Date spot in Shoreditch and Hackney
Mangal II
Share inventive Turkish plates cooked over the charcoal grill at a long-loved Dalston restaurant, now run by the founder's two sons.
Stoke Newington Road, Dalston
Address: 27 Stoke Newington Road, London N16 8BJ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Foodie
- Cosy
Why it's a good date: Relaxed and buzzy, with cooking that's much more interesting than the old grill-house front suggests. Order a few plates to share and let the staff steer you.
More from our Shoreditch and Hackney guide
Hackney Empire
Mare Street, Hackney Central
Address: 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Mid-price
- Big night
See comedy, theatre, music or the famous Christmas pantomime in an ornate Edwardian music hall.
Why it's a good date: The gilded auditorium is a treat before the show even starts, and the programme is wide enough that there's always something you'll both enjoy.
Photo: Emmabellechan, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Queue for a hot salt beef beigel with mustard and pickle, or a classic smoked salmon and cream cheese, at the Brick Lane bakery.
Why it's a good date: Cheap, filling and a proper East End institution. A good last stop after a night out, or eat on the way to Columbia Road.
London Fields Lido
London Fields West Side, Hackney
Address: London Fields West Side, London E8 3EU- Activity
- Outdoors
- Cheap and cheerful
- Active
Swim lengths together in a heated 50-metre outdoor pool on the edge of London Fields.
Why it's a good date: It's heated all year, so a swim under the open sky works even when it's cold out. Book a slot ahead, then warm up with a coffee on Broadway Market.
Photo: Peter Smith, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
