The Flaneur: A Guide To Stoke Newington
Stoke Newington, Hackney’s village neighbour, retains that sleepy, out-of-the-way village feel that makes it a popular place to call home. Managing to hold onto its own individual identity and charm, the lack of tube station has kept it somewhat devoid of the tourists droves that other neighbouring centres experience.
Here is our guide to the must-see spots in the neighbourhood.
01.
178 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0JL
Championing the concept of ‘wakon yōsai’, AUN (pronounced “A-Un”) is a showcase of Japanese cuisine. A restaurant which combines traditional Japanese cultural values, harmonising with Western technologies. The outcome, delicate and perfectly balanced small plates, imaginatively presented and accompanied with sleek interiors and friendly staff.
02.
35 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0NX
Amongst the myriad of eateries along Church Street lies Rubedo. An alternative and in our opinion, an underrated spot for casual dining. Think focaccia, burrata, and panna cotta; and with seating for just 30 guests, Rubedo is the perfect cosy, living room sized Italian restaurant to escape London.
03.
136 Stoke Newington Church Street
London N16 0JU
Whatever your culinary repertoire, Kitchen Provisions is the home of kitchen gadgetry and a knife for every occasion. Their outpost on Church Street stock an expert range of chefs knives, kitchen tools and homeware items, all artfully displayed.
04.
161 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0UH
Expect to queue at this Church Street staple, but it’s well worth the wait. The independently-run Spence Bakery has been keeping the residents of Church Street fed with cinnamon buns and freshly baked loaves since 2002. Having claimed many prestigious bread-making awards for their “practically perfect” baguettes, this Stokey favourite lives up to the hype.
05.
215 Stoke Newington High Street, London N16 0LH
Boasting the title of one of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ garden cemeteries in London, Abney Park is no longer a working cemetery but now run as a woodland memorial park and local nature reserve.
06.
93 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0AS
Locals jostle for a spot at this much-loved eatery. Expect a whole lot more than just avocado on toast with a menu inspired by the Jewish delis of America. The shakshuka with lemon yoghurt is not to be missed.
07.
146 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0JU
Experts in the repair, restoration and sale of stringed instruments, Bridgewood & Neitzert are a muso institution with an enviable reputation in the luthier trade. The talented craftsmen use time-honoured techniques, fine-tuned over their 40 years of trading and their expertise is second-to-none.
08.
Green Lanes, London N16 9HJ
Beloved by locals, the 53-acre leafy park packs in everything from athletic tracks and paddling pools, to an organic market garden and butterfly dome. The Grade-II listed Clissold House (formerly known as Paradise House) lies on the eastern side, built in the 1790s for a local Quaker. Opening to the public in the late 1880s, the park was almost lost to developers, but thanks to the dogged determination of locals, a passionate (and thankfully successful) campaign was launched to retain and secure the park ‘for the recreation of the public forever’.
