Grab Korean hangover soup or a legendary sandwich at these NYC restaurants open 24 hours a day.
Photograph: Virginia Rollison
Feeling a little peckish at 3am? Whether you’re coming home from a karaoke sesh that stretched into the morning, getting hungry after a night of cocktails at one of NYC’s best bars or fighting off some jet lag, there are plenty of 24-hour spots to grab a bite in New York City. While you’ll find classic greasy-spoon fare at some of the best diners in NYC, you’ll also find spicy, soothing Korean hangover soup (in case that’s something you might need…) and the best pastrami in NYC piled high and waiting for you any time of the day or night. While the 24/7 spots in NYC may be dwindling, there are still plenty to be found for all the night owls and early risers in the city that never sleeps.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC
Open 24 hours a day from Tuesday to Saturday, this Korean comfort food spot offers up spicy hot pot, noodles and K-barbecue. If you’re stopping by after a late night out (ahem), you may be compelled to order up the hangover soup: made with dried pollack, pork bones and greens, it’ll fortify you to face the day ahead. It’s a perfect spot for big groups, so don’t be surprised to see a bachelorette party stop by fresh from a karaoke lounge.
View this post on Instagram
Late night or early morning, Cuban breakfast always hits. Grab an order of sweet pan dulce, an omelet topped with ham and cheese or French toast smothered with banana, nuts and gooey peach jam. They’re known for their sandwiches, too, with a solid Cubano that rings up at just $6 (a total bargain, as the line will prove) along with mofongo served with shrimp, chicharrón and other proteins. With a stubbornly affordable menu and always-open hours, the place is usually packed with local regulars for you to rub shoulders with.
View this post on Instagram
This historic Jewish deli has been a centerpiece of New York food and culture since 1888. Open 24 hours on weekends, find the perfect end (or beginning) to your evening with a crisp-skinned, all-beef hot dog and, of course, one of their legendary sandwiches. The thick-cut pastrami stacked high between slices of rye will be the highlight of your night.
There’s never a wrong time to head to Veselka for a meal, and that’s probably why you’re always likely to find a crowd at this East Village staple. The Ukrainian restaurant has been serving soul-warming Eastern European specialties since 1954, and it’s still going strong. It paused its round-the-clock hours for some time around the pandemic, but it’s planning to be back starting weekends in the summer of 2024. Start with some soothing borscht soup before you tear into a link of kielbasa and a plate of steaming hot pierogi.
Chef Julian Medina puts a Latin-American spin on the classic 24-hour diner. Styled to evoke a luncheonette in Havana, the 70-seat space features a long marble bar with swivel stools, bright blue booths and red linoleum tables. Choose from the everyday comfort-food menu of snacks, sandwiches, burgers or round-the-clock breakfast.
Empanada Mama peddles more than 40 varieties of the main attraction, perfectly portable for on-the-go snacking. Fillings range from basic (plain cheese or rice and beans) to ultra creative (ham, cheese and pineapple) and sweetly addictive (banana and Belgian chocolate, or figs, caramel and cheese). It's just the fried sustenance you'll need after a night of drinking (or even if you're stone-cold sober).
New at 22nd Street and Third Avenue, Diner24 shares many characteristics with other diners in New York City: customers can have breakfast for dinner; the waiters are in dress-shirt-bow-tie getups; the tile floor is black and white; and the tables have shiny, metal striations around them that may have been considered “Space Age” in the 1950s.
RECOMMENDED: A first look at Diner24, NYC’s newest 24-hour restaurant and bar
From gritty dives to bougie cocktail clubs, here are the best boozing options for thirsty night owls.
Discover Time Out original video
