Reviews of Cafe OTO. (Coffee Shop) in London (London).

Cafe OTO

523 Reviews

214 Comments

Coffee shop

Cafe

18-22 Ashwin St, London E8 3DL, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Cafe OTO, Coffee shop in London (London)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of Cafe OTO

Popular times

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Reviews of Cafe OTO

L. G.

This place offers a huge variety of gigs from all around the world, it is quite impressive. The vibe there is so nice, I really recommend this place for any alternative music fans (or just music fans in general!) that wanna see special musicians. The price of the drink are more than okay, and you can bring your own food as they don’t do any kind of food. They also sell some posters, records and zines (but beware, they are unfortunately very very expensive). I live this place for the quality of the music and I think it is, in my experience, one of the best places in London to listen to alternative/underground music.

A. R.

Café OTO reminds me of my beloved Brussels informal bars… It is simple in decoration but quirky, has very decent prices staff is lovely and they’ve got a very good selection of books and vinyls… To top it up they’ve got lovely draft beers and the most amazing Belgian beer there is… THE Orval! Ah right, now I know why I get nostalgic… Also, seems to have a lot of gigs happening there if you’re in Dalston pay them a visit!

D. P.

There's nowhere else like this. If you are a interested in experimental music, you won't find anywhere in the UK with a programme that compares to what is on offer here.

L.

Home of avant-garde and experimental music in London. It is a cosy atmosphere. Doors normally open at 7:30. Make sure you arrive early if you want a seat.

a. a.

No place like OTO. Incredible artists selection on a daily basis, crowd always filled with kind hearted people. Super well priced. Coffee is great as well.

L. M.

Great venue, great drinks, great staff! Love the relaxed vibes and yeah way it’s indoor outdoor, hangout! Thanks for this local place :))

r. g.

A good venue for music. Very quiet crowd though. They need to get vibed up

E. M.

Great artist selection for gigs. Sound is relativelt good,but venue is not comfy. Chairs are awful

R. D.

I came for the music etc but the house white was also very nice

T. S.

An Institution! Brilliant place. Wish there were more like for other types of Music

Y. C.

A unique venue run by locals with good vibe (and food!)

C. D.

Quite small venue which feels airy with large front windows looking out onto Ashwin Street (and very close to the two Dalston Overground stations). Hosts a commendable eclectic range of music during evenings. Entry prices reasonable. Wooden seating but sightlines at least as good just standing at the back. Reasonable keg beers served in 2/3 pint measures (Kernel, Tiny Rebel, etc). Coffees, cakes, etc also available in the evening but during the daytime the venue works as a cafe selling Persian food - have not visited during the daytime but the food listings look good. Also sells records, CDs, etc.

D. W.

Nice intimate venue. Has a good selection of trappist ales and german beers. Beers are served in appropriate glasses not plastic cups. 1st class band backine available with an Ampeg SVT VR valve head and matching 4x10 cab. The PA system is modern and gives a consistent sound throughout the room. The trappist ales were pricey at £6.50 a bottle but better than paying the same price for a pint of carling at an o2 venue.

J. M.

Booked tickets for a show on the weekend - had a really great time, amazing music and great atmosphere!

S. G.

Nice coffee, pleasant enough staff, decent hipster aesthetic and vibes.

T. S.

Probably the most adventurous music programming in the capital, it's a relaxed venue, nice acoustic and a good sound system. The engineer has to cope with some we extreme artists but always does a great job. Apparently the food during the day is great. Highly recommend a visit if you're interested in cutting edge contemporary music.

M. Z.

One of the best places in London for avant-garde music. Quite un-Londony in its looks, with a hodgepodge of simple old wooden furniture in an industrial interior. It has a pleasantly laid back and authentic atmosphere, despite the dominating rough concrete on floors and ceilings

S. B.

Still the best music venue in London. Small, great sound, no stage, great beer, always interesting bands away from the mainstream. Slight quibble, don't bother with seats unless it's a really ambient sound coming from the musicians. Keep up the good work!

A.

