The Three Compasses

The Three Compasses sits on the corner of Dalston Lane in Hackney, a proper local that has held its ground while the rest of Dalston turned over. It pours cask ale and craft lager, runs a heated back garden, and books live music and DJs into the weekend. Time Out files it under the neighborhood pubs worth crossing the borough for.

This is a community boozer, not a destination cocktail bar. If you want a sticky session with a garden and a soundtrack, it delivers. If you came for a 20 pound Martini and table service, look elsewhere on Kingsland Road.

One large corner room opens onto a covered, heated garden at the back, which is the seat to ask for in any weather. The front fills fast on weekend nights when the DJ starts. Mid week it stays calm enough for a quiet pint and a conversation.

The bar keeps a rotating cask line alongside craft lagers and a short, honest cocktail list. Order a cask pint or a cold lager and keep it simple. Regulars on the Hackney pub forums rate the garden and the beer turnover over anything fancier from the cocktail menu.

A Dalston local crowd of regulars early, shifting to a younger weekend set once the music starts. Friday and Saturday nights get loud and busy. Sunday afternoons in the garden are the calmer call.

• The covered garden is the reason to come, rain or shine.
• Good value pints for the area, per local pub guides.
• Weekend DJ nights pull a crowd, so come early for a seat.

Exploring east London? Read our best bars in London guide and our cosy London pubs list. Browse more London pubs or find a craft beer bar near you.