beer collection and frozen margaritas. Downstairs is new club Dance Tunnel.
118 abantu bendawo batusa
Voodoo Ray's
95 Kingsland High StYummy pizza by the slice, a good beer collection and frozen margaritas. Downstairs is new club Dance Tunnel.
Danish-y deco and yummy, adventurous food. Somewhere between cheap and expensive depending on how much you eat. The brunches are fantastic.
45 abantu bendawo batusa
White Rabbit
15-16 Bradbury StreetDanish-y deco and yummy, adventurous food. Somewhere between cheap and expensive depending on how much you eat. The brunches are fantastic.
Lovely cafe/ bar with really great breakfasts - both child and adult friendly.
44 abantu bendawo batusa
The Russet
17 Amhurst TerraceLovely cafe/ bar with really great breakfasts - both child and adult friendly.
Rotorino
434 Kingsland RdNew, pricey-but-delicious high-end Italian. Worth it for a treat.
New to the area very-local cafe with great breakfasts. Pretty much everything includes homemade hash browns...
49 abantu bendawo batusa
Hash E8
170 Dalston LnNew to the area very-local cafe with great breakfasts. Pretty much everything includes homemade hash browns...
Rawduck
197 Richmond RdYummy, interesting small plates in a very cool space.
Delicious pizza and Italian small plates - there's a small number of tables, or you can order for takeaway (delivery is available). A larger version of the restaurant (Lardo) is on Richmond Road.
32 abantu bendawo batusa
Lardo Bebé
158 Sandringham RdDelicious pizza and Italian small plates - there's a small number of tables, or you can order for takeaway (delivery is available). A larger version of the restaurant (Lardo) is on Richmond Road.
Arts & Culture
Rio Cinema
107 Kingsland High StreetArt-Deco art-house cinema
Vortex
11 Gillett SquareGreat jazz and nice cocktails in the relaxed bar downstairs
Well-respected theatre housed in a converted paint factory - currently also has a temporary circus tent across the road.
199 abantu bendawo batusa
Arcola Bar
24 Ashwin StWell-respected theatre housed in a converted paint factory - currently also has a temporary circus tent across the road.
If there's a film you want to see that isn't on at the Rio, try here - a new and very nice arthouse cinema about 10mins away.
445 abantu bendawo batusa
Hackney Picturehouse
270 Mare StIf there's a film you want to see that isn't on at the Rio, try here - a new and very nice arthouse cinema about 10mins away.
White Cube Bermondsey
Bermondsey StreetGreat modern art gallery in Hoxton Square.
Fishbar
176 Dalston LnCute little gallery that shows interesting art.
A bit of a hub for contemporary art galleries in East London - a great place for a wander.
11 abantu bendawo batusa
Vyner St
A bit of a hub for contemporary art galleries in East London - a great place for a wander.
Essentials
Fruit, veg, fish, meat, 'Nollywood' films, Highlife CDs, polyester clothing, incense, African hairdressers, Halal meat...
35 abantu bendawo batusa
Ridley Rd
Ridley RoadFruit, veg, fish, meat, 'Nollywood' films, Highlife CDs, polyester clothing, incense, African hairdressers, Halal meat...
Little but well-stocked health food shop. Delicious bread (try the over-priced but amazing Hackney sourdough)
33 abantu bendawo batusa
Healthy Stuff
168 Dalston LnLittle but well-stocked health food shop. Delicious bread (try the over-priced but amazing Hackney sourdough)
Fantastic Turkish supermarket, great for fruit and veg, freshly baked Turkish bread (often warm out of the oven), a million varieties of olive and tubs of hummous as big as your head.
25 abantu bendawo batusa
TFC Dalston
89 Ridley RdFantastic Turkish supermarket, great for fruit and veg, freshly baked Turkish bread (often warm out of the oven), a million varieties of olive and tubs of hummous as big as your head.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Shacklewell Arms
71 Shacklewell LnFashionable pub with live music out the back
The best local, traditional if rather trendy pub. Fiendishly tricky pub quiz on monday nights at 8.30pm.
72 abantu bendawo batusa
Prince George
40 Parkholme RdThe best local, traditional if rather trendy pub. Fiendishly tricky pub quiz on monday nights at 8.30pm.
This has recently been taken over and now has good beer, great burgers (veggie and non), twice-weekly folk nights and a quiz on Wednesdays. Three seconds walk away.
57 abantu bendawo batusa
The Three Compasses
99 Dalston LnThis has recently been taken over and now has good beer, great burgers (veggie and non), twice-weekly folk nights and a quiz on Wednesdays. Three seconds walk away.
Trendy, gay-friendly (or just outright gay), and fabulous. DJs until the early hours at the weekends. Great quiz on Thursdays. Surprisingly good food too.
58 abantu bendawo batusa
Ray's Bar
95 Kingsland High StreetTrendy, gay-friendly (or just outright gay), and fabulous. DJs until the early hours at the weekends. Great quiz on Thursdays. Surprisingly good food too.
Good local pub, excellent selection of real ales, pool and bar billards, board games and lots of men with beards.
