Things to do in Hackney Central: a local's guide
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Too often overlooked in favour of the buzzing streets of Dalston just a little way up the road, Hackney Central is a thriving hub of uber-cool independent joints to eat, drink and be merry. Traverse the length of Mare Street, get your caffeine fix from one of the many coffee shops or go on the hunt for that perfect vintage piece, all before refuelling at one of London’s hottest dining addresses. Whether you’re seeking gastronomical delights or a hit of creative culture, these are the best things to do on your next jaunt to Hackney Central.
Mambow
Few openings have met such immediate success on London’s dining scene as this tiny 20-cover spot in Hackney. The brainchild of Abby Lee, Mambow is a journey back to Abby’s Malaysian roots, serving up big-hitting flavours with plenty of twists. The setting is casual and fun, with line chefs working hypnotically and methodically shoulder-to-shoulder around the narrow open kitchen. The results? From the crispy pork Lor Bak to the diner’s favourite pepper curry, each dish is like an explosion of flavour. Make sure to kick off your meal with one of the signature cocktails, they are truly not to be missed.
Address: Mambow, 78 Lower Clapton Road, Lower Clapton, London E5 0RN
Website: mambow.co.uk
Bambi
This is the ideal spot for a laid-back dinner date that melts seamlessly into cocktails, and even dancing, should the mood take you. A “music-led” bar-cum-restaurant that serves up tasty small plates and a wide variety of natty wines and pet nats galore (you are in east London, after all). Expect ambient vibes midweek, but get ready for things to get a bit more rowdy from Thursday to Saturday with DJs spinning vinyl all night long.
Address: Bambi, 1 Westgate Street, London E8 3RL
Website: bambi-bar.com
Rasputins Bar
Like a little taste of Americana dive bar culture in the heart of Hackney, Rasputins is your off-beat option for punchy cocktails at competitive prices – £7 martini, anyone? If there’s one thing we can guarantee for a night starting at Rapsutins, it is that we cannot guarantee where the night will take you...
Address: Rasputins Bar, 171 Mare Street, London E8 3RH
Website: instagram.com
Bohemia Place
Tucked away off Hackney Central’s bustling Mare Street, Bohemia Place is a cute pedestrianised alley home to the likes of vintage clothes stores, independent breweries and the popular live music venue, Night Tales. Essentially, this is a great place to head for a browse and a Saturday afternoon pit stop. Keep wandering through the railway arches and you may even find yourself at one of our favourite hidden gem drinking holes, The Chesham Arms.
Address: Bohemia Place, London, United Kingdom E8 1DU
Website: instagram.com
Conservatory Archives
Forget the hot houses at Kew Gardens: a browse in this verdant plant emporium will quickly top up any chlorophyll cravings. It's overflowing with stylish pots and happy indoor plants, including an impressive selection of large cacti and succulents, so you have to fight through the foliage to discover a welcoming café at the back where you can sip a flat white in a tropical oasis.
Address: Conservatory Archives, 3-7 Lower Clapton Road, London E5 0NS
Website: conservatoryarchives.co.uk
Temple of Seitan
If vegan food is synonymous with Hackney hipsters, this is their headquarters. The original and best vegan junk-food destination in London, Temple of Hackney, has a constant queue of hungry locals lining up for the meat-free delicacies. The sides are just as tasty as the burgers, but be warned – seitan can be surprisingly filling, so don’t get too carried away when ordering.
Address: Temple of Hackney, 5 Morning Lane, London E9 6ND
Website: templeofseitan.co.uk
Behind this Wall
Feeling thirsty? Nip down a discreet doorway on the Narrow Way (the pedestrianised shopping street at the end of Mare Street) to this cosy drinking den. There are nooks to hide away in and strong, expertly blended cocktails and hard seltzers to keep you going until late. Drinks are free from artificial flavours, colours and additives so that headache the next day will be purely booze-related. There’s a small selection of homemade snacks, or you can order a pizza from nearby East London favourite Yard Sale.
