Hackney is a thriving and exciting part of East London. With proud artists and musicians residing in this area, there is a fantastic cultural scene and of course plenty of bars and cocktail spaces for you to put your best drinking foot forward. We have put together our favourite Hackney bars for a great night out in London, and the list is telling enough for itself.
Last updated on 13th July 2018
This stylish bar in Hackney serves up delicious food and drink in cool, rustic surrounds. With an on-site gin distillery, it's the place to go for gin-based cocktails and delicious pizzas.
From 1960's ice cream parlour to one of the best new bars in Hackney, Jim's Cafe is a destination for those on the lookout for masterful mixology and tasty food.
Primed with some of the most laid-back boozers in London, Hackney is perfect to wile away the evening, but where to dose up? Grab a pint of draught or tuck into a top plate of gastro gorging courtesy of the team behind The Star by Hackney Downs.
A historic building, this Hackney bar is perfect for grabbing a tasty bite to eat with your drink and chatting with your mates until close. This is a chic East London pub and is really popular amongst the trendy professionals wanting to wind down at the weekend. What's more, they hold a great Sunday Roast sessions for weekend feasting.
Having spent a summer at the top of Oval Space's terrace bar, Behind This Wall is a secret little cocktail bar that's setting up permanent shop in Hackney. Serving vibrant cocktails that showcase the finest produce of Britain's small batch distilleries, the venue's simple decor clashes nicely with the explosive taste of every drink. Trust us, this bar has plenty of surprises up its sleave.
The group behind Night Tales have teamed up with Morty and Bob's toastie specialist to create a fun-loving bar in Hackney. Based in London Fields, this cafe-cum-bar serves delicious food during the day, before kicking things up after dark, courtesy of the venue's DJs and live music. Grab your mates, grab a cocktail and enjoy a fun night out in East London.
From their biodynamic wine selection through to small plates and pickles, Rawduck is a neighbourhood bar moments from London Fields. The spot is open all day, meaning you can refuel at the concrete bar whenever you feel peckish.
Curiouser and curiouser! The Last Tuesday Society is a wonderland of the frankly bizarre. Wander around this parallel universe, chatting to the cat skeletons, waving at the dolls and nodding to the fossils. Baroque cocktails go particularly well with this kind of experience, and a maximalist selection of such drinks as well as bar snacks are available.
White Post Cafe in Hackney has got to be one of the friendliest bars in North London. The flexible space goes from cafe during the day, serving the tastiest cake and coffee, to a relaxed wine bar and eatery come night time. The venue also hosts a wide range of events and encourages guests to take part in the community spirit.
Discovered this little gem of gastro foods and deadly ciders yet? Strikingly furnished with wicker masks, brass icons and giant maypoles (Morris Men dress optional), Hand of Glory boasts an interior unlike anything else we've encountered. There's an ever-rotating spread of home cooking to sample (don't miss the Proper Northern Roast on Sunday) and a fine choice of cider, ales and infused gins to guzzle.
Three Compasses is a charming bar on Dalston Lane that doesn't conform to what you'd typically expect from a popular bar in zone two. It isn't a super-chic hipster parade with a microbrewery and a room for stroking cats; it takes a much more simple approach. This local Eastend boozer focuses on serving up some of the best burgers in London, pouring the finest ales, and boasts some of the friendliest bar folk around.
Neatly perched between Dalston and Hackney Downs, The Vic is a friendly and familiar boozer renowned for its live music schedule. Many an enthusiastic gig-goer have enjoyed an intimate gig night here, and while the venue retains its prestige as one of East London's leading music venues, there's also a fine gastropub environment to enjoy. Relaxed and playful, The Vic serves classic cocktails, local beers and an ever-changing menu of comfort foods.
