From Dutch barge to global stage: Barge East ranked No.1 in the UK by Tripadvisor

Hackney Wick’s floating restaurant, Barge East, has been crowned the No. 1 'One of a Kind' restaurant in the UK and No. 9 in the world in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Restaurants 2025.

The new global category celebrates unique and distinctive dining experiences, with winners selected through a mix of Tripadvisor’s editor curation and millions of traveller reviews.

A historic barge turned dining destination

Moored beside the London Stadium, Barge East occupies a 125-year-old Dutch barge rescued from the scrap yard and transformed into a restaurant in 2018. In the seven years since, it has become one of East London’s most distinctive dining destinations, known for its hyper-local sourcing, sustainability ethos and creative menus from head chef Kayla Dimmick.

The restaurant’s riverside gardens supply seasonal ingredients for the kitchen, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable British dining.

Global recognition for Hackney Wick

This latest accolade adds to a growing list of honours. Earlier this year, Barge East retained its 2 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence for the third year running, cementing its position among the UK’s top independent restaurants.

For co-founder Tommo Stuart Thomson said: “To be recognised not just nationally,

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but globally, as one of the top ten 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.”

Head chef Kayla Dimmick said: “To now be awarded and recognised by Tripadvisor’s global audience shows how far we’ve come in putting sustainable, creative British dining on the map. We’re so grateful to everyone who’s dined with us and shared their experiences. We’re making waves and can't wait to welcome more customers aboard!”

A growing reputation

Since opening, Barge East has welcomed more than 300,000 guests, built a loyal following in London, and gained international recognition for its commitment to community, sustainability and culinary innovation.

Joining Tripadvisor’s list of the world’s best restaurants places Barge East among some of the most celebrated dining destinations worldwide - a remarkable achievement for an independent venue that began life as a salvaged barge in East London.

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