Best Late Night Eats in Manhattan, New York
New York has a reputation as a city that doesn't sleep, and as you may expect it is also home to some of the country's best late night restaurants. As revelers head home after a long night of enjoying New York's bright lights, many look for a night meal or fast food to see them through to breakfast and they won't be disappointed. There's plenty to choose from. Whether you'd like food from a dim sum palace, a corner Bistro, or hot dogs from a food truck, you'll find businesses open late and ready to sell you a late night bite.
Come with us as we search for the best late night food in New York City.
Katz’s Delicatessen: A Legendary Staple
Katz's Deli - NYC's Oldest Deli
In business since 1888, Katz’s Delicatessen is one of those old-fashioned specialty delis in Lower East Side New York. The shop is open 24 hours a day from Thursday to Saturday. It's the perfect spot to find a meal as it is famous for its pastrami on rye and corned beef sandwiches. These delicacies attract locals and tourists as the pastrami has a reputation as the best in the city.
Katz Deli sells several tons of pastrami, corned beef, and salami weekly. It has appeared in several films and television shows. Expect queues, but if you’re looking for a spicy meat sandwich in the middle of the night Katz’s Delicatessen serves one of the best. Order your sandwich and take it to the dining room with the free-issue pickles and a long cold drink. You won’t look back, it’s a taste sensation!
Prince Street Pizza: A Slice of Heaven
Everyone who visits New York City must have a pizza. It’s a right of passage. Prince Street Pizza is one of the best restaurants serving pizzas in the city. Opened by the Morano family in 2012, the restaurant serves Sicilian square pizza slices and traditional Neopolitan pizzas. The pizzas consist of homemade sauce, meat, and other fillings along with mozzarella cheese.
The family handcrafts the sauces used on the pizza. If you like the sauce, you can buy it in a bottle. Sip one of the fifty craft beers the owners keep in stock as you enjoy your pizza.
The pizza shop is open until 4 am on weekends so make this Italian restaurant your last stop on the way home from a night on the town.
The Halal Guys: Street Food Sensation
From the small food cart on 53rd Street and a second location on 6th Avenue, The Halal Guys has expanded and transformed into an international brand through their famous halal food.
This business is so much a part of the New York night-eating diners scene, that it is hard to imagine New York without it. The chicken and gyros combo platter with rice and white and hot sauces is the go-to meal for many late night workers
The Halal Guys cart is open until the wee hours, the perfect place to grab a good and tasty meal after a night out on the town.
Veselka: A Taste of Eastern Europe
Need to satisfy your hunger at an ungodly hour of night? Try Veselka Restaurant In the East Village. It specializes in Eastern European dishes.
Opened in 1954, this Ukrainian diner offers patrons entrees like fried or boiled pierogies, borscht, and stuffed cabbage.
The relatively homely and unpretentious interior and the simple, substantial food make Veselka an oasis of calm in the urban jungle.
The Veselka breakfast meal, served throughout the day is popular with people filling up on the way home from a party or club late.
Empanada Mama: Latin American Delights
Empanada Mama in Hell’s Kitchen and Lower East Side is the perfect place if you enjoy the taste of Latin America.
This bright gastropub is notable for its impressive choice of empanadas with meat, chicken, seafood, vegetarian, mac and cheese, and even dessert.
Operating round the clock on weekends, Empanada Mama is the best place to indulge your need for comfort food. It's infused with Latin flavors. The arepas, tacos, tamales, and appetizers are perfect for dinner or a snack while watching a movie.
Blue Ribbon Brasserie: Fine Dining Late into the Night
If you’re aiming for a higher-end dining experience, Blue Ribbon Brasserie offers refined cuisine in Soho late into the night. The brasserie stays open till 4 am, serving a diverse menu including delicacies like oysters and caviar, and more hearty food like fried chicken, and bone marrow.
Joe’s Pizza: A Classic Slice
No list of late night dining would be complete without Joe’s Pizza.
This iconic pizza shop opened its doors to the people of Greenwich Village in 1975, and it keeps churning out that quintessential New York pizza to this day. Joe’s Pizza is open until 4 am on weekends, so if you’re craving a pizza past midnight, make your way to Joe's.
What makes it classic is that the slices of pie are naked, thin, and crispy, with sharp and tangy tomato sauce and excellent melting cheese making it a continued favorite among New Yorkers and tourists.
Mamouns Falafel: A Middle Eastern Gem
If you’re looking for quick and delicious food at a low price, Mamouns Falafel fits the bill. Located in Greenwich Village, Mamouns has sold delicious falafel sandwiches since 1971.
It’s open until 5 am on weekends so it’s perfect for a vegetarian midnight snack. Expect crispy falafel, freshly chopped vegetables, and smoothly textured tahini sauce encased in warm pita bread.
Mamouns also makes other Middle Eastern meals like shawarmas, hummus, and baba ganoush.
Spotted Pig: A Gastropub Experience
For something a little different, the Spotted Pig, a gastropub in the West Village, blends British and Italian cuisines. In business since 2004, the restaurant has a Michelin star, so expect culinary excellence. Serving bar snacks and plates, the Spotted Pig focuses on comfort food. It is open until 2 am over the weekend.
The burger with a Roquefort cheese side and shoestring fries is a favorite, so do yourself a favor and give it a try.
Savoring Manhattan's Late-Night Culinary Delights
Manhattan’s late night food scene is as vibrant as the city itself. Choose from street foods, food trucks, pizzerias, or fine dining. The food choices are equally diverse from poutine to pancakes, and Chinese takeout to donuts and ice cream. It’s all available late into the night.
Discover hidden gems and local favorites with our guides to non-touristy things to do in NYC and Brooklyn. Instead of hitting the usual crowded spots, explore charming neighborhoods, cultural hotspots, and unique dining spots for a true taste of the city. Uncover the best-kept secrets and experience the unique charm of New York City and Brooklyn just like a local.