Cafe Oto

This is basically a music venue, mainly featuring acts at the alternative/world/avant garde end of the spectrum, that operates as a cafe during the day and as a bar in the evening when there’s no music scheduled. They seem to have music on mosts nights and, as these are paid events - typically £5-£10 entry - you probably won’t want to visit for a beer on these nights unless you are interested in the gig. They have Kernel beers on tap and some bottles, mainly Belgian. I’ve only popped in once, specifically because they allegedly had a Kernel beer made especially for them. It turned out it’s just whatever Kernel Pale Ale happens to be doing the rounds at the time. It’s marked as unrateable on RateBeer because there’s no way of knowing which beer it is. You have been warned. Probably useful if you happen to be nearby or are interested in the day’s gig but not a place to make a special trip to for the beer..

Came here for a gig (female Portuguese singer with a guitar kind of thing). Not a crazy selection of beer, but you likely won’t find much better in a live-music venue. Two Kernel beers on tap (porter and APA), a BBNo (I forget the style), something Belgian. An assortment in bottle as well, more London stuff, some more continental Europe stuff. Decent prices (£4 for 2/3 of Kernel APA). They also do tea and coffee, and have a full bar during gigs. Not sure what the place is like during the day. I wouldn’t call this place a beer destination, but rest assured if you are coming here for a gig you should be able to enjoy a few nice brews during the show.

Also, if you’re coming here for a show, try to arrive extra early as seating is limited (assuming you want to sit, of course). We made it just in time to get seats in the back, but there were c. 20+ people who had to stand for the show.

A live concert venue in Dalstone Hackney in North London. We went here for the avant garde concert with Jem Doulton, Sonic Youth member Thurston Moore, Steve Noble, Alex Ward and James Sedwards. A cool medium sized room with a bar to the right of the entrance serving London beers from breweries like Hackney and Kernel on keg and quite a few Belgian classics in bottles. The 40ft Brewery, often opened on Saturdays, is located just around the corner, actually in the backyard of the café. Café Oto is located close to the overground Dalston Junction and there were many near-by buses running from here to, let say, Kings Cross (visited with Per, Magne and Leif 09.04.2016).

Not a place you might immediately think of as a beer haven as it has avant-guard gigs most nights covering jazz, poetry, noise, drone etc. However they have got a pretty sweet selection of bottles with a heavy emphasis on the Belgium: Orval, Rochfort 10, Brugse Zot brown and blond, Westmalle dubel and trippel, Saison 1900 and others. Also Kernel options (porter, pale ale, IPA) and 3 or 4 from Howling Hops down the road (saison, smoked porter etc). Vibeswise it’s brilliant - a relaxed a shabby kind of place with mismatched furniture and a friendly crowd. Some nights when they don’t have gigs it’s just open as a bar. Food is middle eastern and looks good. Check it out!