Really good spot, tucked in just behind the main high street making it ideal for a quieter chilled atmosphere where you can read or enjoy a drink with friends in the sun. The staff are very friendly and polite. The venue itself is spacious and also cool if you want to take a break from the heat

P. C.

If you like The Wire and the music reviewed in that magazine this is certainly the place for you! As far as I know there isn’t another club in Europe - maybe in the world - which even gets close for that music (we aren’t talking about techno, house, pop, rock, classic jazz or classical). Add to that, absolutely reasonable prices, a good choice of craft beers and a friendly atmosphere and you understand why I often - a few times a year - travel from Italy to London only to be there every night (and little else)

J. D.

My favourite place for experimental music. Always surprising, never boring. Together with a good selection of Belgian beers and Japanese whiskies. They also serve nice vegetarian food at lunch time.

J. N.

Incredible variety of artistes ranging from undergroundAF psych bands to free jazz legends in an amazingly intimate setting. Top notch drinks selection too with extensive sake and shochu menus along with an impressive range of single malts and beers. Hands DOWN my favourite venue in town.

M. C.

A great place if you're into quirky, experimental music. Go into it with an open mind and enjoy the acts with a craft beer (all beer is served as 2/3rds) or with a vegetarian pie and a tea. Many other types of alcohol are available, including sake and other exotic choices. The events usually start about an hour after the advertised time, but it's good to arrive early to grab a table close to the stage.

C. C.

Great music, great vibe, ridiculous beer prices! (Don't care much for the range on offer either). Does decent food in the day. But come here for some of the most interesting, non commercial, genuine and sometimes downright odd music in London.

P. M.

An institution & one of the most important music venues in London. The sole reserve of Avant Garde & Experimental music from every genre, this place always reminds me of why I live in London. Unpretentious in every way, it really is solely about the music. Although they do great coffee and also have a few Kernel beers on.

S. M.

Great venue with friendly atmosphere hosting avant-garde artists. Good selection of craft beers from Kernel and others. Seating is available if you arrive early, but chairs are not confortable!

L. C.

Definitely one of London's best venues for experimental music. However the staff seriously need to get over themselves. I don't expect to be treated as a nuisance for wanting a chair at an event I paid to be at.

S. H. -. H. K.

Very cool place... Hip even! They have quite a variety of music from acoustic folk to Japanese noise core... so choose the night according to what you like... Didn't eat here yet, but the food looked good. Wine was reasonably priced and they sell bottled beers and cider and on tap too I think... (one would expect anyway)

T. A.

I absolutely love Cafe Oto. It's home for jazz and other forms of experimental music, pushing boundaries with good beer on hand and a friendly chilled atmosphere. One of my favourite venues in London without a doubt

D. M.

Amazing venue. Puts on ambient and experimental gigs that nowhere else does. Nice atmosphere, can sit down, great food and drinks. Also sell some good records and posters

M.

Super relaxed coffee place in a side alley. Very spacious indeed with a very specific second-hand, antiquitary interior. The coffee is good and they offer a variety of bakery.

A. G.

For some reason everyone on here keeps saying 'chin-stroking hipsters', which — well, I have this thing about people who complain about hipsters, which is that most of them are hipsters, right — but anyway which didn't really hold that true when I went here, to watch Nadja on May 28th. (Maybe I was the chin stroking hipster, or whatever, but I didn't stroke my chin, at least.) The venue was very nice: a great selection of drinks, though slightly confused as to why they don't sell the Japanese tea, which is very prominently displayed, at gigs. You truly feel like you're sitting in a cafe watching a band, rather than at a venue, which is good. But the sound is still fully professional. Well worth a go; one of those venues so nice that I'd feel compelled to go there for things I wouldn't otherwise go to.

L. H. S.

Simple and great value for healthy food options. Great coffee as well as gigs in the evenings

R. S.

These guys put on unique gigs featuring underrated musicians, recently saw Consumer Electronics and Monolake which were both superb, and being a small venue you are up close with the band and can have a drink with them after the gig.

