Taking in the New York City skyline by day is a giddying experience. Big, open skies stretching above an intricate puzzle of glass and steel, impossibly stacked. It’s vast and cinematic, yet feels instantly familiar even if you’ve never set foot here. After dark, though, is when the city shines its brightest. And not just from the glow of the Empire State Building or the neon rush of Times Square.
Once the clock strikes five, whether it’s a Friday, Saturday, or a Monday that feels like a Saturday, the streets hum with an infectious energy. Restaurants fill, bars overflow, quiet galleries turn into social stomping grounds.
New York is a city that feeds the night owls. Some settle into a bar stool and never leave. Others chase the night, bouncing between dinner, a late-night screening, or a museum that keeps the lights on past dusk. Whatever your pace, the city meets you there.
With the help of a few hospitality insiders, we’ve rounded up the best bars, restaurants, and experiences to carry you through the night, no matter what time that starts.
Where to eat in New York City
Raoul’s
Since 1975, Raoul’s has been serving Soho more than just steak au poivre and Burgundy. What started as a scrappy French bistro quickly became a haunt for creative luminaries and industry heavyweights. Thomas Keller – who went on to shape American fine dining – helmed the kitchen and its dimly lit leather booths have been frequented by the likes of Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, all rumoured to have traded sketches for meals. The menu has stayed true to itself: foie gras terrine, Comté beignets, and a burger so exclusive (just 12 a night) that it’s gone before it hits the pass. “Raoul’s is evocative of the night,” says Eddy Buckingham, the Melburnian behind some of New York’s buzziest restaurants (Chinese Tuxedo, The Tyger, and SoSo’s) and Australian-style pub Old Mates. “It’s indulgence through a New York City lens.”
Via Carota
At Via Carota, waiting for a table is part of the ritual. Put your name down, then slip across the street to its sibling, Bar Pisellino, for an Americano. Once you return, you’ll be met by the convivial energy of a bustling Italian osteria. Dishes are both elegant and exceedingly generous: the insalata verde arrives as a towering stack of butter lettuce glossed in Sherry vinaigrette; tagliatelle is draped in prosciutto and parmesan; and the bistecca for two, perfectly charred and blushing, could easily feed more than its name suggests.
Diner
Diner opened more than 20 years ago on a once lonesome street in Williamsburg. The neighbourhood has transformed, now busier than ever, but Diner remains an anchor. Housed in a 90-year-old Kullman dining car, it’s cosy and lively, with a menu (scrawled on paper by your server tableside) that shifts with the seasons. Maybe pickled peach crudo in summer, or pork and plums in winter. The French-leaning wine list is extensive, and cocktails bring Martinis in numerous forms, making it as much a place to start the night as it is to end it.
Blue Ribbon Brasserie
When most of Manhattan sleeps, Blue Ribbon Brasserie keeps the lights on. “Blue Ribbon is an icon among hospitality workers, the place to drink Champagne and eat oysters well into the morning,” says Bridges chef de partie Sebastian Javier. Until 2am, the industry hotspot serves bistro classics: towering seafood platters, bone marrow slicked with oxtail marmalade, and duck bathed in orange sauce. The service, according to Megan Sullivan (Union Square Hospitality Group), is just as memorable. “I was there at 1am recently, and somehow, the staff were still so full of energy.”
Bonnie’s
In New York City, some restaurants come in hot, burn bright, then fade. Not Bonnie’s. Three years after opening, Calvin Eng’s Cantonese-American charmer is still packed, and just as good. Named after Eng’s mother, who taught him the foundations of Cantonese cooking, the Williamsburg-Greenpoint local nudges tradition into a new wave. Standout dishes include dao gok, long beans in fermented bean curd garlic butter; cheung fun, chewy rolled rice noodles swirled in a shrimp and scallop XO sauce; and the cha siu bkrib sandwich, stacked with sweet and smoky pork ribs, hot mustard and pickles. Cocktails match the playful energy, none more so than the MSG-spiked Martini that will forever be the talk of the town.
