Dalston
As Shoreditch‘s star began to fade in the late naughties, east London’s hipsters moved up the road to Dalston, slowly making it the city’s nightlife capital. Now with legendary spots such as Efes and Bardens gone, and Brewdog replacing Birthdays, some might tell you that Dalston’s dead, and although it’s changed a lot over the years, there’s still a whole lot of good stuff to keep you entertained.
For starters, Dalston has the best Turkish food in London, with countless kebab houses knocking out fresh kebabs all night long. The good food doesn’t end there: Angelina, House of Momo, and Little Duck are some of our favourite places in the neighbourhood, offering an amazing variety of things to choose from.
Booze is in plentiful supply too, with everything from cocktail bars such as Three Sheets to craft beer bars and run-down pubs. Don’t forget the Dalston Roof Park and The Karaoke Hole beneath Voodoo Ray’s either.
For film fans, the Rio is a special place. There’s been a cinema under various names on the site of the Art Deco, Grade-II listed Rio for over 100 years and it’s remained independent right up to this day. The two screens show a varied programme of new indie releases as well as regular double bills and classic matinees.
Not only does the Arcola Theatre put on a rich and varied programme, from new works and premieres to revivals and adaptions – the venue has seen everything from The Glass Menagerie to the Grimeborn opera festival – but it’s also one of the greenest venues in the UK thanks to solar panels, carbon-neutral heating systems and low energy stage lighting. And if you’re looking for somewhere to have a few drinks and throw some shapes, the bar stays open late on Fridays and Saturdays, and the music is always on point.
If you’re up for spending big bucks and looking for a real shopping experience, head to LN-CC. Recently re-opened after a four-year closure, the shop’s various different rooms, including their iconic, 2001: A Space Odyssey-esque tunnel, have been reimagined by designer Gary Card. And, for the first time, you’ll be able to drop by on weekends without an appointment so you can browse womenswear and menswear pieces from major fashion houses like Alexander McQueen, Chloe, Burberry, and Prada alongside up-and-coming designers, plus luxury lifestyle and homeware items.
The name of queer clubhouse Roses of Elagabalus gives you some clue as to what to expect from this Dalston bar – Roman emperor Elagabalus, depicted as smothering banquet guests with roses in a painting by Dutch artist Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, was known for his debauchery and gender fluidity. A nondescript door on Kingsland Road opens up into a luxurious multi-room space, which designer Domhnall Nolan has filled with plush fabrics, soft lighting, mirrored fireplaces, leopard-print carpets, chequerboard floors and plaster busts. It pays homage to 20th century cabaret clubs whilst still remaining modern and fresh. In short, it’s sexy. The Counter Room bar opens the space, which leads into the Erotic Library and the Cabaret Room, a performance space that hosts dinner and a show nights. There has been a rotating selection of kitchen residents, including Pasta Slut, Kenneth Lam, Maison Kim and Flock, who are currently in house serving rotisserie chicken and fries. Downstairs, the Powder Room acts as a both a bathroom and hangout space, Bar Berini, another cocktail bar Subrosa, and the bathhouse-inspired dance floor The Tank.
House of MoMo isn’t just great because they serve up some bloody good momo, oh no you can also get a bowl of dumplings and beer for just over a tenner. Whether you choose them steamed, pan fried, coated in a sesame creamy curry sauce or a spicy chilli sauce, you won’t be disappointed.
Acme Fire Cult, the live fire kitchen from Andrew Clarke and Daniel Watkins, has opened a permanent restaurant, with a covered and heated terrace, at 40FT Brewery in Dalston. Here the pair are taking the concept to the next level by collabing with Steve Ryan of 40FT, to use beer brewing by-products in their cooking – hello Acme Marmite and hot sauce made from beer-soaked chillies. The menu showcases veggies, dayboat fish, and native breed meat from regenerative farms, with dishes like grilled leeks with pistachio romesco; char siu of monkfish with jalapeno verde & grilled sea vegetables; and smoked shortrib (glazed in molasses made from 40FT Eccles Cake Stout), mustard greens, beef fat cream & ancho koji flatbread. And the restaurant has ten beer taps pouring fresh brews, with 40FT knocking up a special edition beer each month to go with the menu.
Positive Retail, which has a store in Dalston as well as in Margate, Deal and Faversham, is a curated resale (and B-Corp certified brand) that gives retail overstock and pre-loved designer pieces a new life. The store partners with a range of cool brands, like Margaret Howell, Ganni, Universal Works, Goodhood and Aligne to sell on their surplus stock, alongside pre-loved designer garms from the likes of Comme des Garçons, Raf Simons, Gucci and Acne Studios. If you’re bored of Vinted and want to shop sustainably IRL, this is the store for you.
