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Dalston is one of east London’s most vibrant and diverse quarters, a stretch of the Kingsland Road that hums by day with market life and comes alive after dark with bars, clubs and live music. Energetic and multicultural, it is a favourite of those chasing the city’s cutting edge.
Where is Dalston and how to get there
Dalston lies in the borough of Hackney in east London. The Overground serves it at Dalston Junction and Dalston Kingsland, both a few minutes from the main drag.
Markets, music and nightlife
By day the Ridley Road Market spills across a side street with a gloriously international array of food and goods, reflecting the many communities that call Dalston home. By night the area is one of London’s great going-out districts, dense with bars, basement clubs, live-music venues and rooftop drinking. It is a place to follow your instincts and the crowds.
Eating and drinking
Dalston’s food runs from Turkish grills and Vietnamese cafes to natural-wine bars and small-plate restaurants, matched by one of the liveliest bar scenes in the city. Come hungry and stay late.
Good to know
Is Dalston good for nightlife?
Very much so. Dalston is one of east London’s leading nightlife districts, packed with bars, basement clubs, live-music venues and late-night eating along and around the Kingsland Road. It draws a young, eclectic crowd and stays busy well into the early hours at weekends.
Where to go next
Explore Hackney, Stoke Newington or Hoxton, or browse all our London neighbourhood guides.
