Bars
The 6 Best Bars in Hackney
Hackney after dark: the listening bars, natural-wine rooms, rooftops and beer halls that East London does so well.
In short: our top picks are Behind This Wall, Equal Parts and Bruno. 6 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Hackney drinks the way it lives, on its own terms and slightly ahead of everyone else. The cocktail talent that once headed to Soho now stays put, the natural-wine scene has gone from fringe to default, and the pubs pour beer brewed three streets away. This is a borough built for a slow crawl rather than a single destination, so pick a postcode and work outward. These are the bars to plan a night around.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Behind This Wall | Hackney | £££ |
| Equal Parts | Hackney | £££ |
| Bruno | Hackney | £££ |
| Netil360 | London Fields | ££ |
| The Pembury Tavern | Hackney | ££ |
| Goldie Saloon | Hackney | £££ |
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Editor’s choice
Behind This Wall
Why we pick itA basement hi-fi den under the Narrow Way where rare vinyl plays loud, the drinks come built to taste rather than off a menu, and service is all-seated.
listening cocktail bar
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Equal Parts
Why we pick itMichael Sager's moody, mid-century listening bar splits its list between well-judged classics and adventurous mezcal, sherry and calvados signatures.
listening cocktail bar
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Bruno
Why we pick itA tiny converted Victorian stable near Victoria Park pouring low-intervention bottles alongside filled soft pretzels and charcuterie, named by Sager for his father.
natural wine bar
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Netil360
Why we pick itA rooftop above London Fields with panoramic city views, local drinks and stone-baked Neapolitan pizza, plus a weekend DJ line-up on the sky-high dancefloor.
rooftop bar
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The Pembury Tavern
Why we pick itFive Points' home pub on a busy junction, with sixteen keg lines, six cask ales, rotating guests and ACE Pizza served every day.
craft beer pub
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Goldie Saloon
Why we pick itA low-lit FLINTA and gay 'living room' under Guts Gallery, mixing well-priced classics with low-intervention wines and Queer Brewing beer on draught.
queer cocktail bar
Before you book
Hackney Central and London Fields Overground stations put you within walking distance of most of these, and the borough is big, so cluster your night around one pocket rather than zig-zagging. Behind This Wall, Equal Parts and Bruno take bookings and fill at weekends, so reserve. Netil360 sits up nine flights with no lift and the weekend queue builds early, so arrive before 8pm. The pubs are walk-in.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Behind This Wall is our editor's choice: A basement hi-fi den under the Narrow Way where rare vinyl plays loud, the drinks come built to taste rather than off a menu, and service is all-seated. Behind This Wall, Equal Parts and Bruno 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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