A. A.

Extraordinary place. Great music, very good drinks and a fine collection of vinyls for sale. A must for RIO and Avantgarde music lovers or anyone who wants to listen something different.

S. A.

If you want to hear chin-strokey, avaunt-guard music in a great informal venue this is a good place to come. You can expect to share the space with plenty of music nerds and uber cool Dalston types. But generally everyone is there to appreciate the music. The bar/cafe is modestly stocked but with quality food and drinks And the gluten free brownies are amazing.

M. H.

A fantastic, not-for-profit venue hosting some of the best and most interesting live music in London. The cafe/bar also has a really good selection of food and drinks.

P. D.

As someone who's rarely been to London, I found Cafe Oto easy to get to, and great to visit. Plus, whoever does the booking should be commended. What a rare treat to go out to hear an experimental duo and to find that the former leader of Cabaret Voltaire and his latest band are opening for the evening. I'll definitely check the schedule if I ever get to London again.

S.

Dalston institution. World-class contemporary music programming at night (Yoko Ono, Chicks on Speed, Thurston Moore). Relaxed vibe, coffee/tea and sometimes Persian food by day. In a still quiet backstreet off Dalston Junction. There's always space inside. Outside gets full on a sunny day. Come here if you're tired of the see-and-be-seen over at Allpress (but don't expect the same coffee). Home away from home.

m. l. t.

My favorite café in Dalston. Daytime coffee, concerts in the evening.

A. O.

A cool place to chill out, great atmosphere, organic drinks or other, noisy opera theatre next door but still a bonus hence a deducted star. Oh, almost forgot, staff are super amazing (thumbs up)

M. L.

During the day this place is very chilled - a funky place to work, if you don't mind 1940s chansons. As for eating - Middle Eastern street food, good coffee, lots of choice for vegetarians. This is why Dalston deserves its hip moniker.

T. N.

Want something different. This is it. This place needs only one word to be described 'incredible'. The decor is crazy and worth the visit alone. Nice food and pastries. The coffee, double shots as standard and none of that milky muck served up by the big boys.

a. v.

I only went for concerts. Their programme is excellent. It's a welcoming unpretentious venue. Good drinks, a few seats if you arrive early.

I. H.

Brilliant place with great coffee. Come here late evening to catch a great concert. This is the coolest place in town (not only at Dalston)

N. H.

Fabulous bar with new experimental music. Really interesting crowd. The performers vary greatly, but are excellent at what they do.

D. J.

One of the best places to be in London but maybe not in a hot day! It can be unbearably hot in there! Nevertheless you still don't regret being there when you hear someone like Anthony Braxton!

S. D.

Large lovely cafe/bar right off Kingsland Road with a bit of an old-school hippy vibe. Cheap coffee (£1.70 for a latte), hand-baked goods, good quality alcohol and lots of space. It’s a bit sparse inside – a large, low-ceilinged concrete room with school chairs and the odd sofa – but made up for by the friendly staff, interesting crowd and the gigs they put on, which range from the brilliantly weird to the just weird.

F. B.

The best venue for noise weirdos like me. Sitting down and watching harsh noise, with polite applause afterwards? Excellent. Devastated that I missed Hijokaidan supporting Borbetomagus here a while back.

J. A.

Lovely, open plan venue with great staff, good acoustics and a wonderful line and London's home for experimental sound and music outside the mainstream

K. H.

I started visiting Oto back in 2008. I'd be there about three time a week. Staff are lovely. The nighttime gigs are always packed - I've never been but have walked past it many times.

C. O.

Lovely, open plan venue with great staff, good acoustics and a wonderful line up of obscure and interesting artists performing regularly. Wheelchair accessible with an accessible toilet.

A. F.

Cafe and Live Music Venue often showcasing performances of experimental music and sound art. The coffee is good and they sell records too.

M. S.

Great place with great stuff and great coffie

C. S.

Amazing performers and Fabulous evening!

J. S.

It's big, dark, echoing with people coming and going. Outdoor space, decent toilets, just informal and perfect for empty head space.

