Places for dinner before clubbing in Hackney

Dine then dance...

To eat before or after the debauchery? ...that is the question.

Stumbling down Mare Street with a kebab-grease beard and chilli sauce highlights at 4am definitely has it charm - although is it, perhaps, more civilised to dine before you hit the dance floor?

Yes, yes of course it is. And there are some great eateries in the area from which to take your pick for a pre-clubbing bite.

Plus, all that dancing will certainly work up an appetite for a kebab.

#winning

CRATE Brewery & Pizzeria image
CRATE Brewery & Pizzeria
Queens Yard E9 5EN
Hackney Wick 0.08 miles
AIL
Users
Bars
Photos

In terms of being on-trend, Crate ticks all the boxes. There’s an on-site brewery producingcraft beer, the restaurant serves pizzas, the furniture is made from upcycled materials (i.e. tables made from old pallets), it’s right by the canal in Hackney Wick, and DJs spin tunes in the evenings. Oh, and the male staff sport beards of course.

The Hackney Pearl image
The Hackney Pearl
11 Prince Edward Road E9 5LX
Hackney Wick 0.09 miles
AIL
Users
Bars
Photos

This excellent little neighbourhood restaurant offers gourmet British food without sky-high prices. Everything is made freshly on the premises, from the breads to the desserts, and you can feast on things like Toulouse sausages with roast potatoes and braised venison with orange and mint gremolata.

Oslo image
Oslo
1a Amhurst Road E8 1LL
Hackney Central 0.00 miles
AIL
Users
Other
Photos

If you want to keep walking between dinner and dancing to a minimum, why not do both under the same roof? The menu at Oslo has crowd-pleasing dishes like battered fish, steaks and burgers inspired by flavours from around the world. They host pop and rock gigs, and in the club there’s house and techno till 3am.

Rita's image
Rita's
175 Mare Street E8 3RH
London Fields 0.11 miles
American
Opening Times

Backed by Jackson Boxer of Brunswick House in Vauxhall, Rita’s first won plaudits as a pop-up for its fried chicken and other American-inspired delights. They now have a permanent home on Hackney’s Mare Street.

Lardo image
Lardo
Richmond Road E8 3NJ
London Fields 0.19 miles
AIL
Users
Italian
Photos

“Lardo” isn’t Italian for lard, but it is a type of fatty ham from Tuscany. So naturally it takes pride of place on the menu here, along with meaty pizzas and antipasti. They’ve also got a pretty fine selection of cheeses from Italy and Neal’s Yard Dairy. Ideal for small plates before a big night out.

Sager + Wilde image
Sager + Wilde
193 Hackney Road E2 8JL
Hoxton 0.10 miles
Bars
Opening Times

Sager + Wilde is another successful pop-up turned permanent venue. Primarily a chic wine bar, the menu features Italian charcuterie and small plates of beetroot, feta and walnuts, and pork with pistachios with prune terrine.

Tonkotsu East image
Tonkotsu East
1a Dunston Street, Arch 334 E8 4EB
Haggerston 0.29 miles
AIL
Users
Japanese
Photos

Tonkotsu is the name of the Japanese pork bone broth typically used in ramen dishes. It’s the speciality dish here, along with miso ramen, gyoza and pumpkin croquettes. Best of all their noodles are made in-house with a machine they imported especially from Japan.

Berber & Q image
Berber & Q
Acton Mews E8 4EA
Haggerston 0.29 miles
Middle Eastern
Opening Times

The focus at Berber & Q is on food from the Middle East and North Africa, particularly smoked, chargrilled meats. So you’ll find chicken wings marinated in hot harissa, home-made merguez sausages, hand-pulled spit-roasted lamb, and a nice selection of mezze.

Raw Duck image
Raw Duck
5 Amhurst Road E8 1LL
Hackney Central 0.00 miles
European
Photos

From the team behind the popular Ducksoup in Soho, Rawduck has a similar menu of dishes like chargrilled lamb leg with tahini yoghurt, and shrimp and sweet potato fritters. And in case you were wondering, they don’t actually serve any raw duck.