Café Oto
18–22 Ashwin Street, Dalston, London E8 3DL
Next door to the new Arcola Theatre, Café Oto is by day a great place for a coffee and a read, serving teas, Fazenda coffees, pastries, organic fruit juices, ginger beers, Devon and Breton cider, Japanese snacks, saké, shochu, plum wine and Japanese whisky. By night, this plain but nicely renovated café transforms into one of the most interesting music venues in town, featuring experimental jazz, an improv orchestra, and outstanding visiting stars, such as Mali’s Khaira Arby, Terry Riley and the Sun Ra Arkestra. A total must for open-minded music fans, and they serve good beer too, from Bermondsey micro-brewery The Kernel.