Whether you’ve stepped out of Egg, been partying on a Shoreditch rooftop or just finished a midnight cinema showing, there are many times you’ll find yourself on the streets of London and hungry at 3am. For such a global and multicultural city, many London eateries shut strangely early, but it still has some tricks up its sleeve when it comes to late-night dining. If you’re looking for something a bit different to the run-of-the-mill kebab shop to satisfy your night-owl cravings, there are some establishments that really take the cake. On that sweet note, here are our selection of London’s Best Late Night Eateries.
VQ Cafe & Diner – Bloomsbury/Chelsea
Image courtesy of VQ24hours.com
This stylish cafe (with bar open until 2am) has two locations in London – Chelsea and Bloomsbury. With great British offerings served around the clock, VQ is a fantastic choice for those looking for 3am burgers or a 4am Eggs Benedict. The prices are affordable and the location perfect for anyone brave enough to spend the night in the pumping clubs of Chelsea or Fulham; not to mention that Gordon Ramsey himself praised its ultimate fry-up. With a name that literaly translates to twenty-four (Vingt-Quatre), this relaxed diner gets the nod from us.
Open: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Find it on Google Maps – VQ Bloomsbury/ VQ Chelsea
IMage courtesy of TimeOut.com
If you’ve been exploring the speakeasies and mysterious underground of Soho, or the exotic and dimly lit bars of Chinatown, HK Diner is the late night option for you. Serving both classic Chinese dishes and more unusual offerings, such as black pudding with Chinese chives or shredded chicken served with jellyfish, HK Diner also offers a licensed bar and a ridiculously large range of bubble teas. Open until 4am every day, this small yet delightful diner offers a great alternative to the chicken shop across the road. Keep in mind, there is a £6 cover charge.
*Special hint: Check out Opium’s amazing cocktails before heading to HK Diner for a delicious night time snack.
Open: 11am – 4am, 7 days a week
Image courtesy of Polo24hourBar.co.uk.
This delightful version of the typical English ‘Greasy Spoon’ (ie. local cafe) has been in business since 1953, though a new coat of paint and change in design has turned Polo Bar into a retro haven for those seeking a fry-up at any hour. Proudly serving English dishes with locally sourced produce, Polo Bar provides businessmen, tourists and late-night revellers with a delicious way to end, or start, the day. They also stock London brewed craft beers and coffees from a Shoreditch roastery.
Polo Bar is easy to find, just opposite Liverpool St. Station, and is perfect for late nights spent out in the East.
Open: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Image courtesy of Reddithadvertiser.co.uk.
This American Style Diner has branches all over London, however Farringdon is your best bet for getting that elusive late night burger. Open until 4am from Monday to Saturday, and 3am on Sundays, Tinseltown is a great option for those just leaving the local bars, as well as a fantastic place to get a meal before you hit the club (like EGG, that runs until 7/10am). While their food is known for it’s quality, Tinseltown is unrivaled in midnight milkshakes; definitely order one if you get the chance, you’ll dance it off later.
Another perk? It’s just around the corner from Clink.
Open: Midday to 4am, Monday to Saturday; Midday to 3am, Sunday.
Finally, the last two eateries to make it onto this list are note-worthy yet already incredibly well-known.
Image courtesy of SpitalfieldsLife.com
We’ve already mentioned this 24 hour bagel cafe in our Alternative Places to Eat in the East Guide. However it deserves another mention for its lip-smacking late night credentials. If you’re around Brick Lane and hungry at any time of day or night, we’d seriously advise giving their traditional salt-beef or smoked salmon bagels a bite. They’re delicious and well priced, with Beigel Bake being a Brick Lane legend in it’s own right.
Open: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Image courtesy of DuckandWaffle.com
Located on the 40th floor of the Heron Building, making it the highest restaurant in the UK, this 24 hour establishment is definitely not your local cafe. For a high end breakfast to end the night on a high, the Duck & Waffle is a pricey but memorable place to have your eggs and orange juice. Maybe a little bit of bubbly too.
Open: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Enjoy your late night nibbles fellow travellers!
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