The Black Eel

You'll find yourself on one of Dalston's best stretches, where The Black Eel sits unfussily among the independent shops and cafés that make this corner of E8 worth the trip. Inside, it's got that comfortable, lived-in feeling—the kind of place where regulars have their spots and newcomers feel welcome immediately. The real draw here is the drinks programme: they know their stuff when it comes to beer, but it's never pretentious about it. There's proper food too, the sort that actually pairs with what you're drinking rather than feeling like an afterthought.