Address: Behind This Wall, Basement, 411 Mare Street, London, E8 1HY
Website: behindthiswall.com
Paper Dress Vintage
On entering, this looks like a regular, if rather well-stocked, vintage shop with rails of pre-loved garments from 1900 to the 1980s. But look again and you’ll spot the bottle-laden bar lining the back wall, which, once night falls, provides lubrication for the secret gig venue upstairs. Grab a cocktail or local craft beer and settle in to enjoy an intimate show, or head to the cute garden at the back for outdoor entertainment on summer evenings.
Address: Paper Dress Vintage, 352a Mare Street, London E8 1HR
Website: paperdressvintage.co.uk
Atlantis Records
This place was previously known as cult café Pacific Social Club, serving excellent toasties amid eclectic decor to an intriguing soundtrack, but pre-pandemic the owners decided to dedicate the small space to records alone, buying and selling vintage vinyl of all genres. There’s an eccentric selection and it’s not unusual to stumble upon a rare gem.
Address: Atlantis Records, 8 Clarence Road, London E5 8HB
Website: atlantisrecords.co.uk
The Quarter Store
Foodies beware, it’s very easy to spend a lot of money very quickly in this lovely little deli specialising in East London produce. It stocks a great line of premium essentials (kombucha, high-end pasta, hot sauces, Perelló olives, all the basics) but this is the place to pick up local delicacies, many of which you won’t find elsewhere: Som Saa curry pastes, My Neighbours the Dumplings frozen potstickers, London Borough of Jam, Climpson’s coffee and the more ubiquitous Hackney Gelato.
Address: The Quarter Store, 364 Mare Street, London E8 1HR
Website: instagram.com/thequarterstore
Hackney Church Brew Co
Even the churches in Hackney are dedicated to craft beer. And the best around has to be at Hackney Church Brew Co, set in a cluster of arches by the station that have been transformed into a hub of low-key shops and drinking emporia. The brewery is affiliated with nearby progressive church and gig venue St John at Hackney – grab a spot at one of the long tables in the atmospheric glass-fronted arch or in the covered garden to try the Heaven Help Me stout or Lazy Day Lager.
Address: Hackney Church Brew Co, 16–17 Bohemia Place, London, E8 1DU
Website: hackneychurchbrew.co
Moth Club
An ex-servicemen’s members' club, Moth Club brings together Hackney old and new. In the front, find world-weary locals sharing war stories over a pint, while the back room has been taken over by the team behind the Shacklewell Arms and transformed into a vibrant venue. The famous gold ceiling and glitter curtain are the shimmering backdrops to club nights, gigs, film screenings, pub quizzes and even a secret performance by Lady Gaga.
Address: Moth Club, Valette Street, London, E9 6NU
Website: mothclub.co.uk
Sutton House
It might be surprising to find a National Trust property plonked in the centre of Hackney, but this Grade II-listed Tudor manor has stood the test of time and is well worth a visit. Built in 1535 by Ralph Sadleir, a courtier of Henry VIII, the house has had many lives, including being taken over by squatters in the 1980s and used as a gig venue. Today, the building is excellently preserved, and the grounds are a peaceful respite from Hackney’s hectic streets.
Address: Sutton House, Homerton High Street, London E9 6JQ
Website: nationaltrust.org.uk
Chesham Arms
Walking through the quiet residential backstreets of Hackney Central, chances are you’d never stumble upon this secret gem. A true favourite among locals, the Chesham Arms has a classic cosy bar with a roaring fire in winter, dogs happily napping under tables and a strong selection of beers on tap. But the pub really comes into its own in the warmer months when patrons can spread out into the hidden, sprawling beer garden at the back.
Address: The Chesham Arms, 15 Mehetabel Road, London E9 6DU
Website: instagram.com/cheshamarms