Weaving a route through Bethnal Green to Regent’s Canal, Cambridge Heath is dotted with a pleasant mix of cafés, bars and restaurants. Although quieter than other areas in East London, the district welcomes no shortage of independent businesses. It’s also well known for its experimental art scene, with a handful of pop-up galleries that champion local artists.
Commuting into Central London isn’t difficult either; Cambridge Heath has its own station and Bethnal Green Station is just a short walk away. So, if you’re looking for a more relaxed East London lifestyle, living in Cambridge Heath is a good choice. Read on for our top pick of places to hang out.
Bistrotheque
Sleek fine-dining restaurant, Bistrotheque, serves a diverse menu around the clock. Tucked away just off of Cambridge Heath Road, the restaurant is well worth stumbling upon in you’re living in Cambridge Heath. All the dishes are executed to the highest of qualities, tasting as good as they look.
Late mornings attract a busy crowd thanks to the selection of brunch favourites, including eggs Florentine and the restaurant’s own take on the full English breakfast. At night, the restaurant transforms into a stylish venue for French-inspired dishes. The waiters will be able to recommend a bottle of wine or cocktail to complement your meal.
Address: 23-27 Wadeson Street, London E2 9DR
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 8983 7900
Follow: @bistrotheque
Satan’s Whiskers
Boasting one of London’s most extensive cocktail menus, Satan’s Whiskers is the perfect neighbourhood bar to visit with friends or on a date. The expert bartenders add new cocktails to the menu on a daily basis and are on hand to recommend a drink to suit your taste buds. Even if this becomes your regular weekend hangout whilst living in Cambridge Heath, there will always be a different drink to try. Inside, the bar is decked out with vintage French posters and a hip-hop soundtrack, adding to the relaxed atmosphere.
Address: 343 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9RA
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 7739 8362
Follow: @satans_whiskers
Town Hall Hotel: Corner Room
With its chic interiors and delicious menu, the Corner Room at Town Hall Hotel offers a stylish setting for dining. The wall of hanging lamps and the tall light-seeking windows make for an artistic photo backdrop. You don’t have to be a hotel resident to visit either. On weekends, the restaurant attracts an ambient mix of East Londoners and guests.
Dishes are experimental, crafted from seasonal produce to create unusual but appetising combinations. The dinner menu encompasses an array of British-European small plates, letting you share a bit of everything over a bottle of wine.
Address: Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square, London E2 9NF
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 7871 0460
Follow: @cornerroomlondon
iMT Gallery
Contemporary art space, iMT Gallery (Image Music Text), is sure to inspire your creativity. Triumphing local London artists as well as up-and-coming worldwide artists, the gallery features a diverse selection of multimedia displays and digital installations.
Unlike some other London galleries, iMT breaks boundaries, cutting across the art scene to only exhibit work that’s experimental and out of the ordinary. Longstanding artists represented by iMT include David Burrows (renowned for his paint splatters and debri-strewn installations) and London art group, Plastique Fantastique.
Address: Unit 2/210 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9NQ UK
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 8980 5475
Follow: @imtgallery
Sodo Pizza
As its name suggests, Sodo Pizza specialise in sourdough pizzas. The pizzeria delivers a refreshing take on classic flavours, offering much more besides a margherita. Each of the pizzas has been assigned a witty name, from the ‘Jon Boy Chovy’ (anchovies and olives) to the ‘The Wicker Man’ (pepperoni, chilli honey and mascarpone), and ingredients are locally sourced from London butchers, urban gardens and delis, meaning the menu changes with the seasons. Vegans and celiacs can also delight in a few dietary-friendly options.
As well as their Bethnal Green location near Cambridge Heath Road, you can also find the pizzeria in Clapton, Hoxton, and Walthamstow.
In fact, we loved Sodo Pizza so much that we even got them up to the roof terrace of nearby Dressage Court for one of our summer evenings of pizza and prosecco.
Address: 266 Poyser Street, London E2 9RF
Phone: 020 3581 2929
Follow: @sodopizzalondon
Ombra
Perched on the tip of Cambridge Heath Road overlooking Regent’s Canal, Ombra offers a relaxed setting for dinner. If you’re looking for good food without unnecessary frills whilst living in Cambridge Heath, this osteria is a good choice. The Italian-inspired menu fuses authentic flavours in an array of simple, homely dishes. Classic dishes include white truffle risotto and tomato chilli linguine. You can guarantee Italian favourites such as tiramisu and panna cotta on the dessert menu.
There is also a wide choice of Italian wines to pair with your meal. In the summer months, sit outside and watch the passing views, sipping an Aperol Spritz.
Address: One Vyner Street, London E2 9DG
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 8981 5150
Follow: @ombrabar.restaurant
Nkora
Conveniently located opposite Cambridge Heath station, Nkora is a prime spot to pick up a morning coffee on route to the office. The Scandi-inspired coffeehouse serves a mix of beans from London roasteries, alongside canned drinks from independent London brands.
So, if you’re looking for something sweet or savoury to go with your coffee, check out their cake and sandwich counter. There’s always a different selection of homemade traybakes, cookies, chocolate nut balls and sourdough sandwiches. Nkora also has a more central East London location on Hackney Road in Shoreditch.
Address: 236 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA
Phone: 020 7018 0740
Follow: @nkoracoffee
Living in Cambridge Heath
Living in Cambridge Heath offers the best of both worlds — a calmer atmosphere, without forgoing great places to hang out. You’ll be well-connected with transport routes in and out of the centre of London, as well as having everything you could need right on your doorstep.
If Cambridge Heath could be for you, then check out apartments at Dressage Court.
Or, if you’re still considering all of East London, take a look at our East London guide for more cool places to live in the area.
