Cafe OTO

One of the greatest live music venues/collective spaces in the world. Their programming is top notch and unlike any other. I have seen top notch jazz and experimental music there every time I have been. It's a very special place filled with incredible books and records to purchase as well. A must visit for me Everytime I am in London.

Excellent musical acts, great sound quality, nice crowd, good beer. What more could one want? Well, I would ask for more reasonable temperatures. I don’t understand why this place has to be kept so hot during performances. It’s so uncomfortable it almost ruins the experience. An older person actually passed out from heatstroke. That’s how hot it was. But the puzzling thing is: they do have AC; they just choose to keep it off. Why? It’s borderline irresponsible to do that in the summer. We can do better, friends. We should allow ourselves to expect better from such a fine venue.

I love it, is my favorite music venue in the world!

Friendly staff, ok music, spacious and cool vibe. However, after visiting here twice, I don’t feel safe or comfortable. Both times, two boisterous people (same each time) come in, clearly high, and go around spitting, stealing stuff from the counter and also from people’s tables (whilst the patrons are there). The staff do nothing, they’re clearly used to it but the lack of security measures is unsettling and, frankly, it isn’t a nice thing to have to deal with when you’re already paying what you are. There’s other cafes nearby, go there where there’s better security (and sturdier furniture).

I dropped by here after someone commented on one of my videos about record shops in London, specifically shops that focus on jazz, funk, and related fusion music. This cafe/music scpace/store was highly recommended. As you can see from other reviews there is a live music scene here and a nice open concept cafe with some food. But I went specifically for the LPs, so my rating should reflect this focus. There were certainly quite a few new jazz LPs that I would have normally taken home -- LPs that were relatively hard to find, or local to the London jazz scene, but prices were above what I'm used to spending, or what Discogs guides. I'll try back this fall to see if anything has changed. For now though I would not recommend unless you have the time.

Nice cafe with some seats outside for sunny days. We had the cheese toastie, which was fine, but the onions they served with it were genuinely the best part of it! The coffee was good - both espresso and iced latte were nice. Inside was quite big with lots of space and tables.

What should have been a cozy café has become a shelter for clearly unwell individuals engaging in disturbing behavior - screaming, spitting, and in some cases even relieving themselves on-site. This isn’t tolerance - it’s a complete abandonment of basic standards. A café should be a safe, clean, and comfortable place for everyone. What an absolute shame.

A wonderful venue with a continuing programme of innovative and inspiring music featuring artists from around the globe. Exploratory and ever challenging in the best possible way! Great cafe during the day with a nice atmosphere and bar in the evening. Fabulously well stocked bookshop and records and vinyl add to the magic of this place! Long may it prosper!

I like the vibe of this place- open, airy, lots of tables and couches and other assorted seating. It's located on a back street up near Dalston Junction, which is nice because you can sit outside without inhaling bus exhaust or getting run over by said bus. They have good coffee and tea and apple ginger juice in pretty bottles. The people who work there are very forgiving of hours spent on their free Internet. My only gripe is that it's nice to have a food option should one get hungry ( and let's be honest, I'm pretty much always hungry). Apparently they'll be getting real food soon. For now, my poor stomach will have to be content with cookies, mini quiche thingies, croissants, and the like, as well as excitingly flavored chips. And by chips I think I mean crisps. And by flavored I think I mean flavoured. Look how hard I'm trying! If I get killed by a bus looking the wrong way crossing the street I will be very angry with you, London. Thank God the street outside Cafe Oto is bus-free. I'm safe for now...

This cafe is a Hackney council supported venue working to promote new, underground and international music and culture within the community and as such deserves a big pat on the back. The great thing about Dalston is that over the years it has seen the development of many new cultural projects and is home to creative collectives who truly contribute something to the vibrant melting pot of people living in the area. Cafe Oto has a jam packed programme of musical treats over the coming months, mostly featuring international artists I have never heard of which is not only exciting to me, but proof that the cafe is working successfully towards their goal of getting exposure for talented non commercial artists. The atmosphere here hums with creativity, it is large and light with a grand piano and free WiFi. It's a little off the beaten track and a great place to relax or work over a couple of beers or a nice cake.

