Bars
The 6 Best Bars in Dalston
Kingsland Road after dark: the award-winning cocktail dens, vinyl listening rooms and dance-till-late bars that give Dalston its drinking reputation.
In short: our top picks are Three Sheets, Ellie's and Brilliant Corners. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Dalston has spent years as the place London goes when Shoreditch starts to feel too polished, and it still drinks with more nerve than almost anywhere east. One stretch of Kingsland Road holds a world-ranked cocktail bar, an eight-pound martini institution and a hi-fi room built around 1970s Klipschorn speakers, then sends you round to Ridley Road to dance. It is scruffy in the right places and serious where it counts. These are the bars worth the trip up the Overground.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Three Sheets | Dalston | £££ |
| Ellie's | Dalston | ££ |
| Brilliant Corners | Dalston | £££ |
| Parasol | Dalston | £££ |
| Farr's School of Dancing | Dalston | ££ |
| Ridley Road Market Bar | Dalston | ££ |
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Editor’s choice
Three Sheets
Why we pick itBrothers Max and Noel Venning run one of the country's most awarded little rooms, with a tight menu built in tiers by flavour intensity.
neighbourhood cocktail bar
-
Ellie's
Why we pick itEight-pound martinis poured all day, classic cocktails, Guinness and toasties served late, with pavement tables that spill onto Kingsland Road in summer.
martini and toastie bar
-
Brilliant Corners
Why we pick itA decade-old audiophile room where vinyl DJs play through 1970s Klipschorn speakers alongside izakaya plates and a deep natural wine list.
hi-fi listening bar
-
Parasol
Why we pick itA basement done out in Moroccan and Mexican tones, with classic-leaning cocktails and DJs spinning early-eighties New York disco until 2am.
subterranean cocktail bar
-
Farr's School of Dancing
Why we pick itNamed after the 1930s dance school that stood here, it runs gigs and DJ nights in a restored building with a basement that hosts films and bands.
pub and live-music bar
-
Ridley Road Market Bar
Why we pick itCheap cocktails, sweaty weekend dancefloors and DJs in an old market unit that has drawn locals and the industry crowd for more than a decade.
late-night party bar
Before you book
Most of this sits within a ten-minute walk of Dalston Junction or Dalston Kingsland Overground, so do it as a crawl rather than picking one. Three Sheets and Ellie’s are walk-in only and fill up fast after 8pm, so go early or expect a wait. Brilliant Corners and Parasol both open Thursday to Saturday only. Ridley Road Market Bar charges entry after 10pm on Friday and Saturday, so arrive before then if you want to dodge the queue and the cover.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Three Sheets is our editor's choice: Brothers Max and Noel Venning run one of the country's most awarded little rooms, with a tight menu built in tiers by flavour intensity. Three Sheets, Ellie's and Brilliant Corners lead the guide, with 6 places in total, all chosen on merit.
How does Lamplit London choose its recommendations?
Every place is chosen on merit, after first-hand visits where possible, with no pay-for-placement. Read our full method at https://www.lamplitlondon.com/how-we-choose/.
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