We Just Can't Get Enough of Hackney Wick!
By Jane Venables (31 Mar 17)
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In fact, Hackney Wick has done pretty well all round post Olympics with the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on its doorstep and the brand new Here East with its cool offices and canal side dining just next door. With West Ham's new home just steps away in the London Stadium, Hackney Wick's bars fill up on match day whilst the huge Westfield Stratford City shopping centre is literally just a ten-minute walk away. Oh yeah, and this summer brings a whole host of big concerts to the stadium so Hackney Wick is about to become even more popular.
Seeing as our interest lies purely with what we can eat and drink there, we thought we'd highlight some of the area's best bars and restaurants. So why not top up that oyster card, hop on the Overground (yes, it has its very own Overground station so easily accessible) and check it out for yourself!
Here are just some of the fantastic eating and drinking destinations you'll find there:
Decked out with up cycled items from the local area including old railway sleepers and palette crates, Crate Brewery not only brew their very own divine craft beer on-site, but have a fantastic bar & pizzeria too. Found in the hugely popular and hip Mick's Garage area of Hackney Wick, "Crate Brewery occupies a huge ground floor space which spills out onto the canal side for summertime drinks by the water. Naturally craft beers are the order of the day, both Crate's own and some guest beers too whilst the hand rolled pizzas dish up some interesting varieties such as sage and truffle and Middle Eastern lamb.
Following a pilgrimage to the USA to perfect their sauces, duo Richard and Andy created Randy's Wings and began producing some of the finest chicken wings this side of the Atlantic. Following various hugely successful pop-ups around London they have now opened shop in the brand new Here East complex in Hackney Wick, just next to the Olympic Park. Tuck into their mouth-watering buffalo wings and grab a deckchair by the canal in the summertime. Oh yes, and the service is superb.
Hackney Wick's Here East complex is set to become the destination du jour for foodies and fans of craft beer it would seem. Mason & Co, a veritable hipster magnet in these parts, is a super stylish establishment serving an exciting American Italian street food menu by Capish food and an outstanding selection of craft beers by Five Points Brew. The vibe is cool yet relaxed and the whole place spills out onto the canalside on warmer days.
Boasting the best views over the Olympic Stadium and a viewing gallery into its very own smokehouse, Forman's & Sons restaurant on Fish Island is a real hidden gem in Hackney Wick. Forming part of the legendary Forman & Sons factory, Britain's oldest salmon curers, Forman's Restaurant is a stunning riverside eatery serving Forman's amazing London cure smoked salmon and seasonal British food.
A kind of bar/gig space/restaurant, Number 90 fits the Hackney Wick profile to perfection. With a décor of handcrafted, bespoke wood inside and a cracking riverside terrace outside, Number 90 is a pretty cool space for drinks and eats and its programme of art, film, music, comedy and theatre make it somewhat of an institution in these parts. Expect a locally sourced menu and innovative cocktails as well as a great selection of craft beers.
Wild meats, line caught fish and foraged and seasonal produce make the menu at Shanes on Canalside a tempting proposition. Located in Here East in Hackney Wick, Shanes on Canalside is yet another great reason to get on over to this part of London. The simple yet stylish décor is the perfect canvas for wild venison, rabbit, wood pigeon and some of the best steaks around whilst the terrace offers the most delightful waterside dining. Kiwi born Shane has certainly impressed Hackney's demanding diners- this is his second restaurant in the borough (his other venue is over on Chatsworth Road).
Yet another fantastic addition to Here East's canalside dining, Gotto Trattoria is a lovely independent Italian restaurant serving a daily changing menu of hand rolled pasta, quality British meat and fish and seasonal Italian ingredients. Sister of the excellent Mele e Pere over in Soho, this riverside eatery offers a little slice of the Italian Riviera right on the banks of the River Lea. Check out their Italian style weekend brunch menu for a real treat and enjoy it al fresco by the water on a sunny day.
Perched beside the canal in the heart of Hackney Wick, Grow, Hackney represents this creative part of London to perfection. An independent bar, kitchen and creative space, expect to find sustainability at every corner from the food and drink to the fixtures and fittings. Chef duo Slow Fire London currently head up the kitchen, a team dedicated to all things fresh and seasonal, so you'll find an exciting ever changing menu at Grow, whilst craft beers, organic wines and spirits and Fairtrade tea and coffee provide the liquid refreshments. There are plenty of free events held at Grow, Hackney too including local DJs, musicians and artists and the canalside tables fill up fast during the warmer months.
The Hackney Wick branch of London's favourite breakfast and brunch haunt sits along the picturesque canalside of Here East, just across the street from the green spaces of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Kitsch interiors and deckchair seating out by the canal provide just the right ambience for a bite to eat here. There's plenty else on offer too including cocktail happy hours, boozy bingo nights and quizzes. The Breakfast Club team wins again!
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