Suffer from FOMO? Summer in Hackney is going to be fabulous – with a packed programme of events to suit every budget and taste.
From the best spots for alfresco dining and drinking to brilliant plays, gigs and activities for children, we’ve got you covered. With our handy guide to summer, there’s no need to miss out!
Alfresco dining
Few spots in Hackney can beat Kraft’s newly-opened rooftop bar in Dalston. This amazing brewery, distillery and restaurant offer home-brewed beer, summery cocktails and a delicious fusion of Latin American and Japanese cuisine. The views across the cityscape are breathtaking, the terrace is beautifully decorated with palm trees and bamboo and there’s usually a live DJ on site.
Dalston Eastern Curve Garden – this place is idyllic; stunning plants populate this sprawling garden, there’s plenty of wildlife and tables and chairs are scattered around – offering a chance to eat and drink outside in the shade. The menu is pretty simple – hot and cold drinks, cider, spirits and beers, cake and, at the weekends, sourdough pizzas cooked in a wood-fired oven.
We’re big fans of the Towpath Café – it’s only open in the summer; get in there quick and grab a table! It’s located on the Regent’s Canal near Haggerston Station. They offer a brilliant breakfast menu and their Spanish sausage sandwiches are sublime. They’re also open for dinner on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays (walk-in only). This is the perfect spot for people-watching (and boat-watching) on a sunny day.
Have you checked out Stokey’s secret garden yet? La Rosetta on Stoke Newington High Street is a beautiful Italian restaurant run by a mother-and-son team. The pizzas are enormous but light and tasty and there’s a lovely courtyard garden downstairs (with the added benefit of a retractable roof).
Too good to miss events
On August 12th The West Reservoir is offering night-time swimming, drinks and street food. The event costs £25 and ends at 11 pm. Booking ahead via the Better website is essential.
A Caribbean food and drink festival takes place in Clissold Park on Saturday, August 19. There’ll be live music, funfair rides and rum punch.
Discover some young taken at Hackney Empire on August 12 with ADP Unmuted at Hackney Empire.
The show, a piece of original musical theatre, will be the culmination of 10 days of work with more than 40 young artists and creatives aged 14-19. It tells the story of a group of young people who come together in a world where music-making has been banned and fight to find a safe, secret space where music can once again exist.
Technically not Hackney but definitely worth a mention: All Points East is back to Victoria Park this summer (August 18 to 27) with acts including Stormzy, HAIM, The Strokes, Jungle and Dermot Kennedy. Booking essential.
Love history? The Hackney Society is hosting a walking tour of Springfield Park on Sunday, August 27, offering a glimpse into the life of the family on whose estate the park was created in 1905.
Got kids to entertain?
Little ones love the splash pad in Clissold Park (book ahead to avoid disappointment), Woodberry Wetlands has lots of open days with story-telling, pond-dipping and more.
If you’re juggling work and small people – check out Kindhaus in Stokey Pop-up on High St. They offer stay-and-play and a creche and have space for you to sit and work.
Hackney Carnival isn’t happening this year but there will be a number of carnival-related events and workshops for children. They offer a chance to make costumes and crafts and learn to play the steel pans and more. Click here for the full list of carnival events.
The Shakespeare Walk Adventure Playground in Stoke Newington is offering drop-off play sessions for six to 16-year-olds Monday to Friday (12 pm-5 pm) during the school holidays. As well as a visit from a talented music producer, there’ll be water play, arts and crafts, den making and woodwork.
Hackney Council has put together a comprehensive guide to school holiday clubs and childcare options so, whatever their age, it’s a good source of inspiration.
