Dalston to Stoke Newington

THE PERFECT DAY

Nighttime view of Voodoo Ray's storefront with illuminated sign, two people visible inside, and streetlight reflections on the sidewalk.

  • CLICK HERE‍ ‍to open an interactive map with morning destinations only.

    FIRST UP:     COFFEE WITH COMMUNITY ENERGY. Dalston Curve Garden if theweather is fine, or The Dusty Knuckle bakery if you’re HUNGRY. Both are right by the stations.

    CHARITY SHOPS:     Get stuck in! Traid alone may require an hour to fully investigate. We’ve included a few gems south of the route too.

  • CLICK HERE‍ ‍to open the interactive map for the afternoon destinations.

    LUNCH:     When in East London… eat Turkish or Jamaican food. Rest those feet!

    VINTAGE SHOPS:     Explore the full range from fun and affordable to collectable designer archives.

    FRESH AIR BREAK:     Clear the head and explore Abney Park Cemetery. Admire the ivy and look for ghosts.

    OR

    CAKE BREAK:     Super-fresh baklava washed down with Turkish tea would be our pick.

  • CLICK HERE‍ ‍to open the interactive map with evening destinations.

    UNWIND:     Heaven is a Guinness at The Auld Shillelagh, or another one of Stoke Newington’s characterful pubs.

    DINNER:     Families will enjoy pizza and board games at The Red Lion pub in Stokey or Sutton & Sons if you fancy super fresh fish and chips/lobster rolls.

    Friends and lovers are in for a treat at trendy Ta-Ko or Acme Fire Cult. Book ahead to be safe.

    NIGHT LIFE: Go see a band or a DJ! The area attracts top talent and the crowd is friendly. If you prefer low key, opt instead for a sexy, barely lit cocktail bar.

NEED TO KNOW

Start at Dalston Kingsland (Mildmay Overground running East to West) or Dalston Junction station (Windrush Overground running north to south). Spend the day wandering your way up towards Stoke Newington. When the sun sets wander your way back towards Dalston for pubs, restaurants, bars, music and theatre.

Highlights are listed below, each has a colour that links to pins on the map. Click on each pin for more info.

CLICK HERE to open the map full screen and navigate live. The route is very walkable, but if you want to cover more ground or hate walking, hop a 67, 149 or 476 bus. The free CityMapper app makes London transport very easy.

Note: What the map refers to as the ‘A10’ is Kingsland Rd/Stoke Newington High Street.

AREA HIGHLIGHTS

A park pathway shaded by large trees with people walking and benches along the path, with open grassy fields in the background during late afternoon or early evening.

Green Spaces

  • Dalston Curve Garden: The community reclaimed this disused railway plot and turned it into a quirky marvel.

    Abney Park Cemetery:‍ ‍Overgrown, historic and atmospheric. Kids and dogs will love getting lost in here.

    Clissold Park:The lush green heart of the area with cafe, playgrounds, splash park, tennis courts, picnic spaces, goats and more.

  • Dogs can get a good a run round Abney Park cemetery and Clissold Park.

    The Rose and Crown pub (Church St. in Stokey, on the round-a-bout just before Clissold Park) welcomes dogs.

    Many restaurants and pubs have outdoor tables, and others (The Good Egg, Ester’s) are pet friendly.

A smiling young boy with blond hair wearing an orange shirt, sitting at a table with a plate of food, holding a fork in his right hand, in a brightly lit restaurant.

Family Friendly

  • Pubs and kids mix well here. Pizza, crisps and board games are usually on offer, and kids are welcome until the evening crowd rolls in.

    Loading gaming bar welcomes families and has video consoles and a board games library. Book ahead (£2pp/ph) to be sure of a space.

    Charity shops are a never-ending source of toys, game and dress up and for a few pounds.

    The Rio Cinema in Dalston has a retro-vibe and clever indie programming.