Amazing place with a beautiful feel. Great coffee with cool cats drawing, reading and just chilling out. Feels like a coffee shop should. Keep it a secret and all will be golden

This place is an odd but definitely enjoyable mix of hipster coffee joint, blissed-out tea haven, and Japanese snack and liquor shop. I've had the chance to devour a fantastic vanilla beer, a holiday ginger tea drink, an Americano, and a pot of sencha. All delightful. I prefer the seats by the windows, because the back can get a bit dark, but the back has some nice big tables if you're bringing a group. There are some hard to find craft brews here as well as whiskey from Nippon and little snackeys which I haven't tried yet but want to. It's warm in the chill of winter and cool in the summer, so you've no excuse not to give it a shot.

I started going here a year ago as i wanted to find somewhere quiet to write during the day. Whenever i go it is full but doesn't feel cramped as the space is big enough and the tables aren't jammed in. I often have meetings here, go to sit and read or work. There are always plenty of laptops being tapped away at. It has a real community feel and there is always interesting stuff going on in the evenings. The food is good - typical london prices for organic home made stuff. Lots of nice Clipper Teas - great coffee too! Last time I was here a man came in to tune the Piano - it was lovely! Also, the toilets are big and clean - hooray! Great for anybody with buggies or Wheelchairs I think - as there is lots of room to move.

Nice! This is a state supported venue so it's an open, inclusive, successful and cultural enterprise. Which is just what we want public money to be doing in this day and age. Tucked neatly of Dalston High Street, you'd never know it was here, you really wouldn't, unless you're 'in the know'. I'm not, no I'm not, but I know someone who clearly is! So, it's very cultural very cool very chic like that showing variously different things, from places all over the world. I don't know about you, but there is something glorious about rhythms from around the world, the kind of thing you don't get to sit down in a bar and listen to very often. --- Nice. Can't imagine this stuff kicking off in Enfield. Heya there... Michael Portillo, come in sir. Come on No it's not like that. It's really good, come, fun check it!

As I write this i am sat in the sunshine enjoying a homemade bannana and chocolate muffin and cafe oto's free wifi. Wow this place is a home from and I love it! Not only is this place as cute as it can be but the super friendly staff even helped me set up my laptop for the t'internet - clever cloggs they are. I have been here before in the evening to enjoy a band or two and it's a wonderful gig venue too. Basically this place can't do wrong by me. they hold fantastic acoustic nights and the intimate venue is ideal for such events! They don't have a huge selection of food, mainly cakes and what not but apart from that it's perfect.

A good venue specialising in contemporary and experimental music of all kinds. There's a decent selection of drinks and food, but the music is the reason to make the trip, and this venue attracts some of the best talent in the country.

Smiley Wifi Planet If you're a writer, a start up, a struggling actor, or regularly take time out to navel gaze while contemplating the meaning of life; I bet that you're someone who knows practically every square inch of your local coffee shop - I know I do. When you reach the level of familarity that allows you to time your day, in accordance with who's just made their way to their regular table, then take it from me, its time to seek inspiration elsewhere. My first meeting of the day was in Dalston. I literally made it with nano minutes to spare and smoothed things over by with the help of an Americano and a Latte. As my plus one, finished their call, I took the chance to check out my surroundings. Cafe Oto mixes village hall with a smudgeon East London cool and that kind of trashed student living room sofa and mismatched table and chairs look, that reminds you of being a student again. The coffee there was kinda of ish....that's right just ish....not sure whether it was the machine or my server, who I am sure tried to launch herself into a one of those almost smiles, but suddenly decided against it. I was a little disappointed with as I've always heard the service there was great. There were however, some big plus points: 1) Free wireless - not to be sniffed at by anyone (struggling or not ! : 0 ) 2) A seat for the day (if you want it), without the inevitable table wiping stare that you sometimes get at other coffee shops. 3) Buzzy atmosphere - necessary for creative bursts and people watching, when you have writers block ! 4) It's children and animal friendly (now that's a double whammy that you don't find everywhere !) Would I go back again. Yes if only to see if the waitress can hit smile mode and also because I wouldn't mind experiencing one of their music nights ! Life on the edge BB style !

The Café OTO has been one of my favourite music venues in London for quite sometime now. Funded by Hackney Council It sits slightly hidden down an ally just of Dalston high street, and upon arrival I always feel excited that I've arrived at a "real" underground music venue. Gone are the days when this was a BYOB venue; and although the drinks are definitely not cheep, they definitely have a good, if a little limited selection, that contrasts nicely along side the shabby but altogether intimate interior of the venue. The sound can sometimes be a little unpredictable, however, but the selection of night's they choose to put on kind of makes up for this. Café OTO's ethos is to bring a public sphere to those innovative or fringe artist that you wouldn't usually get to hear; a place that they can successfully call their own. Amongst the groups I've seen here have been the elusive Jandek, contemporary improv duo Flower / Corsano, Alexander Tucker, amongst a whole other crowd of visionaries and misfits that are you too far out of reach to access on a personal level. Kudos to Café OTO for bringing us this truly underground arena!

