Nadia Latif in Hackney
(Picture: Matt Writtle)We’ve lived in our new house since the beginning of this year. It’s in my favourite part of town — incredibly beautiful and lovely to walk around.
As a black woman, I wanted to move somewhere where I felt like I was surrounded by more people who looked like me, in a bit of Hackney that felt like lots of different types of people lived there.
Best eating and drinking
We went to Casa Fofò on Sandringham Road with friends and were stunned. It’s the most amazing eight- or nine-course set menu, super boujie and should have a Michelin star but at £55 still pretty well priced for a special night out.
I also love Oren on Shacklewell Lane; it’s Mediterranean-influenced and vegetarian-friendly with a banging cocktail list.
And if there’s a better restaurant in London than Mangal II on Stoke Newington Road, I haven’t met it. I often get the cull yaw. The hazelnut tart with tahini cream also bangs. The menu does change but you can usually find a variation on those things.
Where I work out
I bought a Peloton during lockdown so I mainly do at-home workouts but I will shout out my osteopath at Kuu and acupuncturist at E5 Acupuncture, both on Lower Clapton Road.
To commune with nature
Skip London Fields and head to Vicky Park. I think London Fields is a thoroughfare and it’s just got a real 5am vibe, whereas Victoria Park is one of the oldest and most beautiful parks in London.
During lockdown, I would cycle there and do several laps of the park. It feels very beautiful but it serves a social function, you see a real cross-section of everybody who lives in Hackney.
For a culture fix
The Castle Cinema on Brooksby’s Walk feels like you’ve found the best secret in London. The bar is amazing and there’s really interesting programming with indie films alongside special events.
It’s run by the loveliest couple and it just feels like a unique, special place that’s genuinely interested in bringing cinema to its community.
Grocery shopping
The Turkish Food Centre on Ridley Road is the single greatest grocer of all time. You can find everything you want and the fresh food is amazing.
Papo’s Bagels on Shacklewell Lane is breaking the monopoly of the Brick Lane Bagels. The everything bagel is the best thing I’ve ever had. Also, the Wilton Way Deli does the most amazing sandwiches.
Getting around
I’m a fair-weather cyclist and the rest of the time I’m a bus person. The area is really well served by buses. I’m writing a TV film set on a night bus, which is partly me giving my love to London buses.
Sitting and reading on the bus and watching the world go by is one of life’s great pleasures. Who wants to be underground? Hideous! I’d rather leave my house an hour early and get the bus.
Dream Street
I don’t want to be obnoxious but I live on it. When we were house hunting we kept seeing properties that were either on or around Fassett Square and then our house came up and we were like, “Oh my God this is unreal, we could live on Fassett Square”. It’s got such a strong sense of community and everybody helps everybody out.
Something you only see in Hackney
Ridley Road Market is a really special, beautiful thing. It’s one of the best things in London because it’s so resolutely itself.
There’s something really interesting about a street that’s been part of the history of so many immigrant groups; from the Jews to Afro-Caribbean communities, Turkish communities and you can see traces of every wave of immigration, like rings on a tree.
We have to take care of it, there are all these moves to develop it and I think we need to resist because Ridley Road is a really important bit of local history.
What’s the catch?
The chain shops and restaurants moving into the area are a massive bummer, you have to protect independent businesses. There’s an Amazon Fresh on Kingsland High Street now and every time I walk past I’m like, “Why?”.
In three words
In the words of Tina Turner: Simply the best.
Marys Seacole, directed by Nadia Latif, is running at the Donmar Warehouse until June 4; donmarwarehouse.com
Schools in Hackney
Primary schools including Morningside, Queensbridge, Orchard and London Fields are all rated outstanding by Ofsted. Outstanding religious options include St John and St James, St Paul’s with St Michael’s and The Olive School.
What it costs
Buying in Hackney
Average house: £1,163,966
Average flat: £549,459
Renting in Hackney
Average house: £3,424
Average flat: £2,103
