The best pubs in Hackney

More like a handsome country pub than an East End local, this spot nearly fell under Hackney’s redevelopment spell. Thanks to a community petition, however, it was saved. From the lilac frontage to the textbook Great British pub interiors, there’s so much to love (not to mention the cute back garden). And with a rotating range of beers, ales and cider, you’ll want to keep coming back to this cracking community asset.

One of the more mature pubs in the Hackney canon, the Spurstowe Arms works a sophisticated stripped-back charm, never trying too hard to impress. The nondescript exterior would have you believe it was a football pub or stop-off for a desperate quick half, but inside features fresh-cut flowers, polished brass and a grand horseshoe bar, which offers four ales on tap, a fab wine list and even cocktails.

Five Points Brewing Co is now the proud parent of The Pembury Tavern, a pub on the busy junction with Dalston Lane that the brewery took its name from. Five Points got a feel for things behind the bar before a refurb, and by taking a sympathetic approach to the wants of existing punters, the two best things about the Pembury – pizza and pints – are still the main focus. They’ve also kept the bar billiards, don’t worry. Expect the Five Points range on tap – its Railway Porter doing a storming trade – as well as options from UK indies.

At the heart of the bustling Broadway Market, Dove is a Belgian beer-lovers heaven. Fittingly, it has the feel of a Continental tavern, with oak everywhere and an oversubscribed bar, which is the focus of the action. The menu is filled with Trappist, gueuze and fruit beers: it’s an exhaustive list celebrating the best of a proper beer culture. To soak it all up, steaming bowls of moules-frites fly from the kitchen, and there’s a whole meat-free menu on offer, too. It makes the Dove a perfect for a post-market pitstop.

If you’ve found yourself with the conundrum of whether to dedicate Saturday night to fine dining or serious drinking, this Hackney Road pub is for you. Following its grand re-opening almost a decade ago, the bar was left mainly intact, with many on-tap offerings and a great bottled beer selection. It’s the food, though, that’s its crowning glory, even picking up the title of Michelin Pub of the Year. Unfortunately, this means that tables fill up fast, so it’s worth booking if you’re keen. And take it from us, it’s definitely worth being keen.

This brewpub pulls in a big crowd thanks to its 24 taps of locally – quite literally – brewed beers and a number of guest spots. Most certainly not a hipster bar, there’s staunch traditionalism here: along with the home brewed beers you’ll find pork pies, scratchings and (award-winning) pickled eggs, and the decor is comfortably scuffed. It really is the perfect package, especially if you’re able to leave any smutty puns at the door.

A good-looking pub on cutesy Columbia Road, The Royal Oak is built around a handsome central bar. The scene is a boisterous one, as easily distracted staff deliver pricey wines and ales to an assortment of vintage-clad creatives who keep the hum of conversation going throughout the night. It’s at its best earlier in the week: Fridays and Saturdays can be uncomfortably frantic, and the flower market on the doorstep means Sundays can be a crush. Keen-eyed sitcom enthusiasts may recognise the Royal Oak from its starring role in 1990s classic Goodnight Sweetheart, although the current owners seem strangely reluctant to advertise the source of the pub’s 15 minutes.

During the day, this sprawling boozer is always a buzzing reflection of the area’s park life, with visitors to the verdant space marking this as a pit stop or an end goal. You’ll find plenty of dog walkers here with their pups, settling in for a warming-up by the fire or for an afternoon of sport on big screens. By night it makes its own fun with quizzes, discos and comedy nights. But the main draw is the sprawling beer garden, with pretty bunting and a constant summertime crowd enjoying pub grub and pints.

This back-passage boozer-slash-live-music-venue just off Hackney Road has maintained its dedication to championing local craft beers. Look for anything from Hackney Brewery, London Fields or Redchurch on rotation on tap – as well as showcasing fast food pop-ups. 

The Spread Eagle boasts the title as London’s first fully vegan pub. There are loads 14 taps pouring vegan-friendly beer and food is a real selling point, with plant-based Sunday roasts, pie and mash, burgers and all manner of snacks. Sink a vegan cocktail too, including a tasty tequila sour made using chickpea water.

For those unacquainted, this was once a London legend that doubled as a museum to football, as well as acting as a home away from home for West Bromwich Albion fans. Now you’ll find posh Viccy Park chippy Fish House and 15 beer taps mostly dedicated to what’s brewed within the M25, like a citrussy session IPA from Gipsy Hill. The interior is panelled in gorgeous carved wood, and fabric-covered pews act as seats in the small drinking space. A striking pub experience.

The old-timey mock-Tudor exterior sets you up for what’s in store with a visit here. An honest-to-goodness boozer with patterned carpets, engraved mirrors, a collage of beer mats, maritime art and a wood-burning stove. It also just so happens to be something of an LGBT+ icon, with regular drag shows and karaoke. 

This buzzing boozer close to London Fields station really draws the crowds in summer. Most of that’s down to a spacious outdoor terrace, with the green of London Fields itself within pint-tossing distance. There’s a solid selection of ales on pull pump, with regularly changing drops. A short wine list also features, alongside seasonal stuff - jugs of Pimm’s do brisk business in the summer.