Evolutionary Arts Hackney, aka EartH, is a stunning new arts space from the team behind Village Underground. Once an ABC cinema the main building was left derelict for years only to be rediscovered, restored and relaunched in 2019 – both the theatre (with seating) and the concert hall (standing) now host gigs, poetry readings, DJ sets, talks and more.
Amidst the concrete jungle of Dalston is an escape from the masses. Dalston Roof Park is a music venue, a roof garden where you could be doing anything from raving to yoga to laughing at comedy on the plushly turfed lawn filled with flowers and palm trees. As well as street food, the cocktail bar is always in full force so you know the good times will be flowing all summer long. There is no lift however, so be prepared mentally and physically for those stairs.
After operating out of a shipping container in the Dalston car park of the Bootstrap offices, The Dusty Knuckle has since expanded into one of those former offices, with a bakery, cafe, and a terrace where they run pizza nights in the summer and regular guest chef Dusty Dinners, and a second cafe and pizza restaurant in Haringey. The bakery turns out a range of breads and pastries, including pain au chocolat, morning buns, potato bread, and feta & honey swirls. The monster sarnies, made using their signature bubbly bread and filled with everything from lemongrass pork meatballs and sambal mayo to mapo tofu and sweet potato. What makes The Dusty Knuckle especially great is their support for young Londoners who are attached to the justice system, coming out of custody, or are asylum seekers, through their successful work experience and employment programmes.
Little Duck The Picklery opened on Dalston Lane towards the end of 2017, run by the team behind Ducksoup and Rawduck (RIP). Like Ducksoup, the menu is chalked up on the blackboard daily and follows a similar seasonal, pared-back approach. A small team of chefs operate in the centre of the kitchen, while the walls are packed full of delicious looking pickled things in jars – the huge range of pickles and ferments that are all made in-house are used in a few of the dishes but are also available to buy and take home. Obviously the menus change quite a bit but we can defo recommend starting with a plate of those pickles and ferments and, if you see them, the sardines with wild onions and beef short rib ragu on fresh pasta. There’s a good list of approachable and affordable natural wines too.
Voodoo Ray’s creates thin and crispy NY-style pizza, which comes by the slice or as a whole 22-inch whopper – you can’t go wrong with The Meat Is On or the Giorgio Moroder – and they do an after-midnight spesh at the Dalston branch, which is open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, for when the munchies strike. Wash down one of the massive slices with a signature frozen marg.
Not only does the Arcola Theatre put on a rich and varied programme, from new works and premieres to revivals and adaptions – the venue has seen everything from The Glass Menagerie to the Grimeborn opera festival – but it’s also one of the greenest venues in the UK thanks to solar panels, carbon-neutral heating systems and low energy stage lighting. And if you’re looking for somewhere to have a few drinks and throw some shapes, the bar stays open late on Fridays and Saturdays, and the music is always on point.
Red Hand has got beer drinkers well covered, with a list that spans local brews to rare imports and cans to draught. They even have a load of big sharing bottles if you really wanna get stuck in. Wine and cocktail drinkers are also covered too, with a tight list of vino, classic cocktails on tap and a special G&T selection. And if you need to soak up all that booze, they very handily serve up cheese toasties.
Still London is a salon that’s better for your body and for the planet. Completely non-toxic and environmentally friendly, the products are the most gentle you’ll find on the market – even the gel polish won’t wreck your nails. Mani and pedi treatments use either Kure Bazaar 10-Free polish or Orly 12-Free gel polish – both brands are free from the whole host of the toxic chemicals usually found in nail varnish making them better for your nails and for the environment – and the salon also does facials too.
The menu at Angelina is a mash-up of Japanese and Italian food, which sounds more random than it is – don’t worry you won’t find sushi rice substituted for pasta. Instead, it’s combinations like creamy risotto topped with smoky unagi (eel), lightly tempura artichoke and fatty tuna crudo. There’s only two options when dining at Angelina; £38 for the tasting menu or £9 for the plate of the day and both change frequently. There’s a great list of cocktails served from the not so secret, no phones allowed bar – just head for the toilets and you’ll walk right through it.
Discobarre offers classes set to house and disco music, mixing ballet, barre, contemporary dance, pilates and strength exercises so you can feel the groove and feel the burn. The studio is also be the official home of the Lotte Berk Technique, the OG barre workout and a fave of celebs back in the 70s and 80s, which Discobarre founder Sophia Ritchie is opening up to a new generation. And with other classes like Ballet Fitness, NRG Barre, the meditative Firm Feet, the inclusive Dance Church and more being taught at the studio, there are plenty of ways for you to break a sweat.
