A stylish, friendly cafe in the heart of Dalston. Blending Japanese minimalism with food and music, Cafe Oto is a quirky hotspot on the East London scene.

The Venue
Set up to promote alternative music, the cafe’s decor is influenced by spacious Japanese design. With white walls (except for one exposed section of brick) and three large windows, the cafe has lots of natural light. The venue feels like an event has just happened or is about to take place; speakers, lights and a guitar case lie casually around a makeshift stage and a battered baby grand piano mooches in the corner.

The concrete floor is reminiscent of an East London warehouse, while a collection of unusual cacti and plants line the window sill. A row of vintage lounge chairs and a well sat-on sofa look out onto the quiet street, and old-school tables and chairs cluster together on the pavement outside when weather permits. Cafe Oto has flourished since Ashwin Street was temporarily pedestrianised, and the cafe is an oasis of calm off the busy Dalston Junction. The murmur of traffic and soft clunk of the East London Line roadworks remind you how well connected the cafe is – but city life still feels far away from the lingering smell of freshly brewed coffee.

The Atmosphere
The service is prompt and friendly. The same staff have worked here for a while, so there is a relaxed atmosphere and you’ll often hear morning customers asking for the usual before settling in for an hour or two. The cafe’s round, wooden tables lend themselves to the buzz of creative creatures gathered round their Macs making plans. The daytime clientele is a mixture of young artists who rent studios in the Print House next door, informal businessmen, mums with peaceful toddlers, or busy self-employed types making the most of free Wi-Fi. In the evenings, the hip 30-something crowd strut here to listen to the innovative music programming and obscure international musicians.

The Food
All the savoury food is cooked on the premises in a compact, open kitchen. The menu is small, but changes regularly, and includes a range of sandwiches, mini quiches and soups starting from £3.75. Sandwiches include Kirkham Lancashire cheese and piccalilli pickle, Serrano ham and parmesan, and roast beetroot and hummus (£4 with a salad). The roasted beetroot sandwich is a treat: bright pink beetroot, slow roasted with red onions, garlic and caraway seeds, piled onto thick farmhouse bread that only just manages to contain the generous serving of homemade hummus. The mushroom, celeriac and goat’s cheese quiche (£4.50 with salad) has a subtle flavour, and the flaky pastry is the perfect thickness for a mini quiche. Earthy Portobello mushrooms complement the roasted celeriac and creamy goat’s cheese, which is cut through by the light balsamic dressing on the side salad, and the steamed, peppered courgettes that come with it. If only the quiche were a little less mini!

A playful parsnip and apple soup is served in contemporary white china, with a round, old fashioned soup spoon and a big chunk of bread. A smooth puree carries the mellow flavour of roasted parsnips with a comforting aftertaste of tangy Bramley apples. If you want something hearty and healthy, the large salad is a good choice; served with feta, chilli-spiked seasonal squash and satisfyingly crunchy garlic bread for £5.50.

An array of cakes and biscuits decorate the counter and are priced between £1 and £2.60. The caramelised apple and apricot tart is sticky and sweet, and looks quaint on the chintzy cake stand. The fluffy carrot cake has a rich, orange and walnut icing both on top and in the middle, yet it manages to be simultaneously light and indulgent. The selection of homemade chocolate truffles, oaty cookies and chewy coconut macaroons are also impossible to resist; a good option when you want something sweet that still fits on the side of your cup and saucer.

Food is mostly served during the day, however a Japanese tapas menu (or Japas, as Oto call it), is also available for certain music events, including edamame, sushi rice rolls and addictive little Japanese pancakes with tofu dip (£1.50 - £2.50).

The Drink
Oto has a drinks selection as eclectic as their music taste, hinting to the café’s dual Japanese and English influences. The chilled Asahi beer (£3), plum wine or shochu Japanese vodka (both £3.80) are a refreshing alternative to your average pint, and make a delightful combination with spicy wasabi peas or crunchy Japanese rice crackers from the bar. Three different types of chilled sake (£3.80) are served to brimming point in a small glass – as is the tradition – and brought to you in a little wooden box to catch any spillages.

Pitfield Eco Warrior Real Ale is available from a cask, and English lager is on draught. If all that isn’t enough to tempt you, then there is still Devon and Breton cider, or organic ales, lagers and fruit beers in the fridge (£3 - £4.20). The non-alcoholic drinks are also organic; the lemonade and ginger beer are bittersweet and thirst quenching, and the apple, pear, apricot or elderflower juices are a sweet alternative at just £2.20. Herbal, black or green tea and faultless Monmouth coffee are served throughout the day (£1.50 - £2).

The Last Word
For a cafe that has good taste in music and even better taste in food, head to this little gem tucked in the back streets of Dalston.

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