Restaurants, Pubs and Hotels Near Hackney Empire

Everything here for eating and drinking is within a few minutes of the theatre, most of it on Mare Street or just off it. Hotels are the harder part: only two are a short walk away. These are our picks. Opening times change, so check before you set out.

Eat

Lardo (5 minutes). Richmond Road. Pizza from a wood oven, pasta and Italian small plates. Book for a pre-show table on a Friday or Saturday.

Sutton and Sons (2 minutes). Graham Road. Fish and chips, and a vegan menu too. The quick one before a matinee with children.

Tonkotsu (6 minutes). Mare Street. Ramen, gyoza and small plates, served fast.

Drink

The Empire Tavern (next door). Mare Street. Opened in spring 2026 in the corner of the theatre building, with East London Brewing beers and burgers. The closest drink to your seat.

The Cock Tavern (1 minute). Mare Street, two doors along. A 1930s pub known for its ciders and real ales, and the local CAMRA branch's Pub of the Year for 2026. Card only.

Hackney Church Brew Co (4 minutes). Bohemia Place, in the railway arches opposite Hackney Central. A brewery taproom with beer made on site. It isn't open every day, so check before you go.

Stay

Travelodge London Hackney (4 minutes). Amhurst Road, next to Hackney Central station. Plain rooms, and the station on the doorstep.

The Old Ship (1 minute). Sylvester Path, right behind the theatre. A pub with ten rooms upstairs. There's no lift, and the bar below can be loud.

Town Hall Hotel (25 minutes on foot). Patriot Square, Bethnal Green. A boutique hotel in the old town hall, a short bus ride down Mare Street.