B. B.

Always excellent live music, relaxed atmosphere, tasty food, great choice of drinks, including a variety of teas.

Q. C.

Decor as an average British east end cafe, cafe OTO has more to offer! Try the tea and oriental snacks here. I think it's the only place which has this unique selection of Japanese snacks!

P. A.

Laid back space for drinks and chill. They serve a wide variety of drinks including a hipster-appropriate gluten-free beer.

C. M.

Great place to hear unusual, leftfield music in a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere. Never too crowded. Recommended.

C. D.

Very nice spot !! One of the best place. They have concerts there sometimes, they have amazing good quality food and cheap drinks :) I would recommend to go there

h. c.

If you like arty culture it's the place to go, if you like a good place for coffee, laptop and work it's fine. If avant-garde culture anoyes you think maybe not in the evenings.

D. D.

Very good music venue for experimental music. Great sound system and lovely friendly staff with a great selection of beer and ale.

A. B. D.

THE best place in the world for contemporary music programming. Plus there's a friendly, almost family feel to the place.

P. B.

It's such an amazing space for seeing some really interesting music, in a venue where everyone is quiet and attentive.

D. M.

Best venue in London for independent and experimental music. Love Cafe Oto!

X. C.

I loved Erikum. He handles sounds like a living organism. For 2 3/4 hours I sat. Transfixed. Listening. Believing in Erikum. His lip smacking noise is the best I’ve heard this side of the river. Give me more! 💆‍♀️ unfortunately scanner was some sort of noodler. His incessant noodling was nothing compared to erikums lip smacking

P. B.

Great venue to see some amazing music and excellent vinyl, DVD's on sale, including the outstanding documentary 'Charles Hayward Recorded'

L. S.

One of my favourite venues in Dalston. This venue hosts a number of great gigs and events through out the year.

C. H.

Nice cafe with lots of spaces inbetween tables. I would give 5 star off there are gulten free options for the desert.

J. H.

Exciting programme with an emotional register. Really wonderful hospitality from some charming East Kilbride folk as well. Thank you. 🥂

L. D.

Great concert every time I am here, and very good drinks...

c. b.

Pretentious hip place in the heart of Dalston - pricey but good selection of craft beers - great alternative music venue with limited capacity and uncomfortable seats

S. H.

Lovely cafe. Cheap coffee offered by friendly staff and always playing very good music.

A. D. S.

This is a sanctuary of experimental performances, intimate dark room with orange light protruding from the street, the wine caraffes, those little glasses, swealtering in the summer and cozy in the winter

P. S.

A bit hidden from main street, medium size, artist friendly coffee shop. They have some space for evening open mic etc

S. T.

One of the best venues, cafes and bars in London.

N. P.

Never been disappointed by the music here. My favourite music venue in London for avant-garde, experimental and improvised

v. O.

What a lovely place to go for an intimate gig. Will definately go back by day for coffee.

N. R.

neighbourhood favourite. quiet in the daytime, great food options, and gigs at night (and kernel brewery beer on tap!)

G. H.

Beautiful little hidden gem. Perfect to have a cuppa and answer your emails or have a caffe and an intelectual conversation.

P. P.

Great lunch and coffee, chilled vibe during day. Popular in the evening with jazz concerts

T. K.

Good coffee they have in here. Have not tried the food yet, but intend to. Interior is a bit strange, but interesting.

C. S.

A nice place, a bit off the wall, but nice food and atmosphere. Would recommend and go again no problem.

N.

Cozy venue with a good microbrew beer selection. I'll definitely go back for another show.

H. T.

Experimental music from every genre, this place always reminds me of why I live in London.

K. H.

Nice daytime hang out spot in a quiet side street. Very relaxed atmosphere and good coffee.

E. R.

Stopped here for breakfast today. Coffee was superb, one the best I've ever had. I look forward visit again.

L. B.

Awesome casual Jap / Japanese inspired cafe by day and experimental music venue by night. Saw Yoko Ono there.

T. R.

Unique venue. Bit poorly organised but had a fantastic night there discovering music.

