Best Late Night Restaurants in Upper West Side (Central)
23 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Made In New York Pizza
Crisp-edged square slices with cupping pepperoni and balanced sauce.
Notable Picks
8.7
Made In New York Pizza on Amsterdam specializes in ultra-crisp square slices with cupping pepperoni and a balanced, slightly sweet sauce, plus classic round pies. Locals treat it as a modern UWS slice benchmark, especially for quick dinners and late-night cravings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy pepperoni square slice, Classic cheese slice, White square slice
What Makes it Special: Crisp-edged square slices with cupping pepperoni and balanced sauce.
#2
Prohibition
8.5
Prohibition is a Jazz Age–styled supper club that’s been anchoring Columbus Avenue nightlife since the late 1990s, pairing nightly live music with cocktails and a full New American menu. A big bar, rotating bands, and sidewalk seating make it a dependable late-night option for dates and groups who want a show with their meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheesesteak Egg Rolls, Lollipop Lamb Chops, Shrimp Strozzapretti
What Makes it Special: Live bands every night in a speakeasy-inspired room with a full dinner menu.
8.5
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Late Night Legends
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family-run Mexican spot that grew out of a burrito shop serving the neighborhood for nearly three decades. Today it layers a full bar, tacos, and plated entrées onto the original burrito focus, drawing locals for hearty plates, margaritas, and lingering evenings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Birria Burrito, Enchiladas Suizas, Cochinita Pibil
What Makes it Special: Long-running neighborhood burrito bar with a full menu and bar program.
8.4
Counter-service taqueria on Amsterdam known for combo plates, burritos, and margaritas that lean value-first. The Upper West Side outpost of this small local group draws steady crowds for efficient service, packed plates, and reliable weeknight dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Taco Combo Plate, Breakfast Burrito, Gallo Fries
What Makes it Special: Busy taqueria with strong value on combo plates and burritos.
8.3
Hi-Life Bar & Grill has been a neighborhood fixture since the early 1990s, pairing a 1930s-inspired barroom with flame-grilled burgers, steaks, and a big, eclectic menu. It’s the classic Upper West Side choice when you want a sit-down burger with cocktails in a throwback dining room that stays open late.
Must-Try Dishes:
Flame-grilled hamburger, Idaho Potato Skins, Crispy Thai Wings
What Makes it Special: Longstanding neighborhood bar and grill with classic burgers in a vintage-inspired room.
8.3
Long‑standing Upper West Side pizzeria serving classic New York pies with a thin crust and balanced sauce, ideal for traditional pizza lovers even if not open ultra‑late.
Must-Try Dishes:
Plain Cheese Pie, Sausage Pizza, Sicilian Square
What Makes it Special: Traditional NY thin‑crust pizza heritage
8.3
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Chirping Chicken is a long-running Upper West Side counter-service spot known for charcoal-broiled chicken, big platters, and meaty baby back ribs. It doubles as an everyday takeout staple and an easy option for casual rib dinners with plenty of sides.
Must-Try Dishes:
Baby Back Ribs Platter, Whole Ribs with Two Sides, Charcoal Broiled Chicken and Ribs Combo
What Makes it Special: Charcoal-broiled chicken and ribs served fast with big, budget-friendly portions.
8.3
The Upper West Side outpost of Famous Original Ray's is a big, old-school counter with 1980s-era decor, a long line of pies, and late-night hours. It’s a dependable stop for oversized New York slices, garlic knots, and whole pies when you want classic flavors and lots of seating.
Must-Try Dishes:
Regular cheese slice, MVP specialty pizza, Sicilian square slice
What Makes it Special: Long-running, late-night slice institution with classic NYC counter energy.
8.2
Ramen shop at 82nd and Amsterdam, open since the mid-2010s, known for tonkotsu and miso bowls, pork buns, and late kitchen hours. High-volume reviews and steady lines make it a neighborhood staple for comforting noodle dinners and quick casual meetups.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tonkotsu Ramen, Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen, Pork Buns
What Makes it Special: Busy ramen bar delivering rich broths and dependable late-night bowls.
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
7th Street Burger’s Upper West Side outpost focuses almost entirely on smash-style cheeseburgers and loaded fries, served counter-style late into the night. It’s the most straightforward option in the neighborhood when you want a greasy, under-$15 burger fix after shows or bar-hopping.
Must-Try Dishes:
Double Cheeseburger, Spicy Jalapeño Cheeseburger, Loaded Beef Fries
What Makes it Special: Bare-bones smash burgers and loaded fries built for late-night cravings.
Worthy Picks
7.9
Chip City’s Upper West Side location is a late-night cookie shop built around rotating oversized flavors from chocolate chip to s’mores and limited-time collaborations. It’s more of a grab-and-go dessert stop than a café, with long hours that make it a common detour after dinner or a movie.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chocolate Chip Cookie, Chocolate S'mores Cookie, S'mores Crookie
What Makes it Special: Rotating oversized cookies and crookies served late into the night.
#12
French Roast
7.9
French Roast is a long-running French café and bistro on Broadway, operating since the mid-1990s with a pergola-covered sidewalk setup that stays busy from brunch to late night. The outdoor tables work for everything from onion soup and brioche French toast to steak frites and drinks under string lights.
