Please note, Farley Macallan is now closed. Time Out Editors, June 2018.
‘Farley Macallan’ may sound like a character from a Scottish seafaring legend, but it’s actually a Hackney bar-restaurant where a bright neon sign above the counter glows with the motto ‘#Reinventing the local’. A cosy one-room bar with an events space downstairs, it offers brunch during the day Wednesday to Sunday (including the bottomless sort on weekends), classy small plates and a decent wine list in the evenings from Wednesday to Saturday.
The words ‘Hackney’s fashion hub’ take some getting used to, but according to Farley Macallan’s website, that’s where you’ll find this new breed of higher-end East End boozer: it sits on a shabby corner on the not-so-appealing main road between Hackney Central and Homerton, where there’s a concentrated line-up of shiny discount outlets run by Nike, Burberry, Pringle and other big brands. This place isn’t fashion-y at all, though. The décor is easy and functional, with simple tables, pine chairs and stools, it’s foodie in a friendly way – the staff are happy to talk through their core offering of wines, cheeses and cured meats – and it attracts a young neighbourhood crowd.
But beware of just ‘popping in’ to Farley Macallan. The place shuts occasionally for private parties or themed and ticketed nights (they run music and comedy events downstairs). The first time I visited, they were about to have a Caribbean evening, lining up potent-looking punches behind the bar and preparing a special menu (they let me slip in for a quick drink before it kicked off). Their calendar includes various tasting events – including a 90-minute session on a weekday night when you can try eight off-menu wines along with their meat and cheese pairings, all for just £9.50. You won’t find that down The Dog & Duck.