Compared to Europe to the South and America in the West, the UK has garnered a rather humiliating reputation in the world of food: a penchant for 6pm bookings. Most New Yorkers don’t sit down for dinner until 8pm, while any booking before 8.30pm in Paris is deemed unusual and, frankly, passé. London, meanwhile, is awash with pre-theatre early birds and restaurants with strict 9pm kitchen closing times, leaving those in search of a late-night dining spot with just a handful of eateries to choose from.

But it seems the tide may be turning. Over the past few years, more and more London restaurants are pushing reservations into the wee hours, proving the capital is more than capable of leaning into the late-night dining trend. Here’s where to go for more than just a midnight snack… 

Brasserie Zedel, Piccadilly

Last orders: 11pm from Wednesday to Saturday

Channel your inner Francophile with a late-night booking at the Parisian-inspired Brasserie Zedel. Soundtracked by the tinkle of live jazz every evening – the subterranean Art Deco brasserie’s stage regularly hosts a plethora of cellists, pianists, saxophonists and vocalists – start the evening with a trip to the adjoining Crazy Coqs cabaret bar before sitting down for dinner as late as 11pm. Pick from a menu of fine French fare including rabbit rillettes, mussels marinière and chopped steak Americain with peppercorn sauce and fries. Don’t want the night to end? Head next door to Bar American to enjoy a sophisticated serve inspired by the heyday of Hollywood until midnight. 

20 Sherwood Street, W1F 7ED, visit brasseriezedel.com

Bob Bob Ricard, Soho and The City

Last orders: Midnight from Monday to Sunday

There are few more glitzy addresses to while away an evening at than Bob Bob Ricard. Renowned for its Art Deco design by David Collins Studio, the all-booth dining room evokes the Golden Age of rail travel, complete with the famous ‘press for champagne’ buttons and a unique blend of British and French cuisine. The menu, curated by chef director Ben Hobson, features luxury comfort food such as chicken Kyiv, beef Wellington, champagne pies and flaming crème brûlée. With the nightlife of Soho and The City just moments away, this is the perfect place to get the party started – especially when you’re greeted with a shot of chilled vodka and a bump of caviar to start. 

Visit bobbobricard.com

Sexy Fish, Mayfair

Last orders: 12.30am from Monday to Saturday

Known for its Martin Brudnizki interiors and Damien Hirst, Frank Gehry and Michael Roberts artworks, Sexy Fish serves delectable seafood and chic cocktails in equal measure. Befitting its flashy Berkeley Square address, this is one of Caprice Holdings most prized restaurants and is sister to the likes of Scott’s, Bacchanlia and J Sheekey. Dine on an Asian-inspired menu featuring caramelised lamb rack with red yuzu kosho, soft shell crab and spicy miso maki rolls, and lobster, coconut and pomelo salad. Plus, with DJs performing every night of the week and Fridays and Saturdays playing host to high-octane live acts, this is Mayfair’s ultimate after-dark destination. 

Berkeley Square House, W1J 6BR, visit sexyfish.com

Duck & Waffle, Liverpool Street

Last orders: Open 24 hours

One of London’s few 24-hour restaurants, Duck & Waffle offers breathtaking views with a side of upmarket fast food from sunrise to sunset – and every hour in between. Set on the 40^th floor of 110 Bishopsgate, it also doubles as one of London’s highest restaurants and offers guests the opportunity to dine while looking down on the Gherkin. We recommend ordering its namesake dish – crispy confit duck leg topped with a fried duck egg and served on a waffle – but other late-night bites include pork and prawn toast, bacon-wrapped dates, foie gras crème brûlée and coronation chicken tostada. 

110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY, visit duckandwaffle.com

The Dover, Mayfair

Last orders: Midnight from Thursday to Saturday

The Dover – Mayfair’s New York-style Italian restaurant and bar from Martin Kuczmarski, which opened quietly on Dover Street in 2023 – remains one of London’s most sought-after tables. An ode to old-school hospitality with candlelit tables, perfectly shaken martinis, and a dining room soundtracked by soul, funk and disco deep into the night, the full a la carte menu is available until midnight Thursday to Saturday. The kitchen serves nostalgic favourites like prawn cocktail, beef tartare, chicken cordon bleu, USDA steaks with fries, and spaghetti and meatballs. Whether guests are dropping in for a drink, settling in for a long lunch, or dining until the early hours, The Dover ensures a martini never has to be enjoyed without a portion of fries.

33 Dover Street, W1S 4NF, visit thedoverrestaurant.com

Speedboat Bar, Notting Hill and Soho

Last orders: Midnight from Monday to Thursday; 1am on Fridays and Saturdays

London’s hottest opening of 2022 from Luke Farrell and JKS Restaurants – the group behind Michelin-starred Kitchen Table and Gymkhana – Speedboat Bar offers a lip-smacking menu of Thai delicacies native to Bangkok. Serving late into the night, start with the famed sweetcorn fritters followed by pickled mustard greens and Chinese sausage, stir-fried purple aubergine with chilli and Thai basil, and comforting crispy pork and black pepper curry. For those planning to drop by from 11pm-12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays, the late-night menu includes crispy pork with prik nam som, wide rice noodles with beef and soy sauce, and naem fried rice. 

Visit speedboatbar.co.uk

Solaya London, Shoreditch

Last orders: Midnight, Tuesday to Saturday

Sitting 25 floors above the city in art’otel London Hoxton, Solaya brings modern French-Mediterranean dining with panoramic views across the capital. The menu from Michelin-starred chef Kenny Atkinson covers elegant small plates — such as bluefin tuna carpaccio and wild mushroom croquettes — alongside larger dishes like the oven roasted sole and a refined bouillabaisse with lobster. With its wraparound floor-to-ceiling windows, cocktail list and late service, it’s a polished spot for those who want dinner to roll seamlessly into drinks against the London skyline.

Visit solayalondon.com

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