Must-Try Dishes:
French Onion Soup, Brioche French Toast, Steak Frites
What Makes it Special: Classic French café staples served all day at pergola-covered Broadway sidewalk tables.
#13
Saba's Pizza
7.9
Saba's Pizza is a kosher UWS staple turning out big, foldable slices, pies, and dairy-focused comfort like garlic knots and baked pastas. It’s more functional than fancy, but observant locals rely on it for quick, late-hours pizza and familiar flavors at accessible prices.
Must-Try Dishes:
Plain cheese slice, Grandma vodka slice, Margherita pie
What Makes it Special: Kosher slice shop serving classic New York pies deep into night.
#14
Shawarma Shabazi
7.8
A no-frills shawarma counter that prioritizes flavor and speed—big platters, punchy toppings, and a build-your-own energy that works best for takeout. It lands when you choose one protein, go heavy on the salads/pickles, and treat it like a satisfying, direct-hit meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma platter, Shawarma in laffa, Falafel pita
What Makes it Special: Big, topping-forward shawarma that’s built for maximum satisfaction fast.
#15
e's BAR
7.8
e's BAR is a board-game-heavy neighborhood hangout where strong cocktails and bar food include better-than-expected fries. Fries show up in baskets, alongside sliders, and in shareable platters, making them a default order for groups camping at a table for hours.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fries (Spicy or Original), Sliders and Fries Platter, Green Bean Fries
What Makes it Special: Lively game bar where crisp fries anchor the bar-food lineup.
#16
Da Capo
7.8
Da Capo is a cozy Upper West Side cocktail bar and restaurant mixing Italian‑inspired small plates with craft cocktails and late‑night vibes, open until 1 a.m. on weekends. Its relaxed setting makes it a solid after‑dinner destination for drinks and hearty bites. Locals appreciate the approachable menu and laid‑back atmosphere after shows or late evenings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Salmon Burger, Arancini Ai Formaggi, Tiramisu
What Makes it Special: Weekend late‑night cocktails with Italian‑inspired small plates
#17
Dive Bar
7.8
A late-night neighborhood bar where the burger matters most as a dependable, post-drink meal rather than a destination craft-burger project. The kitchen shines when you keep it simple—one burger, one fried side, and you’re set until last call.
Must-Try Dishes:
Dive Burger, Cheeseburger, Fries
What Makes it Special: A true late-night bar where the burger is the reliable closer.
7.8
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Live Music Showtime
Late Night Legends
A long-running glatt kosher steakhouse with late-night hours and a lively, event-friendly dining room. The move is to stay in the grill lane—prime rib, filet, mixed platters—and treat it as a dependable group-and-occasion spot where the room (and timing) matters as much as the food.
Must-Try Dishes:
Prime rib, Filet mignon, Mixed grill platter
What Makes it Special: A late-night, glatt kosher steakhouse built for groups and occasions.
#19
Cafe Eighty-Two
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Cafe Eighty-Two is a classic Broadway diner where the menu runs from pancakes and omelets to burgers, salads, and late-night plates. It’s a reliable, low-cost option for breakfast-all-day, quick solo meals, and family-friendly comfort at almost any hour.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blueberry Pancakes, Cheeseburger Deluxe, Turkey Club Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Old-school diner energy with a huge, affordable American menu.
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Compact branch of a long-running New York falafel mini-chain serving sandwiches, platters, and late-night snacks. It’s a practical choice for quick, inexpensive Middle Eastern food when you want to eat at the counter, grab-and-go, or sit briefly by the windows.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Sandwich, Chicken Shawarma Sandwich, Baklava
What Makes it Special: Classic New York falafel counter delivering fast, inexpensive sandwiches and platters.
#21
Scarlet Lounge
7.7
Scarlet Lounge is an intimate cocktail bar on Amsterdam Avenue with plush seating, moody lighting, and a late-night schedule built around craft drinks and small bites. It skews more grown-up than rowdy, making it a useful last stop when you want one more round in a proper bar setting.
Must-Try Dishes:
Truffle Fries, Flatbread Pizza, Shrimp Tacos
What Makes it Special: Cocktail-focused late-night lounge with plush seating and a compact snack menu.
7.6
Amsterdam Ale House is a long-running brewpub near 76th Street known for a deep craft beer list, sports on TV, and sturdy bar food. Side-street outdoor seating makes it a natural choice for grabbing a pint with your dog after a park walk.
Must-Try Dishes:
Deep Dish Nachos, Ale House Burger, Giant Soft Pretzel
What Makes it Special: Craft beer-focused pub with dog-friendly sidewalk tables off busy Amsterdam.
#23
Super Tacos
7.5
A late-night street-taco option parked at the 96th & Broadway corridor when you want something hot and direct after hours. Order like a minimalist—two tacos in one protein plus one in another—so you get contrast without turning it into a messy roulette.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bistec taco, Chorizo taco, Lengua taco
What Makes it Special: A true after-hours taco stop in the ZIP with street-style simplicity.