Hackney Restaurant Festival 2026 Dates Venues and Best Dishes

The Hackney Restaurant Festival 2026 runs from February 1 to February 28, 2026, featuring 16+ independent restaurants across East London’s Hackney borough with discounts up to 40% off through the EatClub app.

What Is the Hackney Restaurant Festival 2026?

The Hackney Restaurant Festival is a month-long culinary event showcasing Hackney’s independent restaurants with 40% dining discounts. Curated by Dalston’s Acme Fire Cult and powered by EatClub, it targets February’s slow hospitality period to drive footfall to local businesses while making dining affordable for locals and visitors.

The festival operates as a chef-led celebration bringing together handpicked restaurateurs under a single neighbourhood campaign. Its objective supports the hospitality community while spotlighting exceptional culinary talent in Hackney. EatClub’s app, launched in London in 2023, now partners with nearly 1,000 venues across the city.

February represents one of London’s slowest months for hospitality. By hosting a festival dedicated to making eating out more affordable, EatClub and Acme Fire Cult support Hackney’s independent businesses during this traditionally quieter trading period.

Pan Koutlakis, chief executive officer of EatClub, stated the festival fills more tables at time restaurants need them most. The partnership drives real footfall, introduces restaurants to new diners, and celebrates neighbourhoods making London’s food scene special.

When Does the Hackney Restaurant Festival 2026 Run?

The festival runs February 1–28, 2026, with some sources indicating it extends through February 29, 2026. The event operates throughout the entire month of February 2026 without ticketing requirements.

The Restaurant Festival Hackney begins on January 22, 2026, when participating restaurants were announced, then runs from February 1 through February 28. Some sources confirm the festival runs until February 29, 2026.

No tickets are required for participation. Anyone can join by downloading EatClub’s app for free. The festival operates as a walk-in event where discounts apply automatically during less busy periods at participating venues.

Where Are the Hackney Restaurant Festival 2026 Venues Located?

Participating venues span Hackney’sKEY neighbourhoods including Dalston, Clapton, Stoke Newington, Haggerston, and Victoria Park. All restaurants are located within the Hackney borough of East London.

Key Restaurant Locations by Area

Dalston hosts Acme Fire Cult at Abbot Street, London E8 3DP, and Corrochio’s with its basement agave bar. Acme Fire Cult occupies a former carpark space and serves as the festival’s curator.

Stoke Newington Road features Mangal 2 at 4 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 7XN, a Turkish institution that has operated since owner Ali Dirik moved from Istanbul in 1987.

Lower Clapton Road includes My Neighbours the Dumplings at 165 Lower Clapton Road, London E5 8EQ, while Victoria Park Road hosts the restaurant’s second location at 178-180 Victoria Park Road, Hackney, London E9 7HD.

Haggerston houses Berber & Q at Arch 338, Acton Mews, London E8 4EA, situated under railway arches near Liverpool Street.

Additional venues include Big Night, Papi, Tom’s Pasta, Alber’s, Sune, Oren, Marksman Public House, Mambow, and Lucia’s, with addresses distributed across Hackney’s dining landscape.

Which Restaurants Participate in Hackney Restaurant Festival 2026?

Seventeen restaurants have confirmed participation, including Acme Fire Cult, Mangal 2, Corrochio’s, Big Night, Papi, Tom’s Pasta, Alber’s, My Neighbours the Dumplings, Sune, Oren, Marksman Public House, Mambow, Lucia’s, and Berber & Q. Additional venues will be announced as the festival progresses.

The confirmed restaurants represent a cross-section of Hackney’s dining landscape, from long-standing cult classics to newer restaurants that quickly became favourites with Londoners and tourists.

Complete Participant List

• Acme Fire Cult (festival curator, Dalston)
• Corrochio’s (Dalston)
• Big Night (chef Joe Lippman residency)
• Mangal 2 (Turkish institution, Stoke Newington)
• Papi
• Tom’s Pasta
• Alber’s
• My Neighbours the Dumplings (Clapton and Victoria Park)
• Sune (sharing-plates with low-intervention wines)
• Oren
• Marksman Public House
• Mambow (modern Malaysian, chef Abby Lee)
• Lucia’s
• Berber & Q (north African share plates, Haggerston)

Fourteen restaurants were confirmed as of January 24, 2026, with additional announcements expected.

How Do You Get Discounts at the Hackney Restaurant Festival 2026?

Download the free EatClub app, search for a participating restaurant, identify when discounts apply, then walk in and pay through the app. The 40% discount redeems directly in-app at payment point by linking a payment card.

To participate, diners simply need to download and sign up to the free-to-use EatClub app. Through the app, guests browse participating restaurants and walk in to automatically access the exclusive 40% off offer.

The deal redeems directly in-app at the point of payment. Guests link a payment card and pay via the app, ensuring a seamless experience for both diners and restaurants. Discounts apply during less busy periods at participating venues.

Discounts are subject to terms, conditions, and availability. For further information, consult the EatClub app or visit the Restaurant Festival’s website at therestaurantfestival.co.uk.

What Are the Best Dishes at Acme Fire Cult During the Festival?