What was once a temporary passion project is now an award-winning multi-roaster speciality coffee shop open seven days a week. Batch Baby is serving up speciality coffee from all over the world on the border of Islington and Hackney. They celebrated their two-year birthday in late 2023 and were awarded the Grounds of Innovation award by BRITA UK. Stop by for great coffee, great food and great vibes.
Small and unshowy, Three Sheets is the kind of place you could easily walk past without a second thought. If you’re in the know though, it’s one of the best little cocktail bars in all of London. Founded by Max and Noel Venning, it’s all about classic cocktails given a modern twist, like the Shiso Miso (a take on an Old Fashioned) and the Almond Flower Sour. Simple but oh so effective.
There’s been a cinema under various names on the site of the art deco, Grade-II listed Rio for over 100 years and it’s remained independent right up to this day. The two screens show a varied programme of new indie releases as well as regular double bills and classic matinees.
A bit tropical, a bit shabby chic, decor a little bit like an old office/lodge right down at the back, Ridley Road Market Bar is the definition of relaxed vibes. The booze is cheap (the five quid ginger mojitos are particularly good) and the music will get you throwing some shapes – be warned, it can get hot on that dancefloor.
It was one of the first boutique salons to set up shop on Kingsland Road and the OG Blue Tit is still one of the best. Like all the other Blue Tits, it’s got a very strong look – with a whole wall of picture frames, an original fireplace, vintage furniture and exposed brick, it’s definitely more-is-more. Whether you’re after the chop or want a whole new colour, your hair is in safe hands here.
The team behind Brilliant Corners, Giant Steps, and Idle Moments have continued their tradition of venues named after jazz albums with their latest venue, which is called “Mu”, after Don Cherry’s 1969 album. They’ve done a great job on the interiors, keeping some of the dark moody atmosphere of Rotorino (which was the previous occupant), but thoroughly smartening the place up with a wood-panelled curved ceiling, hanging globe lights, and sleek modern furniture. There’s a large bar and a performance space which is the heart of the room and the headline feature of the “Mu” experience. There’s regular live music every night, with a mixture of resident musicians and guests, with two performances each night. Alongside the music, you’ll definitely want to tuck into the Japanese-inspired food and drink. Go heavy on the snacks like the scallop skewers; beef tartare served with crisp toasted seaweed; fried aubergine and white miso; and fresh sliced yellowtail with yuzu and pomegranate.
This independent double-level gallery space has been around since 2008 and it’s an established Banksy specialist – as well as regularly showing his pieces, Hang-Up is the world’s largest dealer in authentic limited edition Banksy prints. The gallery also exhibits a range of contemporary artists like Harland Miller, David Shrigley, KAWS, The Connor Brothers, Lauren Baker and Nina Saunders.
Can’t make it to Mexico? Just head for Hacha instead. Run by luxury tequila ambassador for Diageo, Deano Moncrieffe, and named after the axe used to cut agave pinas, Hacha serves a changing range of 25 tequilas, mezcals and other lesser-known agave spirits. If you really want to get into the nitty gritty of agave, the bar offers single serves of each of the bottles on the list and tasting flights, complete with flavour enhancers. The cocktails are all fairly classic with a little Hacha twist. The Mirror Margarita is the bar’s signature serve. It tastes exactly like a margarita but it’s completely clear so it looks just like water – some Willy Wonka shit right there. The Hacha Tommy’s Margarita (blanco tequila, rosemary smoked lime and pistachio agave syrup) is also excellent and dangerously drinkable, and the Mexican Highball (reposado tequila, mezcal and soda) packs a punch, with a smoky finish coming courtesy of the mezcal. With a relaxed atmosphere and some knockout drinks, Hacha is a great neighbourhood joint and definitely one of the best places for tequila and mezcal in town.
Founded by ex-Burberry designer and namesake Louise Markey, L.F. Markey has become renowned for its colourful take on classic workwear pieces – including signature boilersuits, chore coats, dungarees and jeans. The brand is an advocate for slow, sustainable fashion, manufacturing its clothes in a safe, ethical environment where working conditions are fair. Head over to the Dalston store to see it for yourself.
