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Best restaurants in Hackney

Hackney is a foodie’s wonderland. The borders of arguably London’s coolest borough stretch right from sleepy, leafy Stoke Newington, all the way to the hustle and bustle of Shoreditch and The City – and let us tell you, there’s a lot of eating to do in-between.

Updated on 17 October 2024

Hackney has always been a melting pot of cultures and creativity, and it’s something that serves the area well when it comes to food offerings. You might now associate it as the place where fashion designers and creatives have made their home, but this all stems from a history going back hundreds of years. As one of the poorest parts of the city, immigrants originally moved here first, turning areas like the famous Brick Lane into a vibrant, foodie highway and starting a legacy of unique restaurants serving cuisine from all over the globe.

We love that you can find some of the most experimental restaurants created in Hackney, with eye-catching décor, Michelin-starred menus and open kitchens that feel more like theatre than grabbing a bite to eat. But alongside these are traditional pubs with roaring fires, Victorian features and a menu boasting the likes of bangers and mash.

Thanks to the wonderfully diverse communities of east London you will find every cuisine, as well as every type of atmosphere and concept. Whether it be a tiny, low-lit Italian deli (perfect for that first date), a cool, pop-up cocktail bar that none of your friends have ever heard of, or a sprawling, light and airy industrial restaurant, Hackney has it all. Whether it be Mexican quesadillas oozing cheese, wood-fired Italian pizzas, Asian fusion or cocktails and nibbles, these are the best restaurants in Hackney

Behind

Behind

20 Sidworth Street, Hackney, London, E8 3SD

This entirely chef's table restaurant comes from Andy Beynon, an ex development chef for Jason Atherton, so you can rest assured you’re in good hands here. You can expect each of the eight courses to showcase sustainable produce in new and creative ways, and there’s also a wine pairing for those who are so inclined.

Over £80
Fish
One Michelin star
SquareMeal London Top 100
Lagom

Lagom

Hackney Church Brew Co, Hackney, London, E8 1DU

Tucked around the back of Hackney Church Brew Co you'll find Lagom, where founder Elliot Cunningham knocks out some fabulous, smokey barbecue and burgers. Lagom's philosophy is dead simple, just great quality produce, lots of fire, smoke and heat and dishes kept simple but delicious. The smash burger is a knockout (especially alongside a few beers) but the regularly changing menu means there's something new to try everytime you visit.

£30 - £49
Barbecue
Venerdi

Venerdi

9 Chatsworth Road, Homerton, London, E5 0LH

The easy going feel of this local Italian makes it an obvious venue choice for a get together with friends. The informal décor and fantastic customer service create a friendly atmosphere, and that’s before you’ve even tried the food. Since its opening, Venerdi has vowed to serve up only the most authentic fare, so everything from the pizza to the cocktails is like a taste of Italy.

£30 - £49
Pizza
Italian
Leo

Leo's Clapton

59 Chatsworth Road, Hackney, London, E5 0LH

Don't let the vintage sign outside fool you - Leo's is a drop dead gorgeous restaurant inside, bringing all the chic sophistication of the Italian Riviera to Clapton. The menu centres around lovely bits of meat and fish cooked over a wood-fired grill, but there are also some excellent pasta dishes, a well-rounded wine list and aperitivo options here. Pop in in the morning for some good bakes and excellent coffee too.

£30 - £49
Italian
Brat x Climpson

Brat x Climpson's Arch

374 Helmsley Place, Hackney, London, E8 3SB

The younger Brat sibling is actually a fair bit larger than the Shoreditch location so if you’re struggling to book the latter, head up to Climpson’s Arch and you might get a table. The menu is largely similar - beautiful turbot roasted over open fires, flatbreads, hulking beef ribs and that Insta-famous Basque cheesecake. The restaurant is only semi-covered so bring a jumper in the winter.

£50 - £79
Spanish
British
The Prince Arthur

The Prince Arthur

95 Forest Road, Dalston, London, E8 3BH

Original Victorian features, dark wood panelled walls and plenty of nooks to get cosied up in make this local boozer the perfect London pub. Combine that with a roster of live music, an impressive supply of board games and an 'anyone’s welcome' attitude, and The Prince Arthur could become your new haunt for post-work drinks.

Pubs
Angelina

Angelina

56 Dalston Lane, Dalston, London, E8 3AH

Take a trip down Dalston Lane (a hot spot with local Hackney foodies) and you’ll find Angelina, a very chic, very cool Japanese and Italian fusion restaurant serving up experimental fare. Family-owned, there’s real heart to this place which only opened early 2019. In other words, get in there first and impress your mates by being the first to know about this must-visit gem.
£50 - £79
Japanese
Italian
Cafe Cecilia

Cafe Cecilia

Canal Place, Hackney, London, E8 4FX

Café Cecilia is a fashionable all-day joint serving breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the week, although beware - it’s only open in the evening on Fridays and Saturdays. Owner and head chef Max Rocha draws on his Irish heritage to bring the likes of breaded oysters with pickled cucumber, and Guinness bread ice cream to lucky diners.

