Date spot in Shoreditch and Hackney
Happiness Forgets
Duck down the stairs to a small, candlelit basement bar for well-made classics and a short menu that changes regularly.
Why it's a good date: It's small and unhurried, and the staff are warm without any fuss. You can book, but some tables are kept for walk-ins if you decide on the night.
More from our Shoreditch and Hackney guide
Dennis Severs' House
Folgate Street, Spitalfields
Address: 18 Folgate Street, London E1 6BX- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Romantic
Move in silence through the candlelit rooms of an 18th-century Spitalfields house, set up as if the family who lived there had just stepped out.
Why it's a good date: Unlike any museum you've been to, and the silence means you'll be completely absorbed. Book ahead, and save your chat for a drink afterwards.
Photo: Bex Walton, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Sông Quê Café
Kingsland Road, Shoreditch
Address: Sông Quê Café, 134 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DY- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share bowls of Vietnamese noodle soup and grilled dishes at the busiest canteen on Kingsland Road's run of Vietnamese restaurants.
Why it's a good date: It's no-frills and always buzzing, and the cooking is the reason people have kept coming back for years. Go early in the evening at weekends, as tables fill fast.
Mien Tay
Kingsland Road, Shoreditch
Address: Mien Tay, 106-108 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DP- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Order a spread of southern Vietnamese grilled meats, noodles and herby salads to share at a family-run spot on Kingsland Road.
Why it's a good date: It's casual and friendly, with a long menu that's made for sharing between two. A good, easy dinner before a drink in Shoreditch or Hoxton.
