Another day, another dazzling object for us to try and precariously shove into London’s full-to-bursting trophy cabinet. And today’s bragging rights come in the form of Barge East; a floating restaurant found on board a 125 year old Dutch barge in Hackney Wick, that’s just been named one of the most unique dining destinations in the whole darn world. Not bad, hey?
TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards
The accolade comes courtesy of TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards. Having had a thorough rummage through the plethora of reviews and ratings that had been left on the site between August 1, 2024 and July 31, 2025; the world’s leading travel platform recently dished out their highly-coveted Best of the Best Restaurants Awards.
In a bid to highlight an array of remarkable restaurants and culinary experiences across the world; the awards are neatly separated into various categories. Returning categories for this year’s awards included Fine Dining, Casual Dining, Vegan and Vegetarian, Date Night, Hidden Gems, and Pet-Friendly. But this year isn’t any normal year. Oh no, folks. This year is TripAdvisor’s 25 birthday. And to mark the occasion, they threw two shiny new categories into the mix: 25th Anniversary and One of a Kind.
The One of a Kind category recognises the dining destinations from across the globe that can’t be found anywhere else. From original and creative menus to unforgettable surroundings; the celebrated spots each have something incredibly unique to offer its diners. And it was in this very category that London’s lovely Barge East earned itself a comfy spot.
Barge East, Hackney Wick
Bobbing away rather beautifully on the River Lee in HackneyBarge East made a splash on London’s culinary scene back in 2018. And it’s gone form strength to strength since then. The independent eatery is set aboard a historic boat (that the owners saved from a scrapyard and lovingly converted) and boasts a rather sizeable riverside garden, too. With an atmosphere as delicious as the food itself; it’s not hard to see why this Barge East managed to bag itself the 9th spot on TripAdvisor’s list of the world’s best one-of-a-kind restaurants.
The irresistible restaurant boasts an award-winning kitchen, lead by Head Chef, Kayla Dimmickand serves up a selection of sustainably-sourced (and utterly scrumptious) dishes. There really is nothing else quite like it in the capital city. And it certainly floats our boat.
Tommo Stuart Thomson (Co-Founder of Barge East) said: “To be recognised not just nationally, but globally, as one of the top 10 most unique dining experiences is something really special for our team. From day one, Barge East has been about creating something truly distinctive, sustainable food, grown in our own gardens, served aboard a historic barge in Hackney Wick. To now be named No. 1 in the UK is a huge honour and a testament to our chefs, our team, and our guests who’ve supported us year after year.”
📍You’ll find Barge East at Sweetwater Mooring, White Post Lane, E9 5EN.
Find out more and plan your visit here.