£30 - £49
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
Lardo

Lardo

The Arthaus, Richmond Road, Hackney, London, E8 3NJ

Who doesn’t like authentic Italian food in an effortlessly stylish setting? Lardo in Hackney Central mixes industrial lighting with a truly tasty menu, loaded with small plates like pan seared squid with gremolata, potato, endive and pangrattato and innovative pizzas like wild mushroom, duck egg and taleggio.

£30 - £49
Italian
Mambow

Mambow

78 Lower Clapton Road, Hackney, London, E5 0RN

Peckham's loss was Clapton's gain as brilliant Mambow moved over to the east in late 2023. Abby Lee's transcendant Malaysian cooking would taste good anywhere, but it feels a snug fit for Clapton. Grab a counter seat at the window and dive into an extraordinary menu, which is backed up by a juicy, easy-drinking wine list and some surprisingly excellent cocktails. 

£30 - £49
Malaysian
SquareMeal London Top 100
Sune

Sune

129A Pritchard's Road, Hackney, London, E2 9AP

Hospitality power couple Charlie Sims and Honey Spencer have made a big splash with their first solo project. The pair know a thing or two about good restaurants having worked at Noma together, and Sune has hit the ground running with exceptional, original cooking that flits between global influences. The location at the bottom of Broadway Market is a cracker too, and as you'd expect from a sommelier of Spencer's renown, the drinks list is remarkable and adventurous.

£50 - £79
Modern European
British
The Water House Project

The Water House Project

1 Corbridge Crescent, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9DS

A little off the beaten track, but more than worth the journey, The Water House Project is nestled in the aptly-named ‘Containerville’ district near Cambridge Heath, where lots of businesses live inside old shipping containers. Not this restaurant, though, which has a beautiful glass house right on The Oval. Gabriel Waterhouse and team cook up smart, aesthetic tasting menus in an open kitchen, delivering a picture-perfect experience as though you were visiting them at home.

Over £80
Modern European
SquareMeal London Top 100
SESTA Hackney

SESTA Hackney

52 Wilton Way, Hackney, London, E8 1BG

Like a pigeon from the flames, SESTA sits in the old Pidgin site and is run by two former Pidgin stalwarts - head chef Drew Snaith and GM Hannah Kowalski. Snaith's electric, eclectic menu, combined with Kowalski's slick service and an excellent drinkable wine list make SESTA pure brilliance. 

£50 - £79
Modern European
British
From the Ashes BBQ

From the Ashes BBQ

61 Mare Street, Hackney, London, E8 4RG

Beer and barbecue is a match made in heaven, and From the Ashes at Five Points Brewing Co might just be the best place in the capital to experience this magical combo. As well as a banging Sunday roast, this is also home to the increasingly famous Del Piero Doughnut, packed with smoked pork, ‘nduja and chilli jam.

£30 - £49
Barbecue
Silo

Silo

CRATE Brewery, Hackney, London, E9 5EN

Not only can you get first class food at Silo, but it’s also the world’s first zero waste restaurant, so you can enjoy it all completely guilt free. From fermenting leftovers to finding eco-friendly delivery methods for suppliers, there’s nothing half hearted about the team's approach to helping the planet.

£50 - £79
Modern European
SquareMeal London Top 100
Papi

Papi

1F, Hackney, London, E8 3DQ

Papi is all about delicious, zero waste food and carefully sourced natural wines. You’ll find it tucked away down one of Hackney’s backstreets, with low-lit lighting to entice you in, and friendly faces ready to welcome you.

£50 - £79
Modern European
British
SquareMeal London Top 100
The Empress

The Empress

130 Lauriston Road, Hackney, London, E9 7LH

With exposed brick walls and buckets full of quirky charm, The Empress is one of Hackney’s finest pubs. The menu is classic British gastro fare and changes seasonally but it’s always full of goodies like mussels with cider, bacon and fries or pork belly, creamed potato and savoy cabbage.
£30 - £49
Gastropub
Rogues

Rogues

460 Hackney Road, Bethnal Green, London, E2 9EG

Whether it’s superb staff, inviting interiors or the dining room piano that often sees one of the staff banging out a tune mid-service, Rogues is just rip-roaring fun. The menu doesn’t worry too much about the rulebook either, springing many surprises from the get go. Rogues’ potato and thyme sourdough with Bovril butter might just be the best bread course in London, and that’s just the start of the fun.

£30 - £49
Modern European
Del 74 Dalston

Del 74 Dalston

129 Kingsland High Street, Dalston, London, E8 2PB

From the rotating glitter ball to the DJ spinning records on the restaurant floor, there’s a vibrancy and fun that makes Del 74 more than just somewhere to eat. The menu is stereotypical Mexican with cheesy quesibilias, steak-filled tacos and margaritas reining supreme. Come here for a raucous meal with friends and stay after you’ve dined to enjoy the vibe.
Under £30
Mexican

Why not take a few steps north and see what Islington has to offer? 

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