Date spot in Shoreditch and Hackney
Brat
Share a whole turbot and other dishes cooked over the wood-fired grill, in a wood-panelled first-floor dining room run by chef Tomos Parry.
Redchurch Street, Shoreditch
Address: First Floor, 4 Redchurch Street, London E1 6JL- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- A treat
- Romantic
- Foodie
Why it's a good date: Save it for an anniversary: the cooking is simple and smoky, and it's all about the fish. Book well ahead, and ask for a seat at the counter if you'd like to watch the grill.
More from our Shoreditch and Hackney guide
Victoria Park
Grove Road, between Hackney and Bethnal Green
Address: Victoria Park, Grove Road, London E3 5TB- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
Walk round east London's big Victorian park, past its lakes, fountain and pagoda, and take out a pedalo or rowing boat on the boating lake.
Why it's a good date: Plenty of room for a long walk or a picnic, and a turn on the lake is a proper date. The boats are seasonal, so check they're out before you go.
Photo: Matt Brown, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Satan's Whiskers
Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green
Address: 343 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9RA- Bar
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
Order a classic or a house twist from a menu that keeps changing, in a small bar with a scruffy front and a smart, friendly room inside.
Why it's a good date: Serious drinks without any stiffness, and the bartenders are happy to make you something off-menu. It's popular and small, so book ahead.
Rio Cinema
Kingsland High Street, Dalston
Address: 107 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2PB- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Watch anything from a new release to an arthouse classic in a community-run Art Deco cinema with a big single screen.
Why it's a good date: A cinema with character, and you're supporting a not-for-profit while you're at it. Take turns picking the film, and walk on to Dalston's bars afterwards.
Photo: Andrew Woodyatt, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
