📷 2
Photos
Shot by a City Insiders curator.
The Star by Hackney Downs
★ 4.0(1 review)Bar
shabby-chiccommunity-focusedlively
About the Vibe
Perched right on the edge of Hackney Downs, this place is less "polished cocktail bar" and more "your favourite chaotic local with a personality." The 90s-inspired shabby-chic interior—think retro lampshades, mismatched stools, and that rough-n-ready charm—makes it feel like you've stumbled into someone's eccentric aunt's house, but the kind you actually want to visit. They're serious about their community vibe: dog-friendly with a Wall of Fame, regular events from pottery nights to karaoke, and a kitchen partnership with Planet Patty serving up proper burgers and Sunday roasts. Skip the tourist traps in central London and come here for the authentic Hackney experience. The terrace overlooking the park is perfect for summer evenings, and if you're after something more lively, the karaoke room powered by Lucky Voice is a proper blast. Don't expect white-tablecloth service; this is a place where you'll find yourself nodding along to house music while sipping a £6 margarita on a Friday night. It's unpretentious, affordable, and genuinely feels like the heart of the neighbourhood.
Known For
- •90s retro interior with mismatched furniture
- •Planet Patty burgers and Sunday roasts
- •Karaoke room with Lucky Voice system
- •Dog-friendly with Wall of Fame and annual dog show
Best For
casual pub nightsgroup events and partiesdog walks with a pint
1 review
City InsidersEditorialApril 7, 2026
A proper local with serious character
The Star by Hackney Downs is exactly the kind of place that makes East London special. It's not trying to be anything other than a proper local pub with character, and that's what makes it work. The interior is a delightful mess of 90s nostalgia—shabby-chic furnishings, retro lampshades, and old-school stools that somehow all work together. You'll feel like you're in someone's living room, just one where the drinks are flowing and the music is good.
What really sets it apart is the community focus. They're genuinely dog-friendly (think a Wall of Fame and annual dog show), the events calendar is packed with everything from pottery workshops to comedy nights, and the food from their kitchen partner Planet Patty is solid—proper burgers and a Sunday roast that actually tastes like Sunday. The terrace overlooking the park is perfect for summer evenings, and the karaoke room is a proper blast when you're in the mood to belt out some 90s classics.
It's not perfect—the vibe can get a bit loud on weekends, and the mismatched furniture might not be for everyone—but that's the point. This is a place where you're not expected to dress up or act a certain way. You're just expected to show up, have a pint, and be part of the community. And honestly, that's why you'll keep coming back.
---
Le Star by Hackney Downs est exactement le genre d'endroit qui rend l'Est de Londres si spécial. Ce n'est pas une tentative d'être autre chose qu'un vrai pub de quartier avec du caractère, et c'est ce qui fonctionne. L'intérieur est un mélange délicieux de nostalgie des années 90—meubles shabby-chic, lampes rétro et vieux tabourets qui, d'une manière ou d'une autre, fonctionnent tous ensemble. Vous aurez l'impression d'être dans le salon de quelqu'un, juste un endroit où les verres défilent et la musique est bonne.
Ce qui le distingue vraiment, c'est son engagement communautaire. Ils sont vraiment dog-friendly (pensez à un Mur de la Célébrité et à un concours de chiens annuel), le calendrier d'événements est rempli de tout, des ateliers de poterie aux nuits de comédie, et la nourriture de leur partenaire de cuisine Planet Patty est solide—de vrais burgers et un roast dominical qui a vraiment l'air d'un dimanche. La terrasse donnant sur le parc est parfaite pour les soirées d'été, et la salle de karaoké est un vrai plaisir quand vous avez envie de chanter des classiques des années 90.
Ce n'est pas parfait—l'ambiance peut devenir un peu bruyante le week-end, et les meubles incohérents ne plairont peut-être pas à tout le monde—mais c'est le but. C'est un endroit où vous n'êtes pas censé vous habiller ou agir d'une certaine manière. Vous êtes juste censé arriver, prendre une pinte et faire partie de la communauté. Et honnêtement, c'est pourquoi vous reviendrez encore et encore.