Heart of Hackney

Walk into Heart of Hackney and you're immediately in proper local territory. This isn't the kind of place trying too hard—it's just a really solid pub that knows what it does well. The bar's the sort of spot where regulars have their usual, tourists feel welcome, and conversation happens naturally between strangers. You'll find decent beers on tap, a no-nonsense approach to cocktails, and food that doesn't pretend to be anything fancier than it needs to be. It's the kind of venue that keeps a neighbourhood ticking.