13 late-night worth the trip across United Kingdom, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All United Kingdom guides.
L'Alba D'Oro ★ 4.7 · Edinburgh
new-town · 7 Henderson Row, Edinburgh EH3 5DH
L'Alba D'Oro on Henderson Row in Edinburgh New Town, open evening-only since 1975, the city's most decorated chip shop serving fresh-chipped Scottish haddock.
Tip: Closes at 21:15 sharp. The post-theatre window is 20:30 to 21:00; go straight there from the Lyceum or Usher Hall.
Beigel Bake ★ 4.7 · London
shoreditch-spitalfields · 159 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB
The Brick Lane Beigel Bake bakery in east London, trading since 1974, runs 24-hour hand-rolled bagels and salt beef sandwiches, the city's defining late-night cheap eat.
Tip: After midnight queue runs 15 minutes. Salt beef bagel £6, cream cheese bagel £2.50. Cash or card.
Four Seasons Chinatown ★ 4.5 · London
soho · 12 Gerrard Street, London W1D 5PR
Four Seasons on Gerrard Street in Chinatown London, trading since 1996, runs the city's most-cited Cantonese roast duck, served whole or half with plum sauce.
Tip: Walk-in any night. Take-away roast duck is half the dining-room price. The Queensway Bayswater sibling runs the same kitchen.
Bao Soho ★ 4.5 · London
soho · 53 Lexington Street, London W1F 9AS
Bao Soho counter on Lexington Street in central London, opened 2015 by Erchen Chang and Shing Tat Chung, runs late Taiwanese steamed buns and grilled skewers until 23:00.
Tip: Walk-up only. After 21:30 is the easy slot; weekday last orders at 22:30. The Borough sibling runs to midnight on weekends.
Dishoom Edinburgh ★ 4.4 · Edinburgh
new-town · 3a St Andrew Square, Edinburgh EH2 2BD
Dishoom on St Andrew Square in Edinburgh New Town, open until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, serving the slow-cooked Irani cafe menu into the small.
Tip: The full menu is available until closing. Book the late slot on weekends if you are coming from a theatre or concert.
Joy King Lau ★ 4.4 · London
soho · 3 Leicester Street, London WC2H 7BL
Joy King Lau on Leicester Street in Chinatown London, trading since 1985 as a four-floor Cantonese family restaurant, runs roast meats, congee and dim sum from 11:00 until late.
Tip: Walk-in any night for the takeaway counter at the front. The roast goose with rice is the marquee plate at £18.
The Laughing Heart (kitchen) ★ 4.4 · London
hackney · 277 Hackney Road, London E2 8NA
Charlie Mellor's Modern European wine bar on Hackney Road in east London, opened 2017, runs the city's most-trusted late kitchen with small plates until 23:30 Wed-Sun.
Tip: The downstairs wine cellar takes walk-ins any night. Closed Mon-Tue. Last orders for kitchen at 23:30 sharp.
Bone Daddies Soho ★ 4.3 · London
soho · 31 Peter Street, London W1F 0AR
Ross Shonhan's Soho ramen bar on Peter Street in central London, opened 2012, runs late-night tonkotsu ramen, fried chicken bao and a Japanese-American menu until 23:00.
Tip: Walk-up only after 21:30. Counter seats face the open kitchen. The Soho original closes at 23:00; the Bond Street sibling runs to 00:00 on weekends.
Duck and Rice ★ 4.3 · London
soho · 90 Berwick Street, London W1F 0QB
Alan Yau's Cantonese gastropub on Berwick Street in Soho London, opened 2015 in the former Endurance pub, runs Cantonese dim sum and a late kitchen serving until midnight.
Tip: The upstairs dining room takes bookings; the downstairs pub-and-bar walks in any night. Closed half an hour 16:00-16:30 daily.
Cay Tre Soho ★ 4.3 · London
soho · 42-43 Dean Street, London W1D 4PZ
Cay Tre Vietnamese kitchen on Dean Street in Soho London, opened 2009 by Hieu Trung Bui, runs late pho, bun cha and banh mi until 22:30 every night.
Tip: Walk-in or book a fortnight ahead. The pre-theatre menu at £20 for two courses runs until 18:30.
Kebab Mahal ★ 4.1 · Edinburgh
southside · 7 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh EH8 9BH
Kebab Mahal on Nicolson Square in Edinburgh, a halal Punjabi grill open since 1979, serving tandoori chicken and lamb curry until 02:00 on weekends.
Tip: Cash is quickest for the late-night takeaway crowd. The lamb tikka and naan is the order after midnight.
OX184 ★ 4.0 · Edinburgh
old-town · 184-186 Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1JJ
OX184 on Cowgate in Edinburgh Old Town, a late-night bar and kitchen open until 03:00 with wood-grill burgers, steaks and loaded fries in an industrial space.
Tip: Late-night food runs until 02:00 Wednesday to Sunday only. The craft beer selection is Edinburgh's most serious at this hour.
Bar Napoli ★ 3.9 · Edinburgh
new-town · 75 Hanover Street, Edinburgh EH2 1EE
Bar Napoli on Hanover Street in Edinburgh New Town, an Italian restaurant and bar open until 03:00 on weekend nights, serving pasta, pizza and Italian bar.
Tip: The late-night kitchen runs until 02:30 on Friday and Saturday. The last half-hour is takeaway only.