Dalston area: top things to see and do

The Dalston area is located in East London, right in the heart of the Hackney borough. Although Hackney used to be one of the poorest parts of the UK back in the day, the situation is entirely different today. Dalston is considered to be a very dynamic part of the capital, with a unique energy and vibrant spirit. You’ll find a variety of things here, from bustling bars and restaurants, to cute vintage shops, local markets, art galleries and urban gardens.

If you’re a curious tourist or even just a local who wants to learn something new, read on about some of Dalston’s most interesting sights. We’ve prepared a guide that will cover everything from food and entertainment to the coolest events in this area. Dive in and get ready to become an expert on all things Dalston!

EartH¹

Let’s start with the arts first. EartH, short for the Evolutionary Arts Hackney, is a unique multi-arts and events space in Dalston. This is a great platform for innovative and creative artists to show off their skill and talent to the world. If you take a look at the list of events, you’ll notice that it’s a colourful mix of concerts, workshops, comedy specials and drag shows, to name a few.

EartH was launched in 2018, after decades of its venue being forgotten and locked up. A team of enthusiasts renovated and opened the famous EartH Hall and EartH Theatre, to the pleasure of thousands of visitors each year.² You never know, you might discover your new favorite artist here!

Rio Cinema³

The Rio Cinema is an independent 1930s art deco movie theater located in the heart of Dalston. Not only is this one of Dalston’s cultural centres, but it also showcases the incredible unity and team spirit of the local community behind it. They run it as a non-profit charity and do everything to get people involved and interested.

There are two screens in the Rio and the programme includes both independent and mainstream films. If you find yourself here at the right time, you could visit one of the festivals that the Rio hosts, such as the Queer Film Fest, London Short Film Fest, Doc'N Roll etc. The cherry on top of your cinematic experience will be the old-school plush seats and red stage curtains.

So, if you’re a movie-lover, the Rio cinema is the place to be. Not only will you enjoy the films and the building’s old-timey aesthetic, you’ll also support a local passion project.

Dalston Eastern Curve Garden⁴

Who said you can’t enjoy the wonders of nature in a big city? The Dalston Eastern Curve Garden is a true blessing for Londoners - a green oasis in one of the capital's most populated and concrete-heavy areas. Following the recipe of many other cities, it was built on what once was the Eastern Curve railway line.

Not only is this a wonderful place to unwind and connect with nature, it also hosts some events and workshops. At the moment of writing, some past activities were drawing workshops, social groups for older people, volunteer gardening sessions and music nights.⁵ The best part is that both the entry and the activities are completely free.

You can bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages to the garden, or visit the cafe they have on site where they do serve alcohol. There you can also enjoy some wood-fired oven pizza and botanically-inspired cakes.⁶ A day in this garden can almost feel like a short getaway!

Dusty Knuckle Bakery⁷

This bakery is a locals’ favorite and an absolute must-visit when in Dalston. It started out as a small business operating out of a shipping container and grew to have two very popular locations in London. The original one is in Dalston, which is another reason to stop by. They have their signature breads, pastries and sandwiches, as well as soups and salads.

Like many other things on this list, this is not just what it seems to be at first glance. Besides having incredible food, they also support at-risk youth and give them job opportunities. They have mentorship programmes designed to help young people overcome the challenges they might be facing.⁸

If you have a free weekend and love to cook, they also offer baking and cooking classes. This way, you can make their famous bread in your very own kitchen, along with many other delicacies.⁹

Ridley Road Market¹⁰

Visiting the local market is often one of the best ways to explore a neighbourhood. You can see the locals in action, learn about what they usually buy and try some new food.

The Ridley Road Market is Dalston in a nutshell - vibrant, international and fresh. It’s open 9:30am to 4pm, every day except for Sunday and it has around 150 stalls. There you can find goods from all parts of the globe, from Afro-Caribbean, to Asian and European food.

Hang-Up Gallery¹¹

All contemporary art and Banksy lovers will enjoy visiting the Hang-Up Gallery. The Dalston-located independent space shows Banksy’s pieces on a regular basis and sells even his limited edition prints.

Besides Banksy’s art, Hang-Up Gallery also buys and sells the works of Harland Miller, Basquiat, David Shrigley, and Bridget Riley, among others. Some of the contemporary artists that they support and promote are Tim Fishlock, Dave White, Nancy Fouts, The Connor Brothers and Mark Powell.

Dalston Roof Park¹²

The Dalston Roof Park is a popular rooftop bar, garden and event space. It pretty much has all you need for a relaxing day (or night) in the busy neighbourhood. Whether that’s just a cocktail and some food or maybe doing a bit of sunrise yoga, this is the ideal spot.

They also host various music acts and have a bottomless brunch for those with a big appetite. There’s no elevator, so get ready to climb a couple of flights of stairs. However, the view is absolutely worth it.¹³

P.S. Keep in mind that most events require you to be 21+, so make sure you bring your ID with you. ¹³

Draughts¹⁴

Dalston has a perfect spot for all you board game enthusiasts - Draughts. You can be a kid again and explore London’s largest collection of board games with your friends or with strangers. For £7, you get 3 hours of fun and games (literally), but also make sure you try the food.

The staff can explain to you any game you’re not familiar with. You can even ask them for recommendations based on what you usually enjoy.

Turkish food¹⁵

WIthout a doubt, Dalston has the best Turkish food in London. There’s an authentic kebab house on nearly every corner and it would be a shame if you didn’t try at least one.

However, if you’d like to jump from street food to gourmet cuisine, Dalston takes the crown once again. Mangal 2 is one of the best Turkish restaurants in the neighbourhood and in all of London. Owned by two brothers, sons of the original Mangal owner Ali Dirik, this restaurant offers the freshest, tastiest Turkish food in the capital. The restaurant was even recognized as one of the best in the UK by National Restaurant Awards.¹⁶

The word ‘mangal’ refers to the specific way of cooking - an open charcoal fire around which family and friends gather to eat and socialize. So, grab some friends or take yourself on a lunch date and eat the best food Dalston has to offer!

A great alternative for low-cost spending in the UK - the Wise card

As you’re strolling through Dalston, a Wise card might come in handy. With the Wise card, you can spend in and convert over 50 currencies, using only the mid-market exchange rate. You won’t have to think about high conversion fees or hidden costs.¹⁷

If you need cash for some of these places, you can withdraw up to £200 a month from UK ATMs with no charge (although ATM providers may charge their own fee). Also, budgeting and tracking your expenses can be very easy with the official Wise app.

Join Wise today

Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Sources used for this article:

Sources checked on 05-Apr-2023.