Acme Fire Cult’s winter curry house menu features Lamb Chop Railway Curry, Pigs Head Vindaloo, Vadouvan Monkfish Skewers, and Venison Sheekh Kebab. Chef Andrew Clarke transformed the restaurant into a curry house inspired by his India travels, maintaining fire-led cooking ethos.

The menu includes fiery stuffed Goan mackerel and spicy lamb chop railway curry described as “arguably the one everyone’s been raving about”.

Additional dishes feature smoked vadouvan chicken in French-Indian style curry butter, venison and pork seekh kebabs, and tomato-heavy lamb chop railway curry with fire-grilled chops in warming Anglo-Indian masala gravy.

Aslam’s Butter Cauliflower appears on the menu, featuring roasted cauliflower folded into silky butter and cream sauce spiked with Kashmiri chilli and chaat masala.

Acme Fire Cult’s Curry House menu runs throughout January and February 2026. The restaurant operates Tuesday-Wednesday 5:30pm–10pm, Thursday 12:30pm–3:30pm and 5:30pm–10pm, Friday 12:30pm–3:30pm and 5:30pm–11pm, Saturday 1pm–11pm, Sunday 12pm–5pm.

Which Dishes Make Mangal 2 a Festival Highlight?

Mangal 2’s signature dishes include Lamb Koobideh (94% recommended), Lamb Chops (93% recommended), Borek (88% recommended), Leek Tulum & Caraway Borek (85% recommended), and Arnavut Ciğeri lamb liver (82% recommended). The TurkishOcakbasi institution offers modern innovative Turkish food.

Recent menu highlights include 40-day-aged beef rib with house sujuk (dry fermented sausage) and sumac onions, mushroom manti dumplings, mutton tantuni (chopped grilled mutton loin on pillowy sourdough), cull yaw kofte (smoky ewe meat with grilled apple), and tahini tart topped with cherry stone cream.

The restaurant offers Chicken and Cabbage Manti with Burnt Calçot and Smoked Mushroom Sehriyeli Pilav with Grilled White Asparagus as second course options.

Mangal 2 operates Monday-Saturday 12:00 PM–11:00 PM at 4 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 7XN. During the festival, diners get up to 40% off at this Turkish institution.

What Special Menu Items Does Corrochio’s Offer?

Corrochio’s features Vampiros (crispy tortillas with various fillings) with spicy Margaritas and crispy grilled tortillas topped with cheese and pork carnitas. The Dalston restaurant includes a recently opened basement agave bar.

The restaurant offers crispy tortillas with various fillings as its signature Vampiros dish.

Which Dishes Define Big Night’s Festival Residency?

During chef Joe Lippman’s limited residency, Big Night serves open-fire cooking menu items including Porthilly Oysters with Blue Rhubarb and Wild Bass Crudo with Tomato Ponzu and Yuzu Oil. The festival highlights this chef’s temporary restaurant presence.

The menu focuses on open-fire cooking techniques.

What Makes Mambow’s Malaysian Dishes Stand Out?

Mambow offers chef Abby Lee’s modern Malaysian dishes with up to 40% off during the festival. The restaurant represents newer establishments that quickly became favourites.

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Which North African Plates Does Berber & Q Serve?

Berber & Q features north African share plates paired with low-intervention wines. The Haggerston restaurant operates under railway arches at Arch 338, Acton Mews, London E8 4EA, Tuesday-Sunday 6pm–11pm with brunch Saturday-Sunday 11am–3pm.

What Dumpling Varieties Does My Neighbours the Dumplings Prepare?

My Neighbours the Dumplings serves handmade dumplings with rotating menus at both Clapton and Victoria Park locations. The Clapton venue operates at 165 Lower Clapton Road, London E5 8EQ, while the Victoria Park location sits at 178-180 Victoria Park Road, Hackney, London E9 7HD.

The Victoria Park restaurant features a lantern-lit courtyard and walk-in-only casual service.

How Does Sune Approach Sharing Plates and Wines?

Sune offers sharing-plates paired with low-intervention wines as its signature approach. The restaurant participates with up to 40% off during the festival.

What Impact Does the Festival Have on Hackney’s Hospitality Sector?

The festival addresses February’s hospitality challenges by filling tables during off-peak hours while offering diners affordable food experiences. EatClub’s technology drives incremental revenue while connecting restaurants with engaged diners seeking standout dining experiences.

The initiative supports Hackney’s independent businesses during traditionally quieter trading periods. It increases accessibility and affordability at top restaurants for diners visiting during dreary February months.

Nearly 1,000 venues across London now partner with EatClub’s app, demonstrating the platform’s established infrastructure for supporting hospitality businesses.

Why Does This Festival Matter for East London’s Food Scene?

The festival spotlights exceptional culinary talent across Hackney’s diverse dining landscape from cult classics to buzzy newcomers. It celebrates neighbourhoods making London’s food scene special while making eating out more affordable during London’s slowest hospitality month.

The event brings together long-standing favourites alongside emerging restaurants, representing Hackney’s complete dining ecosystem. Chef-led curations like Acme Fire Cult’s demonstrate the borough’s culinary innovation.

The Restaurant Festival demonstrates how dining technology partnerships can support independent businesses while providing accessible dining experiences. This model addresses systemic hospitality challenges during seasonal downturns.