The Counter Café

The Counter Café’s aesthetic (Antipodean caff, by way of a Berlin squat) is pure Hackney Wick: artsy, dishevelled & unselfconsciously cool. Vintage cinema seats, raw brick walls & felt-tipped murals inside, graffiti & a scuzzy, sunny yard outside – it appeals to one’s inner student. Fittingly, you’ll get a good lunch here at student prices; charging £5 for a pie (chicken & leek or that Kiwi classic, mince & cheese, all made in-house) is a great offer. Brunch, the Counter big breakfast, a salmon & cream cheese bagel or Mumbai spicy scramble, plus a good cup of Square Mile coffee, won’t tip your bill too far over a tenner. The location is off the beaten track, but if you’re visiting Stour Space, exploring Victoria Park or the canal, then make it your mission to come here. The Counter’s nearby sister, Container Café, offers great views of the Olympic Park.