7 of the world’s best late night dining experiences

Flights that land late (or unfathomably early) used to mean an emergency fast-food meal bathed in fluro-lighting or, at best, a room-service club sandwich. But there’s no need to waste valuable holiday funds on a vending machine (visitors to Japan, please ignore). As the world becomes increasingly nocturnal, discerning diners can find high-calibre late-night eats across the globe, from cocktail bars with next-level snacks to full-service restaurants catering to night owls. Bedtime? We don’t know the meaning of the word!

Arlechin, Melbourne 

The Grossi family’s chic cocktail bar and supper club, Arlechin would be a major drawcard, even if it weren’t open until 3am. Melbourne’s first family of carbohydrates brings us a serious menu in snack-sized portions, so there’s no danger of overcommitting. The “midnight spaghetti” is a neat twirl of tomato, capers and chilli with a lick of Amalfi Coast fish sauce, and at an easy $14 you’ll have change for a cocktail. 

Jones, West Hollywood

Rock ’n’ roll meets red sauce at hip Italian diner Jones, which has been serving West Hollywood gourmet pizzas and spaghetti and meatballs until 2am for nigh on 20 years now. It’s curved red leather booths have cushioned many a hot date, tired roadie and aspiring actor under a veil of privacy – the blinds are always drawn, and the lights are always low. 

John’s Hotdog Deli, Copenhagen 

Danes take their hot dogs seriously – it’s the original street snack and pølsevogne  (hot dog stands) dot the city centre; although they offer much more than a simple sausage in bread. John’s Hotdog Deli, in the Meatpacking District, is home to the most gourmet dogs in town, think house-made remoulades, Mikkeller beer-infused mustards and free-range snags for only a handful of kroner more than you’d pay on the street. It’s a good thing they’re open until 3am on weekends. 

Duck and Waffle, London 

Given the size and popularity of the City of London, it’s surprisingly hard to find something decent to eat after midnight (unless you’re keen on curry, chips or pizza by the slice, which is completely fine). But Duck and Waffle, which sits 40 floors above Liverpool Street, never sleeps – turning out rib-sticking British fare 24/7, including its namesake dish of confit duck leg, waffles and mustard maple syrup. 

Sun Hing, Hong Kong

The first steaming baskets of dim sum emerge from the kitchen at rowdy, self-serve eatery, Sun Hing at 3am each morning. The unusual opening hours dictate an eclectic crowd of party animals, weary travellers, cab drivers and students in Kennedy Town in Hong Kong’s Western District. Despite the clatter, low-fuss decor and obligatory arguments over who gets the last steamed custard bun, the dumplings are world class and the experience? Well, you’ll never have another one like it. 

Esquire Drink and Dine, Sydney 

Sydney’s iconic Queen Victoria Building is sporting a fresh $48-million make over and along with it, a New York-style supper club, Esquire Drink and Dine, which serves until 2am on Thursdays to Sundays. The dark-oak bar, mosaic and parquetry flooring, soft leather seating and low lights are a nod to the building’s Romanesque revival architecture and the post-10pm bar menu sustains with antipasto, comte jaffles and beefy cheeseburgers. 

Soho, Bali 

Seminyak eatery Soho is all things to all people, dishing up everything from slow-cooked ribs to cheese fries, tacos, burgers and soto ayam (traditional Indonesian chicken soup) for hungry holiday makers, 24-hours-a-day. It’s also a good spot for people-watching, catching a live Balinese band or just avoiding sleep in general. 

By Nola James – Published 31 August