East London’s dining scene is about to serve up its biggest bargain yet. Next month, some of the area’s most sought-after restaurants will come together for a major new food festival in Hackney, offering diners discounts of up to 40 percent.From cult wine bars and inventive small-plate spots to beloved neighbourhood institutions, the event – backed by Time Out Worldwide – promises a cut-price tour of the borough’s hottest tables, all within a few walkable postcodes.For food lovers keen to explore the city’s most talked-about kitchens without blowing the budget, this could be the ultimate excuse to eat out every night.
East Londons rising culinary stars join forces for a blockbuster Hackney food festival next month
Some of the most talked‑about kitchens from London Fields to Victoria Park are stepping out of their buzzy dining rooms and into the streets, teaming up for a long weekend of tasting menus, one‑off collabs and late‑night service. Expect cult natural wine bars pouring by the glass next to Filipino bakeries, New‑Thai counter dining, live‑fire sourdough pizza and low‑and‑slow BBQ, all running limited festival menus with discounts of up to 40 percent.Chefs are promising stripped‑back dishes that show off what they do best – think wood‑grilled day‑boat fish, handmade noodles loaded with chilli oil and reimagined Sunday roasts in bao form – plus a few wildcard creations that will never hit their regular menus again.
Across Hackney’s arches, warehouses and canalside terraces, the line‑up reads like a who’s who of the borough’s current food obsessions, with kitchen takeovers, walk‑in‑only counter seats and chef’s table sessions that are booked out weeks in advance under normal circumstances. Visitors can wander between pop‑ups to build their own progressive feast, with options such as:
- Street‑side chef collabs pairing neighbourhood favourites for one‑night‑only menus
- Late‑night dessert bars serving soft‑serve, patisserie and natural wine pairings
- Plant‑based smokehouses showcasing fermented, grilled and pickled veg
- Workshops and tastings on everything from kimchi to Hackney‑roasted coffee
| Area | What to expect | Approx. discount |
|---|---|---|
| London Fields | Wine bars & small plates | Up to 30% |
| Dalston | Street food mash‑ups | Up to 40% |
| Hackney Wick | Canalside BBQ & pizza | Around 25% |
How to feast for less inside the exclusive Time Out Worldwide dining discounts of up to 40 percent
Think of it as your cheat sheet to eating like royalty on a shoestring. During the Hackney takeover,diners can unlock up to 40 percent off simply by booking through the Time Out Worldwide platform or flashing the festival QR at participating spots. Look out for off-peak sittings – early dinners and late lunches frequently enough carry the steepest reductions – and don’t be shy about sharing plates; many of the offers apply to food only, making it smart to split generous mains and invest the savings in a standout bottle or a round of cocktails. Keep a close eye on festival-specific menus too: chefs are putting out stripped-back, high-impact dishes that are faster to cook and cheaper to serve, meaning you get signature flavours without the full-price bill.
To really work the deals, build your day around the neighbourhood’s discount clusters and mix casual bites with one big-ticket reservation. Focus on:
- Early-bird seatings – snag the first sitting of the night for the highest percentage cuts.
- Midweek bookings – Tuesday and Wednesday slots are where the quiet-room bargains hide.
- Set menus – curated three-course line-ups frequently enough undercut à la carte, even before the discount.
- Lunch specials – shorter menus, quicker service, friendlier prices.
| Strategy | Typical Saving | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Early-bird dinner | 30-40% | Date nights |
| Midweek lunch | 20-35% | Office escape |
| Set festival menu | Up to 40% | Trying new places |
From small plates to late night bites the unmissable restaurant line up you need to book now
East London’s chefs are rolling out their greatest hits for one week only, with festival menus that zigzag from refined sharing plates to gloriously messy, post-midnight snacks. Think fermented chilli burrata in a candlelit Dalston wine bar, buttermilk fried chicken bao in a neon-lit Shoreditch basement, and a plant-led Hackney Downs spot dishing up charred hispi with miso butter and late-night smoked tofu skewers. Tables are already vanishing fast as locals clock the promise of up to 40 percent off some of the area’s most in-demand dining rooms.
- Wine-forward small plates in converted warehouses,all crunchy croquettes,oysters and low-intervention pours.
- Live-fire kitchens turning out ember-roasted flatbreads and blistered vegetables until the early hours.
- Neighbourhood pasta bars doing midnight bowls of cacio e pepe and nduja rigatoni at festival-only prices.
- Modern kebab joints serving wood-grilled skewers and loaded pides ideal for a late-night refuel.
| Area | Vibe | Must-Try Dish | Approx. Discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hackney Central | Natural wine & sharing plates | Smoked beetroot tartare | 30-40% off |
| Dalston | Late-night counter dining | Chilli crab linguine | 25-35% off |
| London Fields | Fire-led open kitchen | Coal-grilled lamb chops | 20-30% off |
| Shoreditch | Neon-lit snack bars | Gochujang fried chicken bun | Up to 40% off |
Insider tips for navigating Hackneys hottest festival streets where to eat drink and linger
Start early around London Fields, where the streets hum with prep kitchens and coffee roasters firing up for the day. Grab a flat white and a flaky croissant at a neighbourhood café, then follow the smell of char and spice towards Mare Street, where festival pop-ups spill out onto the pavement. To avoid the longest queues, locals swear by hitting headline restaurants during mid-afternoon lulls and saving the most hyped street-food stalls for the last hour of service. Keep an eye on QR codes and chalkboard signs – many places quietly drop flash 40% deals for off-peak time slots or limited menu items.
- Use side streets off Broadway Market to dodge the crowds and discover quieter wine bars.
- Share plates at several venues rather of committing to one long sit-down meal.
- Ask bartenders about festival-only cocktails and off-menu pours.
- Carry a reusable cup and cutlery – some stalls reward this with extra discounts.
- End the night by the canal or in pocket-sized parks for a calmer digestif.
| Area | Best For | When To Go |
|---|---|---|
| London Fields | Brunch & coffee | 10am-12pm |
| Mare Street | Headline kitchens | 3pm-5pm |
| Broadway Market | Snacks & wine | 5pm-8pm |
The Conclusion
Whether you’re chasing buzzy new openings, cult neighbourhood favourites or just a serious bargain, next month’s festival is shaping up to be the moment to do it. With discounts of up to 40 percent and many of East London’s most talked‑about kitchens involved, Hackney is about to turn into one giant dining room.
Tables are likely to go fast, so keep an eye out for booking details and full line‑ups as they’re announced. Clear your diary, round up your hungriest mates and prepare to eat your way across E8 and beyond – this is one East London food event you’ll actually regret missing.
