London’s Best 24 Hour Restaurants
Whether you find yourself wandering the streets at 4am in search of a preventative hangover measure or you’re an early riser looking to get your hands on the best salt beef bagel, we’ve compiled a list of six of the best 24-hour restaurants. 2am rib-eye steak, anyone?
Duck & Waffle
No round-up of London’s 24-hour dining scene would be complete without Duck & Waffle. Sitting 40 floors above the City in the Heron Tower, the restaurant is famous for serving food around the clock, whether that’s breakfast at sunrise, cocktails at midnight or its signature duck and waffle dish at 3am. The skyline views alone make it worth the visit, but the fact it’s genuinely open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is what makes it a London institution.
Where: Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY
Website: www.duckandwaffle.com
VQ
One of London’s original 24-hour cafés, VQ has long been the answer to the question of where to eat at 2am. Serving all-day breakfasts, burgers, sandwiches and diner classics around the clock, it’s a dependable option for shift workers, night owls and anyone craving comfort food outside normal dining hours.
Where: Chelsea & bloomsbury
Website: www.vqrestaurants.com
Beigel Bake
Brick Lane’s legendary Beigel Bake has been feeding Londoners around the clock since the 1970s. Open 24/7, it’s best known for its generously filled salt beef bagels, which have become something of a rite of passage after a night out in east London. Whether you arrive at midday or 4am, there’s usually a queue, a steady stream of customers and fresh bagels emerging from the ovens.
Where: 159 Brick Lane, Shoreditch E1 6SB
Website: www.bricklanebeigel.co.uk
Polo Bar
Directly opposite Liverpool Street Station, Polo Bar has built a loyal following by staying open 24 hours a day. Whether you’re after a full English breakfast, pancakes, burgers or a mug of tea at an unlikely hour, this old-school café delivers exactly the sort of round-the-clock comfort food London can otherwise struggle to provide.
where: 176 Bishopsgate, Liverpool Street EC2M 4NQ
Website: www.polo24hourbar.co.uk
Chop Chop at The Hippodrome
Located inside the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square, Chop Chop is one of the few places in central London where you can still sit down for a proper meal in the small hours. Serving Chinese comfort food until around 4am, it’s become a favourite among theatre-goers, hospitality workers and night owls looking for something more substantial than a takeaway.
Open until 4am
Where: Hippodrome, Cranbourn Street, London WC2H 7JH
Website: www.hippodromecasino.com
Speedboat Bar
If you’re looking for somewhere that still feels lively long after most kitchens have closed, Speedboat Bar is one of Soho’s best late-night options. Inspired by Bangkok’s canal-side restaurants, the menu is packed with fiery curries, drunken noodles, stir-fries and drinking snacks designed to keep the night going. Combined with a buzzing atmosphere and strong cocktails, it’s become one of central London’s most exciting after-hours food destinations, adding genuinely good food to the late night scene.
Open until midnight and 1 on weekends
Where: 30 Rupert St, London W1D 6DL
Website: www.speedboatbar.co.uk
Bar Italia
A Soho institution since 1949, Bar Italia is one of the neighbourhood’s enduring late-night landmarks. Open into the early hours, it remains a go-to for espresso, pastries and people-watching long after nearby cafés have closed. Its neon sign and bustling atmosphere have made it a favourite among musicians, hospitality workers and night owls for decades.
Open until 5am
Where: 22 Frith St, London W1D 4RF
Balans Soho Society
For years, Balans has been synonymous with late-night dining in central London. The Soho original continues to draw crowds looking for burgers, brunch dishes, cocktails and comfort food at hours when most restaurants have already shut. Its anything-goes menu and lively atmosphere make it one of the capital’s most dependable after-dark dining spots.
Open until 4:30am Thursday – Saturday
where: 34 Old Compton Street, Soho W1D 4UG
website: www.balans.co.uk