    If the weather is properly rotten, the Young V+A museum is worth the detour. It’s a little bit off this route, but not far. Take the Central Line to Bethnal Green, it’s across the street from the tube exit.

  • Fish and Chips from Sutton and Sons is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

    Turkish food is an easy sell with lentil soup, turkish ‘pide’ very much like pizzas. The rice is plentiful and delicious, chargrilled veg and meat are simple and delicious.

    Cafe Z Bar in Stokey has a massive menu and friendly atmosphere that welcomes families. Fresh juices and smoothies, lots of brunch and lunch options to please little ones.

A glass of beer on a wooden table inside a restaurant with sunlight shining through, flowers in the background, and people sitting nearby.

Pubs

  • Closing times during the week are listed on each pin - often 11pm. Closing time is usually midnight on Fri/Sat.

    Kids are welcome usually till about 8pm.

    Pub food is good in these parts, well beyond crisps and nuts. Some pubs have a full menu, others bar snacks… pizza made on site is common, and surprisingly good! Book ahead for Sunday roasts.

  • Strolling from Stoke Newington to Dalston you will come across lots of charming bars. Do not be alarmed if the bar is barely illuminated… dark bars are trending.

    Bar Lotus is a ‘techno cocktail and whisky bar.’ Buzzy, small, and fills up quickly.

    392 Kingsland Rd. is the currently the perfect East London bar, worth the slight detour south. They have a tasty small plates menu too.

    A Mini Baris just that. Intimate with original cocktails. Great for twosomes.

Close-up of a woman wearing gold jewelry, including earrings, necklaces, and rings, with a checkered shirt, holding her collar with her hand.

Charity + Vintage Shops

  • Traid: Near Dalston Kingsland

    Mind: Stoke Newington Church St

    Mary’s Living and Giving: Stoke Newington Church St

  • Mero Retro: Carefully collected vintage alongside some handmade local designer items. Bonus = Japanese vibe.

    Beyond Retro: Party pieces and timeless classics.

    Reign Vintage‍: Superb quality and a huge range of eras. This place is the bomb.

    Storm in a Teacup: Designer archives… breathtaking.

Churros on a metal tray in a bakery display case.

Local Cuisine

  • SWEET
    Top picks are Bebek Baklava or Super Baklava for fresh pastries, cakes and tea.

    SAVOURY
    Mangal 1 has a traditional menu and and allows BYOB. Lively, vegans welcome, walk-ins only.

    Mangal II is a modern take on Turkish classics. Wonderful. Reserve this one ahead.

    People come from all over London to enjoy a Best Kebab.

  • Windrush Bar + Kitchen is at the top of Church Street. As friendly as it is well established.

    Jambay Kitchen serves up Jamaican cuisine in all its spicy and smoky glory.

  • RasaN16: One of London’s best south Indian restaurants. Vegetarian. Book ahead.

    Acme Fire Cult: This rock and roll meat joint is FIRE and having a moment.

    The Dusty Knuckle is an award-winning bakery and social enterprise. You won’t soon forget their sandwiches.

A group of people dancing and laughing at a concert or party in a dark indoor venue, with some crowd watching and enjoying the event.

Evenings

  • Live music, clubs and theatre here is top notch. Programming is international, underground, and up-and-coming.

    The Arcola Theatre: One to book ahead, a chance to see some brave and excellent work.

    Cafe Oto:The best of world music.

    SJQ: An underground atmospheric bar with live music (often jazz) and great sound.

    Shacklewell Arms: A rock and roll bar with gigs most nights. The acts are worth seeing - though some may require booking ahead.

    Club Makossa: If you’re looking for a sweaty night out dancing, this is IT.

  • Sass and style in spades.

    The Karaoke Hole: Both drag bar and glitzy karaoke - come for laughs, leave the wallflowers at home.

    Dalston Superstore: Drag brunches, food and drink during the day that slides into night. Bijou sweatbox club in the basement.

    Vogue Fabrics: Open for special events, and when they do it - they do it right. Check their website for happenings.