Dine after dark: London’s best late-night restaurants

With restaurants serving burgers, breakfasts, tacos and pizza until the early hours, London’s late-night dining options go far beyond fast food. If you’re in the market for a midnight feast, here are 12 restaurants to keep in mind.

Pizza East – For a late night feast in Shoreditch, you can always rely on Pizza East. The kitchen is open until 1am on Friday and Saturday and ticks all the comfort food boxes, whether you fancy pizza, lasagne, or their famous lamb meatballs.

Bar Italia – This family-run café has been at the heart of Soho for over 60 years and it’s still going strong. It’s open until 5am every day except Sunday, so you can pop in for coffee, grab a panini, and soak up the late-night buzz.

VQ – Open 24 hours a day, VQ now has four London restaurants offering late-night salvation in the form of pancakes, cheeseburgers, sticky ribs, and lots more besides. We’re big fans of their milkshakes and mocktails.

El Camion – A Mexican restaurant (with a quirky basement bar) that serves tacos, burritos and quesadillas until 2am (Wed-Sat). If you’re not already tipsy when you arrive, their Margaritas will get you well on your way.

Polo Bar – Open 24 hours a day opposite Liverpool Street station, Polo Bar serves everything from burgers and breakfasts to steaks and fish and chips. If you fancy a pint and a Full English at 3am, this is the place to go.

The Laughing Heart – This late-night wine bar and dining room on the Hackney Road will feed you until 1am. Expect a knock-out wine list and dishes like mutton tortellini and Dorset crab with peas and avocado.

Red Rooster – It’s one big party at Marcus Samuelsson’s Shoreditch eatery, with live music seven nights a week and food served until 2am (Thu-Sat). Take some mates along for chicken ‘n’ waffles and Lindy Hop Sours.

Balans Soho Society – Whether you fancy burgers at midnight or French toast at 4am, this Old Compton Street favourite has your back. They’re open until 2am Mon-Thurs, 6am Fri-Sat, and 2am on Sundays. Pro tip: You can cure a hangover before it’s even happened with their Eggs in Hell and a couple of Bloody Marys.

Hakkasan – This award-winning Cantonese restaurant is open until 12.30am (Thu-Sat), if you’re in the mood for lobster noodles or Peking duck. The glam décor and killer cocktails make it a top choice for date night.

Brasserie Zedel – Open until midnight (Mon-Sat), this grand brasserie will satisfy your post-theatre (or post-pub) cravings for steak frites or boeuf bourguignon – though be sure to save room for dessert.

Dean Street Townhouse – The late-night menu at DST is a simple affair that hits all the right notes – think Welsh rarebit, cheeseburgers, and mac ‘n’ cheese. They’re open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Duck & Waffle – It gets pretty busy after dark, but it’s worth braving the crowds for the food and the view. Ox cheek doughnuts, Colombian eggs, and their signature duck and waffle are served until 5am.

Still hungry? You can smash cheeseburgers at MEATliquor until 2am (Fri-Sat), grab a shawarma at Ranoush until 3am, and there’s always the Beigel Bake. Visit OpenTable to check out more of London’s late-night restaurants.