Great place for free wifi, but also just a good place in general. I was really impressed with the staff who were kind and courteous - even after I had spent hours and hours on their internet. The bands I've heard there aren't quite my cup of tea, but the acoustics are solid and the intimate atmosphere gives the shows a great vibe. They say they'll be getting food soon which will hopefully match the space, the coffee and the proximity to transportation - all of which are top-notch.

I like alot of things about Cafe Oto. I like its location, down a secret alleyway, a polished gem hidden away from the grime of Dalston crossroads and the cranes building the new railway station. I like the venue itself, the interior bedecked with the simplest of furniture, kept completely open-plan, with the 'stage' just a chair and a mic on the same level as the audience. I have enjoyed every artist I've seen play there. I like the way you can drink a pot of herbal tea at a gig. When I am drinking I like the bar's taste in bottled ales and beers. I like the massive windows, the car headlights that intermittently interrupt a singer, and watching passing locals stare in at the strange goings-on. I heard that its owned by a group of Japanese artists who converted it with a grant from the council - I like this too! Generally speaking, Cafe Oto is somewhere that everyone who lives in Dalston, Hackney, Stokie and the surrounding areas should know about and cherish. There's nowhere else like it I have been.

I know I *should* like it. I mean it is a backstreet venue, it does good snacks, a fine selection of drinks and various types of experimental music/ art. However, when we had the misfortune to walk into Cafe Oto they were two hours into a three long hours of an experimental music set which consisted of a droning electronic fog horn sound and micro pitch variants being played to a room of fools watching some central Asian workmen performing manual labour. Even Nathan Barley, a "self-facilitating media node" wouldn't have enjoyed it. I'll go back, but if experimental means this. No.

A really cosy place to hang out and meet up with someone for a chat. There is an area at the front with tables and seating where you can sit on a nice sunny day. The only problem is the coffee.... which seems to get worse every time I revisit. As a coffee snob, the coffee has either too much milk in the latte, or is watery. Which is a shame really considering a year ago, they did a decent coffee. Other then that there is a small selection of snacks and a nice selection of ciders and beers.

I love this venue for many reasons. But surely the main one is its programming of the most adventurous and mindblowing music. Some nights have an audience of only 20 and yet the owners continue to promote marginalized musicians without crowd guarantee. What was London ever like without Cafe Oto?... I don't want to remember. A friend who came over from Berlin (city of cafes surely?!) fell in love with the daytime cafe there, too. She loved the (child-friendly) atmosphere and large open space and so do I. I'd like to move in please.

For those of you who like a little something out of the ordinary in your musical world, this could be the perfect place. An extremely varied musical program (though not so much of the mainstream), where you can hear the world and his dog (literally) in a super convivial and intimate setting. The last two bands I saw here were a bunch of fantastically entertaining Jimi Hendrix devotees from the Niger and Yoko Ono. Directly opposite Dalston Junction overland station, it'll serve you some great craft beers and unusual whiskies whilst your ears are opened wide. The food is conjured up by Soli Zardosht, a great iranian chef who's just published a lovely little cook book. Highly recommended, but I'd check the gig-listing first, as somethings are definitely to be filed under 'acquired taste'

Usually, if I'm in Dalston, I'm drunk and it's ill advised and I should have gone home hours earlier. On this occassion, only half of that was true. So for once, I actually have fond memories of my night out in Dalston, and the music at Cafe Oto has a lot to do with that. Actually, that's why we were here. I'd come here to see a band with a friend, and they were pretty fab. Cool folksy stuff. The stage is a decent size, the sound is good, the equipment good and the whole set up works. And considering how many places just think 'let's have live music!' and make a hash of it, this makes me happy. Beer was Sierra Nevada. Staff were friendly, even though I think I tipsily pissed them off and the rest of the punters were lovely, despite being far too hipster-y. I hear good things about the food, and apparently it's a nice place to work during the day. I don't think I'll come hear very often, it's far too east (and far too cool) for me, but I enjoyed it. If you like you're music interesting and your jeans skinny, you'll like it here.

