The story
Barge East sits moored on the River Lee in London, serving refined modern European cuisine from a restored Dutch barge. Childhood friends Tommo, Ryan, and Blandy sailed the 122-year-old hull named De Hoop from Den Helder across the North Sea to Hackney Wick. They rebuilt the interior using reclaimed timber and rustic fixtures, earning a Catey Newcomer award and later securing AA 2 Rosettes. The Good Food Guide recently recognised this steadfast approach with a Good rating for 2026.
Head Chef Stefano Camplone directs a modern European kitchen built around a zero-waste policy and a 37-plant organic garden beside the water. He turns those harvests into plates like classical venison loin paired with parsnip and bread sauce, or whey-brined chicken resting on braised spelt with wild garlic pesto. Guests also encounter a ham hock and pistachio terrine served alongside ajo blanco, and a seasonal cheese board featuring lost bread with Wigmore.
Upcycled wooden tables, scattered cushions, and small flower vases create a quiet, hygge-like space inside the hull. Staff deliver the bill in a sealed message in a bottle to match the nautical setting. Larger parties can book the adjacent terrace or the full waterside garden for weekend gatherings. The drinks list features half-a-dozen European wines available by the glass, alongside craft brews from nearby Dalstons and Trumans breweries.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
History
2 Rosette Award for Culinary Excellence
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.
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