Whether you’re a local looking for your next night out, or perhaps you’re exploring London solo, there’s one neighborhood that’s on everyone’s lips and that’s Dalston. Its ever-changing landscape and thriving nightlife scene have solidified this Eastend gem as one of the most popular spots in the city.
There’s only one problem: you might not know where to start. Well, how convenient that you’ve stumbled across this little article of the best that Dalston has to offer. What follows is a by no means conclusive guide to Dalston. Instead, it is a sampling of some of our favourite places all wrapped up in one handy round-up.
From the best bars and clubs to adorable public spaces, must-visit restaurants, and more. Keep scrolling to find out why Dalston is the talk of the town across London.
1. Enjoy some craft beer at the adored dive bar Red Hand
Red Hand screams cool vibes dive bar from the second you enter the place. Low lighting and banging rock tunes welcome your arrival into one of Dalston’s steadfast mainstays in the London craft beer scene.
Boasting one of the best selections of craft drinks in the Eastend, their commitment to serving up rare and exciting exports has made it beloved by many across the city. You have to try the Tequila Verdita shot – a tangy mix of El Jimador tequila with pineapple, mint, coriander, sorrel, lime, and jalapeno. It may knock your socks off in the best way possible.
📍 Find Red Hand at 36-38 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XJ.
2. Watch a film at the iconic Rio Cinema
If you fancy a trip to the cinema, then Dalston is home to an absolute gem. Rio Cinema is a gorgeous listed building that oozes an Art Deco sophistication. It’s an extremely popular spot that dominates the high street, showing both indie flicks and mainstream films throughout the year. Even if you’re not interested in any films showing at the moment, the architecture is worth the visit alone!
📍 Find Rio Cinema at at 107 Kingsland High Street, E8 2PB.
3. Explore the charming Dalston Eastern Curve Garden
Built on an abandoned railroad, this gorgeous community park is sacred to many people within the Dalston community. What was once the railway line connecting Dalston Junction with the goods yard and the North London line, is now Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, boasting an adorable cafe and frequently organises events for the local community, including yoga, music, and more. Click here for more information
📍 Find Dalston Eastern Curve Garden at 13 Dalston Lane, E8 3DF.
🌐 Visit Dalston Eastern Curve Garden’s website
4. Don’t be a drag, just be a queen at The Divine
There’s a new queer venue and performance space in London and it’s already become a staple night-out for many. As nearby Haggerston lost its fabulous drag pub The Glory, owners Jonny Woo and John Sizzle decided to open an all-new space for the city’s LGBTQIA+ community and its exciting drag scene.
Expect everything and anything, from quirky cabaret to Drag King competitions, workshops, live music, and so much more. Their line-up of events is as diverse as it is exciting, jam-packed with some of the best queer performers the city has to offer.
📍 Find The Divine at 33 Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BJ
5. Share some drool-worthy Mexican tapas at Viva
With super friendly staff serving super tasty food and drinks, it’s hard to come away from Viva! not feeling, well, super! This Mexican-Latin favourite has become a go-to for many locals, with an extensive menu to choose from. Inside is lovely and cosy (while still lively and buzzy), but make sure to make your way through to the garden area, filled with lovely lights and some very funky artwork.
📍 Find Viva! at 2 Stoke Newington Road, N16 7XN.
6. Grab a cocktail (or two) from Ridley Road Market Bar
Famed for their unmatched happy hour and tropical dive bar vibes, Ridley Road Market Bar is a great place to get the party started. The retro ambiance will transport you back to the seventies, making it a cosy favourite for a quick catch-up and a drink on the weekdays.
But on the weekends, it’s all about the dancefloor – this is Dalston after all. As for their drinks, we recommend ordering the Ginger Mojito, or one of their frozen concoctions, like their legendary kitsch frozen piña coladas.
📍 Find Ridley Road Market at 49 Ridley Road, E8 2NP.
🌐 Visit Ridley Road Market Bar’s website
7. Catch a gig at The Shacklewell Arms
The Shacklewell Arms is undisputedly one of the best pubs in London to catch some live music. Some iconic names have started in the snug back-room at this Dalston boozer, including Solange Knowles, HAIM, and King Gizzard.
📍 Find The Shakwell Arms at 71 Shacklewell Lane E8 2EB
🌐 Visit The Shacklewell Arms’ website
8. Dance the night away at Dalston Superstore
As one of London’s many iconic LGBTQ+ venues, Dalston Superstore is known for some of the best queer parties in the city. As well as club nights packed with beats and good vibes, they usually play host to a stellar pop-up kitchen, so not only is there something to do in the night, but you can stop by during the day for some delicious grub!
📍 Find Dalston Superstore at 117 Kingsland High St, E8 2PB
🌐 Visit Dalston Superstore’s website
9. Go behind the bookshelf at The Victoria
This fantastic pub doubles as one of London’s most unique music venues – that is, if you go behind the bookshelf! From dancing the night away to the best DJs in town to guitar bands and everything in between, The Victoria is a must for pub lovers and music vultures alike. They focus on bringing up-and-coming bands and artists to the capital, so it’s a great spot to discover new music.
📍 451 Queensbridge Road, London, United Kingdom E8 3AS
🌐 Visit Dalston Superstore’s website
10. Get cultured at the Arcola Theatre
It’s pretty evident from this listicle that Dalston has long been a hub of creativity. No place exuberates this more than the Arcola Theatre, nestled inside a converted paint factory just off the bustling Kingsland High Street.
