Dining
The 5 Best Restaurants in Hackney
East London's most exciting eating: where to find the best of Hackney's open kitchens and wine bars.
In short: our top picks are Cornerstone, P Franco and Morito Hackney Road. 5 places in total, chosen on merit, with the full reasoning below.
Hackney is where a lot of London’s most exciting cooking is happening right now, all open kitchens, natural wine and chefs doing exactly what they like. It rewards the curious. These are the Hackney tables worth heading east for, before the rest of the city catches on.
| Place | Area | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone | Hackney | £££ |
| P Franco | Hackney | ££ |
| Morito Hackney Road | Hackney | ££ |
| Behind | Hackney | £££ |
| Pidgin | Hackney | £££ |
-
Editor’s choice
Cornerstone
Why we pick itTom Brown's seafood-led room with a Michelin star; relaxed, brilliant and very Hackney.
-
P Franco
Why we pick itA wine shop with a hotplate and a cult following; natural wine and inventive plates.
-
Morito Hackney Road
Why we pick itSam and Sam Clark's tapas and meze; small plates done with real soul.
-
Behind
Why we pick itA tiny counter doing a seafood tasting menu that won a star fast; book ahead.
-
Pidgin
Why we pick itA weekly-changing set menu in a small room; personal, surprising and good value.
Before you book
Many of the best rooms are small and wine-led, so book where you can and turn up early where you cannot. Explore between London Fields and Lower Clapton; the best of it is spread out. And build in a drink after; Hackney does bars as well as it does dinner.
Common questions
What are the top picks in this guide?
Cornerstone is our editor's choice: Tom Brown's seafood-led room with a Michelin star; relaxed, brilliant and very Hackney. Cornerstone, P Franco and Morito Hackney Road lead the guide, with 5 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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