One of the best things to happen in 2020 was the refurbishment of Mangal II, swiftly turning it into our new favourite Turkish restaurant in Dalston, and one of our favourite spots in the whole city. Original founder Ali Dirik’s sons, Ferhat and Sertac, are now running Mangal II and they’ve bought the place bang up to date with a more concise menu, daily specials, and more variety – and there’s even natural wines too. We especially love the doner kebab, which they make from scratch in-house, the spicy ezme salad, the whole grilled fish, the aubergine, the mushroom manti dumplings, and THOSE sumac grilled onions. Basically we love it all, and brothers Ferhat and Sertac are some of the nicest, hardest working guys in the biz. If you want the best Turkish food in London, then look no further than Mangal II.
40FT is an independent brewery based in Dalston and the lovechild of four East London friends. This neighbourhood fave started brewing back in 2015 from two repurposed 20ft shipping containers, but London was thirsty for their brews and so they added a dedicated taproom (with both cosy indoor seating inside the containers which have been done out with wooden floors and tables, plus outdoor benches if you’re lucky with the weather) to their container collection. Their Hazy Pale Ale was brewed for Dalston Roof Park and this is exactly where we recommend it is drunk, but the Late Night Disco IPA and Deepest 10.5% Stout are also great thirst quenchers.
He’s spent time at Louie Louie and running his own residency at Borough Wines in Kensal Rise and now Israeli chef Oded Oren has his first solo restaurant on Shacklewell Lane. It’s a cosy space with just 35 covers, and a few stools at a small bar. It’s definitely nailed that buzzy neighbourhood restaurant vibe – it’s always packed and the music’s always loud, so it’s got a nice lively feel. The food is inspired by his home city of Tel Aviv, so you can expect dishes like Jerusalem mixed grill; monkfish ‘chraime’ & hand rolled cous cous; chargrilled hake kebabs & sheep’s yoghurt; and freekeh-smoked green wheat with Westcombe dairy ricotta & fresh herbs, and Zeren Wilson has curated the wine list, whic features some fantastic organic/biodynamic bottles and at not too scary prices.
Corrochio’s has been serving up some of the best regional Mexican food and cocktails in town since 2021 and now there’s even more to go around as a new 120-cover street-level bar and restaurant has opened above the original site. The Corrochio’s space has been turned into Cinco, a bar specialising in lesser-known agave and Mexican spirits, while the new upstairs area has become a Cocina & Cocteleria. The food menu showcase both regional Mexican specialities and modern bar food, including dishes like Enchiladas Verdes (from Puebla), Huaraches (from Mexico City), Tostada de Camarón (from Oaxaca), and Gobernador taco with prawns, octopus, poblano & pastor mayo, with tequila and mezcal featuring heavily alongside other Mexican spirits like Sotol, Raicilla, and Bacanora on the Cocteleria list.
Dalston Superstore is a multitasker – it’s a queer bar, club, gallery, cafe, performance and community space, all wrapped into one. By day, there are drag brunches, queer art exhibitions and Essential Vegan cooking up burgers and sandwiches in the kitchen. And by night, regulars like Uncontrollable Urge collective and Femme Fraiche take over as the Superstore transforms into a club/performance space, pumping out disco, electro, techno and house tunes until 4am.
Listening bars and audio-focused restaurants have gone through a renaissance in London but Dalston’s Brilliant Corners was one of the first to do it, opening way back in 2013. The Kingsland Road spot specialises in Japanese small plates, live jazz and DJ sets. The sound system is world class and there are always expert selectors passing through, so music fans are in for a treat. The food and drink offering is just as good, with izakaya-inspired plates like tuna maki, beef tataki, tofu korokke with miso aioli, chicken karaage and sashimi moriawase with ponzu on the menu, complemented by mezcal margs, miso highballs and natural wines.
Kingsland Road isn’t short of good cocktails but 392 is one of the best. The menu is all killer, no filler, with serves like the Bell Gibson (tequila, sweet pepper shrub and chartreuse) and the Morning Drift (white rum, hojicha, coconut and honey), and they’ll shake up a classic cocktail if you ask. It’s worth staying for food too as they always have some interesting residents in the kitchen, and the bar also hosts regular jazz nights.
If you’ve been down the stretch of Kingsland Road between Haggerston and Dalston Junction and seen a green neon glow around the one of the bars where Pamela’s used to be, that’s Ellie’s. Best known for doing £8 martinis all day and all night (the other cocktails are also great), Ellie’s also plays host to some seriously cool events, including readings, supper clubs, and Charli XCX’s wedding party.
If you’re into discovering new music and stumbling across something you’d likely not find any other way, Cafe OTO is the venue for you. A cafe by day, where you can pick up coffee, pastries, books and records, by night Cafe OTO plays host to creative and adventurous music that’s decidedly outside the mainstream. Dalston has built up a cool collection of jazz bars and this remains one of the best.
