Our favourite East London bars
East London Bars: cooler than penguin piddle.
Time was, you wouldn't venture over to East London unless your mum was being held hostage there... AND she had a 3-pack of Walnut Whips.
Things have changed. The East End is now for the cool kids and its thriving nightlife scene of underground clubs, bars and venues open only to those-in-the-know make it the place to earn Brownie Points with a date or chums.
In fact, if you're looking to impress, then your knowledge of East London's nightlife scene is probably higher up the list of requisites than your ability to read and write.
So take a look at our Best Bars of East London and you'll be in good shape. (Ironically, you'll need to be able to read to take in the list. Well, that's life.)
Ruby’s is a cosy, subterranean cocktail bar north of Dalston on Stoke Newington Road. Like its neighbour, Beyond Retro, it attracts a stylish clientele of locals who attend for the excellent blueberry mojitos and the trad-chic interior.
The Shacklewell Arms is Dalston’s reigning queen of live music. Don’t be fooled by the muddled interior of the pub on Shacklwell Lane, it hosts some spectacular live shows along with live football and gourmet hotdogs.
Kingsland Road has some good bars but The Haggerston is a cut above. Located a little short of Dalston Junction, the Haggerston is a sizeable lump of pub. Late opening, DJs, fine European beers and the occasional live act. You can’t say fairer than that.
Prepare your Hunter S Thompson quotes because the bar staff at the Hunter S in De Beauvoir absolutely love to hear them. In fact, they crave them. Inspired by the late, great writer, the Hunter S is a loving homage to the man. Well decorated with taxidermy and lounge seating, late opening hours and a killer chandelier.
Dalston Superstore falls somewhere between sleazy club and stylish bar, but nobody’s sure quite where. The Superstore hosts a variety of club nights with LGBT events a regular specialty.