C. S.

Great coffee, but the staff are a bit pretentious and rude. Don't expect a smile, but expect a good tasting coffee!

S. G.

Nice place, full of arty types and occasional celebs. Good coffee and salads.

R. M.

Accessible and welcoming venue, programming some really interesting and innovative music performances

J. B.

A lot of the best semi-unknown bands play here. They sell nice cookies.

l. l.

Best place in East London! London's home for experimental sound and music outside the mainstream.

L. F.

Nice venue. Their experimental "music" nights-- hit n miss

P. W.

Great venue and a fantastic gig (Louis Moholo-Moholo' 5 Blokes).

M. R.

Fantastic atmosphere with great gigs and a community-minded ethos

C. R.

Fantastic venue but so, so hot. I was melting so I reckon the band were really struggling

T. C.

The place is somehow strange to me, but it suits me great. The coffee, which is my main drink, is good.

R.

Great little place with nice coffee and beers. Live music in the evenings.

C. L.

Hipsterville. It's the people and the scene, not the place... good open space, sound is good. Staff are friendly and the place is clean.

R. J.

A cultural institution. London would be half the city it is without this venue. It's not just great, it's important.

S. P.

One of the few music programmes that I enjoyed. Cheap coffee and friendly staff

N. L.

Great intimate venue. Nice beers. Nice atmosphere.

A. C.

Experimental music venue, needs cloakroom and more chairs

J. W.

Great coffee during the day, good concerts at night.

J. O.

It is a really good place for bohemian people. Good coffee, nice people and nice place. Cheers!

T. P.

Hipsterlicious blend of chin stroking art and avant garde music. Chairs massively uncomfortable.

K. D.

Staff very dry but venue great with fantastic acoustics

A. R.

We had a really funny night, cool live Japanese music

J. D.

Watched some great experimental music here. Quirky cool place!

J. M.

Full of hipsters and creatives ..lovely cafe tho

S. J.

Great coffee and food. Some of the staff need to smile one in a while

N. K.

Excellent! Especially with the delicious Persian food. 100% recommended

s. c.

Do you like Music? tired of mainstream stuff? looking for something new and fresh? This is THE place!

R. S.

Greatest London free jazz club. World famous.

P. Z.

Nice place to listen jazz music, but there are too hot and stuffy.

M. L. B.

Probably the best place in London to listen to experimental and new music!!

S. T.

Awesome for the phat beats that they play here. Totally rock music blasting out of your mind melt.

D. M.

Quite an experience, very intimate setting gives it a cozy atmosphere

M. L.

Very friendly staff welcoming and great value for money and service

B. T.

Great scene, great vibes, awesome whiskies. Go there.

d. m.

Very nice relaxing place good food and friendly staff

T. D.

Good selection of beers. Unique atmosphere

E. B.

Finest music venue for experimental music and jazz.

L. B.

Nice place, but strange it closes between afternoon and evening...

B. H.

A great venue for avant-garde music

N. M.

Good food but hard to find due to lack of signage

R. G.

Fav music venue. Super intimate

D. A.

Great music, great jazz and awesome people

G. M.

It's a place that you need to give time and you may need extra therapy after

D. W.

Nice drinks, really interesting music

N. L.

Best live music venue in London.

J. L.

Great venue , great music , awesome people!!

V. H.

Amazing music, good beer and snacks

G. K.

Wonderful acoustics and wonderful beer.

X. I.

Great place to read and have a coffee on a Saturday morning

R. C.

Brilliant venue with unusual gigs

M. H.

Great vibe, not too expensive for London

O. C.

One of my favourite London venues

K. D.

Was here for newyears and it really was the perfect vibe!

M. W.

Excellent programme of experimental and improvised music

s. j.

great venue

T. L.

Excellent music, a few polo neck posers.

l. e.

I like the food but confused and slow service.

D. S.

Nice artsy atmosphere and spacious.

G. K.

Perfect venue to see Sarah Davichi.

h. c.

Very good Hummus, and bavarian beer

D. P.

Excellwnt food and a relaxed atmosphere

M. W.

Love it here my musical home

P. M.

Great venue, good staff.

