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» Best Late-Night Eats New York
Night owls rejoice! Whether that quick drink before dinner turned into a three-hour minglefest or the rigors of clubbing have left you craving a proper re-fuel, these after-hours kitchens will delight discerning palates and cosmo-coated bellies alike. From midnight dinners to pre-dawn feasts, these Late-Night Eats are all worth keeping your eyelids raised a little longer.
The Draw: Bar-hoppers who aren’t ready to end the fun at closing time flock to this 24-hour eatery, whose traditional American cuisine will cure any late-night craving for comfort food. The Scene: For years this place had a huge gay following, and as Chelsea diversified, so did Cafeteria’s crowd. The futuristic, washed-out interior has a timeless quality that works equally well at 6am and 6pm. The host doubles as a doorman, barring entry to the loud and obnoxious. 24/7. $ Hot Tip: Cafeteria does every meal, but breakfast is its strength. And, since Chelsea streets are always entertaining, the best seats are by the window.
The Draw: A slice of Americana in Chelsea, this 24-hour classic chrome hangout sports a replica Empire State Building perched atop its roof. Slide into a vinyl booth and feast on fried eggs on a roll with crunchy strips of bacon or a juicy steak sandwich. The Scene: Whether you’re inside or at one of the sun-speckled sidewalk tables, the eclectic crowd of fellow diners might include pre- and post-clubbers in slinky outfits, gay couples, newspaper-reading locals, black-clad art gallery folks, and insomniacs, all of whom seem to lose any pretense when dessert arrives—sucking down a hot fudge sundae will do that to a person. 24/7. $ Hot Tip: They serve up the whole range of comfort food, from biscuits to burgers, but for the real diner experience, sample the retro eats, like pigs in a blanket (sausages swathed in biscuit dough).
French Roast 78 W. 11th St., Greenwich Village, 212-533-2233 frenchroastny.com
The Draw: A 24/7 brasserie? Try finding that in Paris. How about a duck mousse pâté at 3am? The Scene: Those mounds of coffee beans behind the bar can’t last long with the trés chic late-nighters that roll up to French Roast for a kick-start. When the summer outdoor seating is set up, this authentic-feeling bistro is just the place to air out your club clothes and refuel. 24/7. $$ Hot Tip: While sitting outside is lovely in summer, being anywhere near the front door is drafty murder in winter.