The theatre has become one of the most exciting fringe venues in London since its inception in 2000, showcasing daring, diverse, and socially conscious performances including operas, plays, and comedy. To view the full lineup of shows, click here or the link below to visit their official website.
📍 Find Arcola Theatre at 24 Ashwin St, London E8 3DL
🌐 Visit ‘s Arcola Theatre’s website
11. Enjoy live jazz and a meal at Dalston Jazz Bar
If you’re sly enough to get a reservation at this incredible dining experience, then you’re one lucky Londoner! This immersive jazz venue and restaurant in the heart of Dalston has gotten a lot of hype online and for excellent reason. Pay what you like for a fabulous meal, washed down with the smooth sounds of jazz.
This is not the kind of place you want to go for a relaxing dinner, with a continuously electric charm that’s made this place the hottest reservation in town. Also, the food is beautifully made with everyone raving about their fantastic seafood options.
📍 Find Dalston Jazz Bar at 4 Bradbury Street, N16 8JN
🌐 Visit Dalston Jazz Bar’s website
12. Get the drinks in at High Water Bar
For those in search of a more laid-back evening, High Water is one of Dalston’s favourite bars. This unassuming cocktail hotspot is the epitome of cool, famed for being your favourite bartender’s favourite bar, to channel Chappell Roan. With its cosy, dimly lit interiors and awesome drinks menu, High Water is the perfect spot to unwind after a day exploring Dalston!
📍 Find High Water Bar at 23 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 8BJ
🌐 Visit High Water Bar’s website
13. Pick up a loaf at Dusty Knuckle Bakery
The Dusty Knuckle Bakery is so good, that it’s become somewhat of an institution in Dalston. Famed for its fabulous sourdough, you’ve got to pick up a loaf (or two) the next time you’re in Dalston.
But fret not, there’s so much more on offer if you’re feeling extra peckish. From delicate pastries to hearty sandwich, this beloved go-to is a favourite for a bit of brunch or lunch. They even have a courtyard for when the sun is shining.
📍 Find Dalston Roof Park at Abbot St, London E8 3DP.
🌐 Visit The Dusty Knuckle’s website
14. Have a fantastic meal at mu
The team behind Brilliant Corners have another awesome restaurant in Dalston, mu, just a few doors down. Expect the same meticulous attention to music curation, Japanese food, and drinks, but with more of an emphasis on live performance, and a focus on fireside cooking in the a la carte food menu. Like Brilliant Corners, just with a little more grit and a little less polish. Either rock up and grab a seat at the bar to enjoy their perfectly made martinis and selection of skewers, or grab a table to get the full food experience.
📍 Find mu at 432-434 Kingsland Road, London E8 4AA.
15. Play some games at Dalston’s Draughts Board Games Bar
There are over a thousand games to play inside Draught’s flagship Hackney site. The grade-II listed space they find themselves in used to house a pie-and-mash shop, and it’s a charming blend of historic architectural features and unique design.
Expect delightful cocktails, delicious food, and fantastic beer on draught to accompany your marathon board-gaming sessions. If you’re a menu planner who picks what they order before they go to a restaurant, you can do the same here with the boardgames –there’s a few to choose from though.
📍 Find Draughts Board Games Bar at 41 Kingsland High Street, E8 2JS.
🌐 Visit Draights Board Games Bar’s website
16. Drink some pints at 40FT Brewery x ACME Fire Cult
On the one side there’s a brewery taproom, serving up some of the best, and freshest local craft beer in Dalston. On the other side there’s a massive grill cooking up a plant-forward menu of hearty, savoury delights. It’s 40FT Brewery and it’s Acme Fire Cult.
While they may exist mere centimetres from each other, they do have different offerings. Those after the incredible plates of food will need to take a seat at Acme Fire Cult for the full menu, but those at 40FT do still get a handful of options to choose from. But really, the pro move? Have a meal at ACME Fire Cult then spend the evening nursing cold pints and a full belly at the 40FT taproom.
📍 Find 40FT Brewery x ACME Fire Cult at Bootyard, Abbot Street Carpark, E8 3DP.
🌐 Visit 40FT Brewery x ACME Fire Cult’s website
17. Enjoy a live gig at Dalston’s beloved EartH
For a performance, music, and events roster that’s sure to have something for even the most discerning tastes, look no further than Evolutionary Arts Hackney. This must-visit, multi-arts space champions performances, shows, events, and talks from established and up-and-coming talents, the line-up encompasses acts from a huge array of disciplines.
The range goes from stand-up comedy performances to folk-rock concerts, from Caribbean Dancehall and Soca music nights to live conversation with cult and mainstream legends, from anarchic Pride raves to live podcast recordings, and beyond. Check out the events on offer here.
📍 Find EartH at 11-17 Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BH.
🌐 Visit Evolutinary Arts Hackney’s website
18. Grab the microphone at The Karaoke Hole
We mentioned the beloved Dalston Superstore earlier, but did you know they have a little sitter? Sing to your heart’s content at this karaoke dive bar that’s stealing the hearts of many locals. From incredible performers to themed nights, get in on the action at another one of Dalston’s fabulous LGBTQ+ venues–and undisputed favourite for karaoke.
📍 Find The Karaoke Hole at 95 Kingsland High St, E8 2PB.
🌐 Visit The Karaoke Hole’s website