East London is always a few degrees hotter than the rest of the city — not in temperature, but in energy, flavour, and the feeling that you might stumble into something brilliant. This October, that energy turns inward: smoky kitchens, candlelit corners, and menus that lean into slow braises, wood smoke, and deep, cosy flavours. From handmade pasta and anchovy toast to open-fire feasts and custard desserts, here are 12 East London restaurants worth settling into this autumn — all vibe-checked and season-ready…
London Fields
The Scene: A vinyl bar disguised as a wine bar disguised as your new favourite place to eat anchovy toast and peachy pét-nat.
Eat This: Crab and courgette bucatini; the anchovy, obviously.
Vibe Check: Low lighting, high rotation, sexy plates.
2. Papi
Hackney
The Scene: A boundary-pushing neo-bistro where serious cooking meets chaotic charm – equal parts natural wine hangout, chef’s playground, and East London energy.
Eat This: Cured mackerel with horseradish; anything involving koji; the ice cream sandwich if it’s on.
Vibe Check: Cool without trying, candlelit but irreverent, ferment-forward and gloriously unfiltered.
3. Manteca
Shoreditch
The Scene: Italian-ish, nose-to-tail cooking with open fire drama and flawless pasta.
Eat This: Nduja steamed mussels, brown crab cacio e pepe.
Vibe Check: For people who pretend they don’t like TikTok restaurants, but secretly love them.
4. Acme Fire Cult
Dalston
The Scene: Fire-fuelled, veg-forward cooking under the railway arches. You’ll want everything on the grill.
Eat This: Hereford beef chop, grilled hispi cabbage with cult chilli sauce.
Vibe Check: Industrial-cool with actual soul.
5. Café Cecilia
Hackney
The Scene: Where fashion people brunch and chefs go on their day off. Tomos Parry’s former head chef is running the show — and it shows.
Eat This: Parmesan fritters, Guinness bread with butter, and literally whatever the special is.
Vibe Check: Understated and autumn-perfect – like wool coats and brown butter.
6. Morito Hackney Road
Hackney
The Scene: Mezze, Moorish tapas, and natural wine with a pulse.
Eat This: Beetroot borani, spicey beef short rib, labneh everything.
Vibe Check: Warm, glowing and saffron-scented.
7. BRAT at Climpson’s Arch
London Fields
The Scene: Wood-fired Basque greatness in an open-air courtyard. The big, sexy sibling to BRAT Shoreditch.
Eat This: Grilled whole turbot, burnt cheesecake, all the flatbreads.
Vibe Check: Big flavours and even bigger wines. Bring friends who like to share.
8. Singburi
Shoreditch
The Scene: Still East London’s most cult-loved Thai spot, from the cult Leytonstone original.
Eat This: Tod mun pla; prawn and betel-leaf Southern curry; dill and lemongrass pork sausage.
Vibe Check: Spicy-hot, natural-wine-friendly, neon-lit energy – chilli warmth for cold evenings.
9. The Noisy Oyster
Shoreditch
The Scene: A sleek monochrome seafood bistro meets martini bar in a design-led Shoreditch courtyard. The vibe is polished yet playful.
Eat This: Oysters shucked to order with smoked tomato water or horseradish crème fraîche; inventive crudo (scallops with pickled raspberry, trout with peach aguachile); mini martinis.
Vibe Check: Stylish design by Crosby Studios, cheeky bar snacks, sustainable seafood focus, lively but unpretentious. A proper East London talking point.
10. Jolene
Newington Green
The Scene: Part bakery, part bistro, part edible moodboard. Menus change daily and the flour is milled in-house.
Eat This: Literally whatever’s baked that day.
Vibe Check: Comfort food that’s never heavy – warm lighting, flour dusted charam.
11. Leo’s Restaurant & Bar
Clapton
The Scene: Mid-century Italian bar-meets-osteria on Chatsworth Road with vintage décor and newspaper-lined walls.
Eat This: Fregola cuttlefish rafu and fresh tomato (to share).
Vibe Check: Relaxed all-day spot; perfect for coffee, wine, or a cozy dinner.
12. The Lacy Nook
Walthamstow
The Scene: Modern Balkan small plates in a bright, relaxed space on Wood Street Studios.
Eat This: Charcoal baked feta, Beef cevapi, Grilled squid, plus cheesecake baklava.
Vibe Check: Balkan comfort food with East London attitude.
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