R. P.

The Jazz venue of your dreams. It exists.

I. Y.

Love the space and the coffee is excellent !

L. M.

Nice little terrace on a quiet street.

m. i. r. c.

Loved this place. Hope I come back soon.

S. s.

Very Nice And great food .

L.

Dopest dope I ever smoked.

P. M.

if you like noise and art, this is the place

D. M.

Also gig venue ..very Dolston .

S. A.

Unpretentious place for a gig.

V. C.

Favourite place in the world. Ever

S. P.

Great for unexpected music treats

J. L.

The best venue in London

L. C.

Just filtered coffee

M. M.

Fantastic entertainment bar

G. S.

Top quality amazing service

F. S.

Wonderful venue.

f. z.

Really nice place, recommended

A. B.

Great concerts

K. W.

Lovely cafe.

J. M.

My spiritual home.

M. F.

Hipster joint/venue.

E. B. M.

Cool cafe bar

W. L.

All I can say is EXCELLENT! :)

A. T.

Good concerts

M. E.

You can't go wrong here

A. F.

Strange noises frequently

J. G.

Love the music there

V. M. P.

A very good place.

C. F.

Amazing

I. G.

Expensive

H. J.

Amazing music

t. g.

Nice little place

D. W.

Cool

A. W.

Friendly

T. B. K.

Nice chilled place

J. A.

Good coffee

L. G.

Superb & wellformed

D. S.

Jazz baby, Jazz

P. L.

Great place

L. S.

amazing place

A. L.

Good place

L. L.

I went to a gig on Saturday night and really love the atmosphere, not many small venues for intimate gigs left around Hackney that are welcoming. The bar staff were friendly.

;. 0.

(Translated) There are many nice chairs. Everyone is spending their thoughts. An uncle has arrived on the way, but no one says anything and loose time is flowing all the time. It seems that you can listen to wonderful music at night. Let's come again. (Original) 素敵な椅子がたくさんあります。みんな思いおもいの時間を過ごしています。途中よっぱらいおじさんが乱入してきたけど、誰もなにも言わず、ゆるい時間がひたすら流れています。夜は素敵な音楽が聴けるようです。また来よう。

A. A.

(Translated) Excelente programation in experimental music not recommended to the mainstream audience, but it is a paradise for demanding audiences and a place that allows musicians engaged in experimenting with other sounds to express themselves. Moreover the neighborhood has other places around like the Arcola theater and a self-managed space with huge garden and stone oven pizzas. It is an outside of the commercial and well-known London circuit and almost only frequented by English people. (Original) Excelente programation en musique expérimental pas conseillé au public mainstream, mais c'est un paradis pour les publics exigeants et un lieu qui permet aux musiciens engagés dans l'expérimentation d'autres sons de s'exprimer. D'ailleurs le quartier a d'autres lieux autour comme le théâtre Arcola et un espace autogéré avec jardin immense et pizzas au four en pierre. C'est un dehors du circuit commercial et connu de Londres et quasiment fréquenté que par des anglais.

関.

(Translated) It's a very quiet place with a good cooler, very comfortable place. The staff is also friendly and the coffee is delicious. (Original) とても静かでクーラーもよくきき、大変、過ごしやすい場所です。スタッフもフレンドリーでコウヒイもおいしいです。

K. B.

(Translated) The Bohemian loves it neglected, but the music was good (Original) Die Boheme liebt es ungepflegt, die Musik aber war gut

V. H.

(Translated) Selected music, good beer outweighs everything else. (Original) Izbrana glasba, dobro pivo odtehta vse ostalo.

s.

(Translated) One of the best alternative venues in london (Original) Uni dei migliori locali alternativi a londra

J. O.

(Translated) A place for true alternative experiences. (Original) Místo pro pravé alternativní zážitky.

R. M.

D. R.

J. F.

C. U.

D. F.

c. s.

K. D.

L. V.

A. Q.

A. V.

B. B.

F. P.

R. D.

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