53 abantu bendawo batusa
The Pembury Tavern
90 Amhurst RdGood local pub, excellent selection of real ales, pool and bar billards, board games and lots of men with beards.
Friendly and fun bar on Ridley Road. They serve cans of Red Stripe and ginger mojitos and usually have a great street-food van of some sort outside (fantastic pizza on Sundays). Get there early.
35 abantu bendawo batusa
Ridley Rd
Ridley RoadFriendly and fun bar on Ridley Road. They serve cans of Red Stripe and ginger mojitos and usually have a great street-food van of some sort outside (fantastic pizza on Sundays). Get there early.
Cocktails - really, really good cocktails - and Mexican food in a stylish and relaxed bar. Check out the toilet-cistern fish tank.
108 abantu bendawo batusa
Off Broadway
63-65 Broadway MarketCocktails - really, really good cocktails - and Mexican food in a stylish and relaxed bar. Check out the toilet-cistern fish tank.
Gorgeous French wine bar that sells wine to takeaway (including a £5 bottle-refill service) as well as offering brunch and dinner. Order a plate of cheese or charcuterie and a bottle of wine.
74 abantu bendawo batusa
L'Entrepot
Gorgeous French wine bar that sells wine to takeaway (including a £5 bottle-refill service) as well as offering brunch and dinner. Order a plate of cheese or charcuterie and a bottle of wine.
Live music downstairs and a lively bar upstairs. Cool newish Dalston venue.
74 abantu bendawo batusa
Birthdays
Live music downstairs and a lively bar upstairs. Cool newish Dalston venue.
I haven't been here since it was converted from Barden's Boudoir a few years ago, but it has a reputation as a cool club with good music.
56 abantu bendawo batusa
The Nest
36 Stoke Newington RoadI haven't been here since it was converted from Barden's Boudoir a few years ago, but it has a reputation as a cool club with good music.
My favourite cocktail bar - this tiny place gets full quickly so make sure you book or arrive before 6pm. The cocktails are spectacular.
117 abantu bendawo batusa
Happiness Forgets
8-9 Hoxton SquareMy favourite cocktail bar - this tiny place gets full quickly so make sure you book or arrive before 6pm. The cocktails are spectacular.
Everything Else
A farm. In a shop. Chickens on the roof, lettuce grown using hydroponics and a nice little cafe.
6 abantu bendawo batusa
Farm Shop Dalston
20 Dalston LnA farm. In a shop. Chickens on the roof, lettuce grown using hydroponics and a nice little cafe.
Sweet little public garden hidden away opposite the tube station.
178 abantu bendawo batusa
I-Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
13 Dalston LnSweet little public garden hidden away opposite the tube station.
Gorgeous 50-meter heated outdoor pool in London Fields park.
590 abantu bendawo batusa
Izitsha zaseLondon
London Fields West SideGorgeous 50-meter heated outdoor pool in London Fields park.
Bread. All the bread. Also; cakes. Lovely bakery under a railway arch near London fields.
271 abantu bendawo batusa
E5 Bakehouse
396 Mentmore TerraceBread. All the bread. Also; cakes. Lovely bakery under a railway arch near London fields.
Some of the best pizza in London - whenever you go it will be busy and you will have to queue but it's worth it.
561 abantu bendawo batusa
Franco Manca
52 Broadway MarketSome of the best pizza in London - whenever you go it will be busy and you will have to queue but it's worth it.
Yogahome
14 Allen RdNice little studio for yoga and pilates classes.
Various yoga, pilates, massage etc. Next to the Russet Cafe.
7 abantu bendawo batusa
The Well Garden Yoga, Gong Meditation and Holistic Health Studio
17 Amhurst TerraceVarious yoga, pilates, massage etc. Next to the Russet Cafe.
Very slick new 'city-spa'. They do massage, facials, hair etc. They send us offers a lot so check with us if you fancy going there.
6 abantu bendawo batusa
Smooth You
Very slick new 'city-spa'. They do massage, facials, hair etc. They send us offers a lot so check with us if you fancy going there.
Sightseeing
Lovely place to wander any day of the week - lots of cafes, boutiques, bookshops, vintage furniture stores - with a massively popular and very lovely market on a Saturday.
1735 abantu bendawo batusa
Broadway Market
Broadway MarketLovely place to wander any day of the week - lots of cafes, boutiques, bookshops, vintage furniture stores - with a massively popular and very lovely market on a Saturday.
Shopping
The flagship store for this vintage clothing chain - huge and amazing. The area around it has a new vintage shop opening every week too, so lots of shopping opportunities!
73 abantu bendawo batusa
Beyond Retro Dalston
92-100 Stoke Newington RdThe flagship store for this vintage clothing chain - huge and amazing. The area around it has a new vintage shop opening every week too, so lots of shopping opportunities!
HUH.
56 Stoke Newington RdA small but perfectly formed clothing and lifestyle store.
Carefully selected, quite pricey but beautiful vintage clothing and furniture.
16 abantu bendawo batusa
Pelicans and Parrots
40 Stoke Newington RdCarefully selected, quite pricey but beautiful vintage clothing and furniture.