Any right-minded person would agree that Hackney is one of the best places to live in the world.
While it may be within touching distance of the City of London, Hackney is a wellspring of alternative thinking, packed with creativity.
And among the markets, art galleries, coffee shops, design studios and shared-workspace complexes you will find some of the planet’s most exciting eateries and bars.
It’s not all ocean-spanning fusion, bang bang pheasant, and avocado-coffee street food wagons though. You’ll still find boozers which have been part of east London’s heritage for centuries. They may have vastly expanded offerings of ‘nolo’ beers and craft ales brewed with apricot or coal, but the pub is still the pub.
We’ve picked out just six of what we think are among the best in the borough, from a landmark beauty on the edge of one of our green spaces, to prime spots for live music, to possibly the best London location for a pint of Guinness.
Hackney, famously, has no Tube stations but that is no excuse - other rail and bus options are plentiful so get yourself there and you might just find your perfect pint.
1. Pub On The Park- London Fields
Overlooking the glorious green plains of London fields, from Broadway Market to the London Fields Lido, Pub on the Park has become its own iconic landmark for the area. The personalised artwork of a falling piano on the side of the building acts like a beacon, luring people in. With a large outdoor seating area, it is a favourite for locals on a sunny day. It shows all types of sports games, provides delicious food from their own kitchen and can become a little rowdy late on a Saturday, for all the best reasons. And anyway, who can say no to stopping for a pint during the Sunday park stroll? (Photo by André Langlois)
2. Hackney Tap - Hackney Central
Beer and gyoza - what more can a millennial ask for? This unique spot, sat at the bottom of Mare Street, is housed in what was Hackney Town Hall centuries ago. Standing next to the 13th century St Augustine Tower, its bright neon lights welcome strangers and locals. The beer selection is usually different from any other pub in the area - it is stocked to the brim with independent stouts and ales from breweries in the UK and beyond. And what good is a pint if you can’t have some dumplings with it? The pub offers a selection of four different types of gyoza, including their vegan tofu and vegetable option. Although the price point for Hackney Tap is a little above the average, the range of rare beers and delightfully authentic decor makes it worth it. (Photo by André Langlois)
3. Mascara Bar - Stoke Newington
The kind of place where you end up after a particularly hazy night and ask: “What was that Twin Peaks looking joint we were in last night?” The red walls and dark lighting give this dive bar a very specific kind of ambience that inevitably leads to random conversations with strangers and dancing (depending on whether the person running the jukebox is on from). It’s open to 3am on most nights so is always an option if you get turfed out of an east London boozer early and still aren’t ready to call it a night. (Photo by André Langlois)
4. The Auld Shillelagh - Stoke Newington
If you’ve met an Irish immigrant in London (who hasn’t?) chances are they’ve mentioned this place at least twice within five minutes of talking to them. It’s so Irish they import the Tayto crisps from Ireland rather than buying the ones that are supplied already in the UK. Yeah, it’s that kind of place. Oh, and the Guinness is great, obviously. Don’t get caught into a debate about which is the best in London, just sup on your pint and enjoy some good company (you might even get a trad session if you’re lucky). (Photo by André Langlois)