Morito Hackney Road

Under the guidance of head chef Sevan Tchivitdji, the cuisine at Morito’s Hackney outpost finds inspiration south of the UK, in the warm, sun-drenched lands of Southern Spain, North Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. Backed by the same people who opened the ground-breaking Moorish tapas spot Moro in the 1990s, Morito offers just what you’d expect and hope for – a changing array of tasty bites to snack on while dreaming about summer days.

The cool, blue-hued restaurant featuring a central horseshoe-shaped bar with a streaky marble countertop and a polished concrete floor was designed in collaboration with acclaimed contemporary artist Dillwyn Smith. Shot through with bright colours beneath an exposed industrial ceiling, the large windows ensure the space breathes, while the open kitchen towards the back of the room tantalises with both sights and smells.

As mentioned, Morito deals in tapas from all ends of the Mediterranean, resulting in the exciting crosspollination of different culinary traditions. Classic Spanish nibbles such as boquerones and Padron peppers share menu space with kofte, dolma, Cretan sausage, fatoush salad and more, letting you craft your own flavour journey. Vegans are especially in luck on Mondays, when the entire menu is plant-based, while wine connoisseurs will want to check out the concise but carefully curated vintages on offer.

Morito Hackney Road recently also opened a separate downstairs bar that aims to support local music talent with live music nights, accompanied with a selection of snacks and a focus on cocktails in a relaxing late-night atmosphere.