Best New York bars for late nights
Overstory
The only way is up (64 floors, to be exact). Perched atop an Art Deco skyscraper in the Financial District, Overstory’s wraparound terrace delivers an uninterrupted, 360-degree view of the city. Cocktails are sophisticated and layered: the Terroir Old Fashioned, infused with Palo Santo and local salt, and In The Clouds, a balance of whiskey, Earl Grey, vanilla, Champagne and clarified milk. “Overstory is a very special place,” says Buckingham. “The team prepares exceptional drinks, and you get this vista of Manhattan, where the views after dark are incredibly romantic.”
The Portrait Bar
Hidden inside The Fifth Avenue Hotel, The Portrait Bar is a touch of old-world glamour; dark wood panelling, plush velvet chairs, with a display of paintings, sketches, and photographs crowding the walls. The cocktail list is a passport of sorts, each drink inspired by a different city. The St. James channels London with English milk punch, while the Mapo District nods to Seoul with Tokki soju and sesame-oil-washed Laphroaig.
Sake Bar Asoko
Beyond the frenzy of Dimes Square, Sake Bar Asoko channels the energy of Heisei-era Japan, a period that shaped owners Shintaro Cho and Yuri Itakura’s deep appreciation for sake. The menu offers a dynamic array by the glass, carafe or bottle, with shochu making its mark in cocktail form. “Every time I’ve been, I’ve bumped into fellow sommeliers, all excitedly diving into the diverse sake list the team has curated,” says Sophia Sioris, sommelier at Rule of Thirds and general manager at Bin Bin Sake. “There’s great food, too, but I’m mostly there for their incredibly warm hospitality and delicious sake.”
Bar Oliver
Bar Oliver is a new kid on the block in Two Bridges that already feels like a local. Here, vermouth is the star, served straight, in Spritzes, or stirred into low-proof cocktails. It’s backed by a sharp selection of natural wines and aperitifs, and a Spanish-style menu featuring thinly sliced jamón, gildas with just the right hit of brine, and pan con tomate that drips with ripe, crushed fruit.
Things to do in New York
Comedy Cellar
A legendary Manhattan basement that remains the gold standard for stand-up, Comedy Cellar is where the greats come to test new material. Some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Steve Martin, Amy Schumer and Dave Chappelle, have workshopped sets here, often without warning, making drop-ins part of the fun. “The last show I went to, Judd Apatow got up unannounced and talked about ayahuasca for an hour,” says Kate Barr, sous chef at Misipasta. “You never know what’s going to happen, and that’s what’s so exciting. You see some of the finest comedy work in the world and everything feels like a New York moment.”
Metrograph
New York has no shortage of movie theatres, but Metrograph makes a case for carving out the time. A shrine to old Hollywood, the vintage Lower East Side theatre screens old-school throwbacks, rare 35mm and 16mm film specials, and indie premieres, alongside a roster of director Q&As each month. The lobby bar and restaurant make lingering inevitable, and with screenings until 11pm, it’s easy to make a night of it.
Whitney Museum of American Art
On Friday nights, the Whitney stays open late, turning the Meatpacking District museum into an evening destination as much as a cultural one. Visitors can explore works by Edward Hopper, Alexander Calder and Georgia O’Keeffe until 10pm, drink in hand, as they move between floors. An eclectic lineup of live music, performances, and artist talks make the experience feel less like a traditional gallery visit and more like
a night well spent.
Best New York hotels
Pendry Manhattan West
Pendry Manhattan West is elegant, understated luxury. The 23-storey hotel features 164 rooms, including 30 suites, a 24-hour gym, and a collection of refined drinking and dining destinations. Bar Pendry serves classic cocktails in a polished setting, while Zou Zou’s spotlights Eastern Mediterranean flavours. By day, Vista Lounge is a sunlit café; by night, it transforms into Chez Zou, a moody cocktail bar.
Nine Orchard
Set inside a restored century-old bank, Nine Orchard offers a quiet retreat from the city streets outside. Original moldings, thoughtfully chosen artwork, and custom furnishings bring character to 113 residential-style rooms, each flooded with natural light. Downstairs, Corner Bar channels the spirit of New York’s great all-day cafés, while Swan Room stirs cocktails beneath the soaring vaulted ceilings of a former bank teller room.
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