What’s On in Hackney, Dalston & Stoke Newington This Week (2–8 March 2026)
What’s On This Week in Hackney Areas covered: Hackney • Hackney Wick • Dalston • Stoke Newington • Homerton • Mare Street • Newington Green • Clapton • Kingsland Road • Broadway Market • Netil Market • Ridley Road Market • Hoxton Market
Updated: 2 March 2026
Quick Answer (standout picks this week)
- Drag Brunch — Dalston Superstore (Dalston) — Brunch + Drag show (Sat–Sun, daytime)
- Ridley Road Market — Dalston — Street market + global groceries (Mon–Sat, daytime)
- Broadway Market — Hackney — Saturday market + food crawl (Sat, 9am–5pm)
- Netil Market — London Fields (Hackney) — Design stalls + street food (weekdays & weekends)
- Night Tales — Dalston — Late-night terrace + club (Fri–Sat, until 3am)
- Ridley Road Market Bar — Dalston — Cheap cocktails + dancefloor (Thu–Sat, until 3am)
- One-star date-night dinner — Casa Fofō (Dalston) — Michelin-star set menu
- Wellness reset — Community Sauna Baths (Hackney Wick) — Sauna + cold plunges (daily sessions)
Weekly vibe
This week is peak Hackney energy: daytime markets that turn into accidental lunch feasts, Dalston nights that start “casual” and end at 3am, plus a strong undercurrent of feel-good plans (sauna, long walks, cinema clubs). It’s the kind of week where you can do high-low London perfectly: Michelin-star dinner one night, Ridley Road snacks the next, then a proper Saturday that’s just market → pub → dancing.
Theatre & Performing Arts
Heads-up: for date-specific theatre listings in Hackney/Dalston this week, venues tend to update their “What’s On” pages frequently. Below are reliable go-to venues (plus a couple of bookable culture anchors).
Hackney Empire (venue pick)
Area: Hackney Central
When: Check listings for this week (touring comedy, music, family shows rotate fast)
Why go: It’s the “big night out” theatre in the borough—best for a proper booked plan.
Best for: Date nights, visitors, “let’s do something real” evenings.
The Moth Club (live-culture venue pick)
Area: Hackney
When: Check listings (gigs, club nights, special one-offs)
Why go: Small, atmospheric, and properly East London—great when you want culture without the huge-venue sprawl.
Best for: Music-minded theatre people, indie crowds, fun midweek plans.
Bonus culture plan: cinema clubs as “performing arts”
Venue: Rio Cinema (Dalston)
When: Screenings across the week; weekends run late
Why go: The Rio’s programming is community-led—film clubs, themed nights, and a proper local feel.
Best for: Easy date nights, rainy-day culture, solo plans.
Live Music
Vortex Jazz Club (venue pick)
Area: Dalston
When: Check listings (jazz sets most nights)
Why go: One of Dalston’s most reliable “you’ll leave feeling better” venues.
Best for: Grown-up nights out, chilled dates, music lovers who hate massive crowds.
Hackney Wick / warehouse energy (venue pick)
Venue: Colour Factory
Area: Hackney Wick
When: Listings vary; it’s a major Hackney Wick music/nightlife anchor
Why go: Big, industrial, dance-ready—ideal when you want the full “Wick night out” feel.
Best for: Groups, late-night gig-to-club pacing.
Nightlife & Clubs
Night Tales
Area: Dalston
Date & time: Fri 6 (6pm–3am); Sat 7 (5pm–3am)
Description: Dalston’s “all-in-one” night: terrace drinks early, ticketed club later, pizza on-site when you need a mid-night reset.
Best for: Big groups, birthdays, “we want a proper night but with options.”
Ridley Road Market Bar
Area: Dalston (inside Ridley Road Market)
Date & time: Thu 5–Sat 7 (6pm–3am) (plus Tue/Wed until 2am)
Description: Tropical, joyful, inclusive—and genuinely built for dancing. Also a great budget-friendly “start here” spot before moving on.
Best for: Cheap-and-cheerful nights, mixed groups, low-pressure dancing.
Dalston Superstore (late + iconic LGBTQ+ venue)
Area: Dalston
When: Late-night venue; check listings for DJs/events
Description: A Dalston institution—queer-friendly, loud, fun, and always social. Drag brunch is the headline, but nights get properly lively too.
Best for: LGBTQ+ nights out, dancefloors, big friend groups.
Hackney Wick: post-midnight warehouse mood
Venue: Colour Factory (Hackney Wick)
When: Event-led (check listings); major club venue in the Wick
Best for: Late crews, electronic nights, “let’s go somewhere with a proper system.”
Markets & Food
Ridley Road Market
Area: Dalston
Date & time: Mon–Sat, 9:30am–4pm
Description: The real-deal Dalston market—produce, spices, fabric, home bits, and the best kind of chaotic browsing.