This is a really fun place to spend a summer night (in particular!) as it's so huge, airy and cool. Good selection of organic beers for those who fancy a 'worthy' pint, friendly staff, good music and you can still tap on the day's selection of delicious cakes to soak up the booze at the end of the day. It's a bit rough and ready, but this is part of its hip, Dalston-esque charm. Yay for cafe Oto!

The best music venue in London. You could show up at random, not having checked what's on and be guaranteed an evening of interesting music. They have a great drinks selections, including their own Oto Ale made for them by the Kernel brewery, and tasty cookies and macaroons. For once, non-drinkers are also well catered for with the lovely range of Luscombe drinks. People are always really friendly too.

Love coffee there, though it's not cheap according to the SIZE. The personality of this cafe, in day time which I am almost in, are down to earth. They even provide free PLUGs for deparate students, writers who need using laptops there; some places don't like people doing this. It's japanese and english mixed space which however interestingly reminds my friend who used to live in Austin, TX at USA saying the big space, concrete floor and style reminded her memories in Texaas. It's a place that you want to chill out for a boring or dozy afternoon. As for the music and night life there, I'll let it for the professional music critics !

Went last night, after me and 1 mate came joint 5th in Nobody Inn quiz (whoop, whoop!) £5 to get in which is ok. Limited bar, and you can get cake! Good so far. Band playing was Georgia's Horse - I thought they were splendid. String quartet and 1 female singer, playing a range of guitars, and even the piano. Quiet, mellow, melancholy, beautiful music. Next band were also cool - sort of like a cross between Hawkwind, Joy Division, early Pink Floyd. Groovy! Long hair, whirling guitars, spiralling images projected onto the band, lazy drums (at times), grizzly singer. Apparently, I was there on a record label promo night, and was assured I was lucky to find them on that night. I spent time blathering to a pleasant Canadian - turned out he was Ryan Driver - I'd missed him playing earlier that evening. All in all a top place, eclectic music, interesting people even if some were talking a bit too loudly during the very quiet set of Georgia's Horses. They do cake, beer, coffee, and other stuff - get in!!

Buzzy atmosphere even during weekdays, good coffee (though not exceptional - go to Mouse & De Lotz for that), fairly mixed crowd (for Hackney), decent cake and food (if they're serving it) and free wireless. So, why oh why do the staff have to be so churlish and rude?

Fantastic place with beautiful drinks, delicious food and great music. Great accessible location with super friendly people visiting. Real good brunch rolls.

Cafe Oto is a new cafe and venue in london offering underground and experimental nights out for the lover of weird and wonderful music from jazz to folk to plain old free laptop noise and plinky plonk. The selection of Organic beers is brilliant and reasonably priced, and the cakes are delicious. However, and it is a BIG however - the sound is TERRIBLE! imagine being inside a low ceilinged and wide concrete box full of chattering people whilst you try to listen to intricate sounds that have been amplified through a sound system that is only big enough for a room one third of the size, so is of course overdriven to hell as well as being too quiet. If they sorted out the P.A. the place would jump straight to 4 stars, but for now they'll have to stay at 2.

I enjoyed a lot this cool place, nice drinking, nice food, and especially very good concerts of experimental music or poetry. It's just not so easy to go there, so check the website to see what's going on. But be sure it's always interesting and NEW for your ears. The place is comfortable, with friendly people. A nice café in the daytime also, when you're in the neighbourhood.

Thanks, OTO, for bringing us interesting Music every other night.

I like this place for what it is. Unpretencious, urban, traffic-free. The coffee failed to impress me. It feels like a place best suited for the artsy types who work from home a lot. There is a free wi-fi. The chairs are uncomfortable but there are seats outside which are very pleasant to sit on if the sun is out. There is never a lack of free tables during the day as the place is massive.

I'm currently sat in Café Oto, working away on my laptop, enjoying a great cappuccino and eyeing up the freshly prepared foods on offer. Nice big open space and street seating means this place is fantastic for day-time catchups and working space.

For fans of experimental, improvised, and avant-garde music, this venue is as good as it gets. Intimate, good beer, reasonable door prices, and a generally excellent booking policy make this somewhere that's worth checking their upcoming programme regularly. The residency program is especially exciting to me. Residencies in 2010 have included Peter Brötzmann, Matthew Shipp, and The Sun Ra Arkestra under the direction of Marshall Allen.

i've only been to this place at night - and i really like the vibe. it has an unusual line of live music for most - very enjoyable! i spoke to the organiser of that night, and he hinted it's one of the few places that offers a platform for more organic and respectful approach between musician and venue. i think they brew their own beer!