Betty's Coffee Shop

Betty's Coffee Shop is more or less brand new in the area as it only opened on 2nd April.  I literally stumbled upon it. Do go along and say hi.  It's just down from Oxfam Dalston at 510 Kingsland Road. Betty is very friendly and makes great Allpress coffee.


Betty's hasn't got a website up and running yet but you can follow them on Twitter @bettyscoffee  or Facebook http://on.fb.me/gHDRQs


I had a lovely toasted bagel with smoked salmon, cream cheese and chives. Next time I go, I'm going to try one of Betty's homemade cakes, which look delicious.

House of Hackney

For four days only House of Hackney http://houseofhackney.com/ has opened a pop-up showroom in an empty house at 76 Stoke Newington Road. Always intrigued by the idea of pop-up anything, I thought I'd take a look. They're only there until 4th April 2011.

 The house has been beautifully decorated in the designer's three different styles: Dalston Rose, Queen Bee and Hackney Empire and is a perfect setting to display the intriguing and  unique collections.

It's such a fantastic idea to see the designs in an actual house, so much superior to any showroom.

And, as a perfect complement, Lily Vanilli's pop-up tea room in the cellar. http://www.lilyvanilli.com/# Lily's cakes, tarts and ice creams are all her own recipe and she has been adventurous. I sampled delicious Courvoisier and quince ice cream, lavender meringues and fruit tarts with pomegranate. Everything served on vintage bone china.

If you get the chance to visit the House of Hackney now or in another reincarnation, take it. We'll definitely be hearing more from Lily Vanillli too.