Best for: Cheap ingredients, snack missions, “let’s cook this week.”
Broadway Market
Area: Hackney
Date & time: Sat 7, 9am–5pm (market)
Description: The Saturday classic: food stalls, shops, and the easiest “wandering lunch” in the borough.
Best for: Lazy Saturdays, casual dates, visitors.
Netil Market
Area: London Fields (Hackney)
When: Weekend browsing + weekday low-key vibes
Description: Creative stalls + street food in a calmer pocket near London Fields—great if Broadway Market feels too packed.
Best for: Independent shopping, slow mornings, coffee + browse.
Food-led “do this, not that”
- If you want street food + a walk → Broadway Market into canal wandering.
- If you want cheap groceries + big flavours → Ridley Road Market first, then a pub.
- If you want designy stalls without the crush → Netil Market.
Family & Community
Dalston Superstore Drag Brunch (yes—daytime chaos can be a
day plan
)
Area: Dalston
Date & time: Sat–Sun, 12pm–5pm
Description: “Maddest and messiest” in the best way—brunch, performances throughout the afternoon, and proper weekend energy.
Best for: Birthdays, groups, visitors, anyone who wants their weekend to feel like a weekend.
Hackney Picturehouse (great for families + daytime culture)
Area: Hackney Central
When: Screenings all week; includes kids programming and Screen Arts seasons
Description: A strong “wholesome but not boring” plan—especially for a matinee then Mare Street food.
Best for: Families, low-effort culture, rainy afternoons.
Community Sauna Baths (well-being + community sessions)
Area: Hackney Wick
When: Sessions daily; community sessions run monthly (see schedule)
Description: The week’s best reset button—steam, plunges, and a surprisingly social (but calm) vibe.
Best for: Wellness plans, friends who want “something different,” post-gym recovery.
Extra editor’s picks you asked for (so you can build a full itinerary)
Late-night & cocktail bars (Dalston / Hackney / Hoxton fringe)
- Three Sheets (Dalston) — open Tue–Sun, 5pm–1am
- Hacha (Dalston) — agave cocktails; Tue–Sat, 5pm–11pm
- Silk Stockings (Dalston Lane) — intimate cocktails; Fri–Sat, 5pm–1am
- Happiness Forgets (Hoxton Square) — “great cocktails, no wallies”; open daily from 5pm
- 🔶🟥🔵 (Shapes) — minimalist, design-forward cocktail bar (if your group loves “a concept”).
Cosy pubs + Sunday comfort
- The Three Compasses (Dalston) — proper community pub energy; weekend opening and terrace.
- Hand of Glory (Dalston) — classic pub stop with late weekend hours.
Michelin Guide date-night recommendations (book ahead)
- Casa Fofō (Dalston) — 1 Michelin Star
- Behind (London Fields / Hackney) — 1 Michelin Star (seafood chef’s table)
Budget eats (market-led = best value this week)
If you want proper cheap-and-delicious, build around Ridley Road Market for snacks/ingredients and do your sit-down spending on one “main event” meal.
FAQ
What are the best things to do in Hackney this week?
Do a Saturday market crawl (Broadway Market), lock in a big Dalston night (Night Tales or Ridley Road Market Bar), then balance it with a cinema or sauna reset on Sunday.
Are there free events this weekend?
The easiest “free-feeling” plans are market browsing (Broadway Market / Ridley Road Market) and low-cost community wandering—then spend only where you care (cocktails, club ticket, or a special dinner).
What’s on at night in Dalston / Hackney?
For late nights, Dalston is stacked: Night Tales goes to 3am on Fri/Sat, and Ridley Road Market Bar runs late too. Then you’ve got cocktails at Three Sheets before you commit.
Where should I go for brunch in Dalston?
If you want brunch with a proper “event” feel, go straight to Dalston Superstore Drag Brunch (Sat–Sun, 12–5)—it’s one of the area’s most consistent weekend anchors.
What are good date night spots in Hackney/Dalston?
Go Michelin-star (Casa Fofō or Behind) if you want the food to be the moment, then finish with a serious cocktail at Hacha or Three Sheets.
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What’s On This Week in Hackney
Updated: 2 March 2026
Editorial research statement: Compiled using primary sources (official venue/market sites) and trusted London listings for operating hours and recurring weekly programming. Where line-ups change daily (clubs, live music rooms), readers should use linked venue “What’s On” pages to confirm exact listings before heading out.
Local authority positioning: Islington Local Guide covers North & East London with a neighbourhood-first lens—prioritising walkable plans, independent venues, community spaces, and places locals actually return to.
Submit an event: Venues and organisers can submit verified event details (date/time, access info, ticket link) for inclusion in next week’s guide.
Updated: 2 March 2026
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