The story
Barge East serves modern European food from a converted Dutch barge at River Lee, Sweetwater Mooring, White Post Lane, Hackney Wick, London E9 5EN. The restaurant holds 2 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence (2026), the first time it was recognised in the AA awards.
Stefano Camplone is the Head Chef, and he sources British produce from local suppliers. The gardens beside the barge grow more than 37 types of plants for the kitchen, so many ingredients arrive from a few steps away. The Good Food Guide describes the cooking as up to the minute but approachable, with zero-waste techniques shaping the menu.
The Good Food Guide singled out a ham hock and pistachio terrine with ajo blanco, and venison loin with pomegranate, parsnip and bread sauce. Desserts have included sticky toffee pudding and sweet cicely panna cotta. The cheese course has been "lost bread" with Wigmore, walnuts and celery. The menu follows the seasons, so expect changes between visits.
Inside, upcycled wooden tables, cushions and small vases of flowers give the room a warm, slightly quirky feel. The Riverside Gardens and Terrace Bistro offer outdoor seating along the water. The Good Food Guide lists Barge East as Good (2026) and notes a European wine list with around half a dozen wines by the glass, starting from £34 a bottle. Drinks partners include Dalston's, Trumans Brewery, ELLC and Hackney Brewery.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
Ahoy there landlubbers! You don’t need to have your sea legs to enjoy the unique experience of dining at Barge East, a floating (but not moving) restaurant on the river Lee at Hackney Wick. The carefully preserved Dutch barge has been moored there for five years, and has grown during that time to include a street kitchen and canalside garden and to adapt to the needs of visitors to the area which now include West Ham football fans (check for home fixtures before you book) and besequinned devotees en route to the ABBA Voyage Arena. Inside the barge, it’s more hygge than hectic, with upcycled wooden tables, cushions and little vases of flowers. The vibe is romantic, quirky, and charming. While the cooking is fairly up-to-the-minute – zero-waste techniques feed into the menu – it’s all very approachable. You don’t have to be Gen Z to understand what you’re eating. We were impressed by a nicely made ham hock and pistachio terrine with ajo blanco, and by classical venison loin with pomegranate, parsnip and bread sauce. Loquat purée and mushroom XO don’t do an awful lot for English asparagus, but the produce can’t be faulted. Other dishes might include whey-brined chicken with braised spelt and wild garlic pesto or spiced cauliflower with cauliflower-leaf bhaji and rice cakes. Finish with sticky toffee pudding, sweet cicely panna cotta or an inspired cheese course of ‘lost bread’ with Wigmore, walnuts, celery. A list of European wines (from £34) includes around half a dozen by the glass. The bill takes the form of a message in a bottle. The message being, you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy a meal out in London.
2 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
Location
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