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A slice of pepperoni pizza on a white paper plate set on top of a marble counter. — A glistening pepperoni slice from Joe’s in Harvard Square.

Where to Eat After Midnight Around Boston

Burgers, Brazilian hot dogs, mapo tofu nachos, and bison Bolognese galore

by Eater Staff Updated Nov 27, 2023, 3:04pm EST

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A glistening pepperoni slice from Joe’s in Harvard Square.

| Erika Adams/Eater Boston

by Eater Staff Updated Nov 27, 2023, 3:04pm EST

Boston is not really a late-night city: The T shuts down on the early side — and the bars and live music scene with it — so it can be hard to find a snack or full meal late at night and into the early morning hours, especially on a weeknight. Adding to the difficulty, continuing staffing shortages and other pandemic-era challenges have caused a lot of restaurants to cut hours over the past few years.

So it’s hard, but fortunately not impossible, to find a solid meal after midnight. Here are 18 of the best late-night dining options in and near Boston, from mapo tofu nachos to bison Bolognese to Brazilian hot dogs. All restaurants on this map serve food past midnight at least a couple nights a week; many of them serve a substantial menu until 1:30 a.m. nightly. (That said, hours can change without notice — see above re: staffing shortages — so it’s best to call and confirm before heading over.)

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Love Dog Hot Dog Buffet

Late-late-night Brazilian hot dogs — what more does anyone need in life? Hungry visitors will likely find this Everett truck parked and serving up sliced and pressed hot dogs loaded with toppings from dinner time until at least 1 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

1865 Revere Beach Pkwy, Everett, MA 02149

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The Abbey

At the Abbey, a gastropubby neighborhood spot with locations in Cambridge and Brookline, the full dinner menu is available until 1:30 a.m. nightly, including dishes like bison Bolognese, grilled pizza, black pepper gnocchi, and steak frites.

1755 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

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La Hacienda

From pupusas and tacos to platters of marinated chicken, steak, and beef liver, East Boston’s La Hacienda serves some irresistible Mexican and Salvadoran specialties until 2 a.m. nightly (an Everett location closes at 1 a.m.). The drink menu includes a full slate of margarita flavors, too.

150 Meridian St #150, Boston, MA 02128

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Joe’s Pizza

When the night calls for a glistening slice of pepperoni pizza, follow the crowds to Joe’s, a New York City-based pizza institution that just expanded to Cambridge’s Harvard Square. It’s open until 2 a.m. from Sunday through Wednesday and 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

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3 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

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Bova's Bakery

Classic North End spot Bova’s Bakery is one of the only 24-hour establishments in town, covering your very-late-night grab-and-go needs with Sicilian pizza slices, arancini, Italian pastries, and more — dinner, dessert, and breakfast in one.

134 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113

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View of a pastry case in an old-fashioned Italian bakery, with rows of cannoli and other treats behind glass. — Bova’s Bakery pastry case.

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JM Curley

In the heart of Downtown Crossing, neighborhood mainstay JM Curley stays open until 2 a.m., serving glorious piles of fries, chicken wings, and more until 1:30 a.m. nightly. Midnight espresso martini and a burger, anyone? (For more excellent cocktails and snacks like lobster pancakes, the Wig Shop, JM’s new next-door sibling, also stays open till 2 a.m.)

21 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111

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Lone Star Taco Bar

Lone Star is open until 1 a.m. daily, both at its original Allston location and its Cambridge outpost. As the name suggests, the menu is mostly focused on tacos, although there are a few other options too, such as Frito pie, torta Milanesa, and cheesy, saucy piles of nachos.

479 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

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Two shredded beef tacos and a wedge of lime sit on a plate — Tacos at Lone Star.

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Double Chin

When the occasion calls for cube toast stuffed full of ice cream and other sugary treats, or scallion pancake sandwiches, or mapo tofu nachos, it’s Double Chin to the rescue. The Chinatown restaurant is open until 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights (11 p.m. the rest of the week).

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86 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02111

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Cube Toast is a doughy exterior stuffed with several scoops of ice cream, candy pouring out, Pocky sticks, and chocolate syrup — Double Chin’s cube toast is for those with a major sweet tooth.

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Pastoral

Between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, visitors to Pastoral in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood will find a variety of wood-fired pizzas and garlic knots on the late-night menu.

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345 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

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A large, wood-fired fennel sausage knot sits on a plate, covered with grated cheese — Fennel sausage knot at Pastoral.

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The Avenue Bar

Open until 2 a.m. nightly with the kitchen firing until last call at 1:45 a.m., the Avenue is the type of place to relive those college years with Fireball shots, Jell-O shots, wings and burgers in a variety of flavors, cheap beer buckets, and more.

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1249 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02134

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South Street Diner

Another member of Boston’s rarefied class of 24-hour dining options, South Street Diner has been open for decades, serving typical diner fare (omelets, club sandwiches, frappes, and such) a short walk from one of Boston’s main transportation hubs, South Station. You can also order beer and wine until 1 a.m. nightly.

178 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111

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A patron at South Street Diner cuts into food on a plate, with a pile of fries in the foreground — South Street Diner is open 24/7.

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Back Door Donuts

One of New England’s legendary doughnut spots, Back Door Donuts, expanded from its original Martha’s Vineyard location this spring to an ongoing pop-up out of a space next to Loretta’s Last Call in Fenway. Open nightly from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., Back Door’s “Donuts After Dark” flavors include Boston Creme, honey-dipped, maple bacon, and the bakery’s must-try apple fritters.

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1 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215

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Two men stand in front of Loretta’s Last Call in Fenway, smiling and holding out donuts towards the camera. — Back Door pastry chef Raffi Jabri and general manager Tyler Heineman.

Tasty Burger

The best late-night solution is often a fast-casual burger or hot dog with a milkshake and a jumble of fries and onion rings on the side. Local chain Tasty Burger offers just such a fix: The Harvard Square, Central Square, and Back Bay locations are open until 2 a.m. on the weekends and midnight the rest of the week, while the Fenway original stays open till 2 a.m. nightly.

1301 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215

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Anchovies

Anchovies, a South End neighborhood staple, is the place to go for cheap beer, generous cocktail pours, and red-sauce Italian in a dining room open until 2 a.m. nightly. Nothing says midnight dining like cheesy stuffed peppers over linguine and marinara.

433 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

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A non-descript storefront with pale blue exterior walls and a faded red awning. — Late-night plates of pasta await.

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Ali Baba Restaurant Boston

Ali Baba, primarily a takeout and delivery joint, is serving halal Turkish and other Middle Eastern fare until 3 a.m. — think kebabs, pide, meze, and more. Find its sibling in Boston’s Charlestown, also open late.

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145 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118

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Also featured in:

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Franklin Cafe

Open for over 25 years, Franklin Cafe offers its full menu until 1:30 a.m. nightly in the South End. The lineup is belly-warming gastropub fare, from spicy lamb ragu to steak frites to salt and pepper chicken wings.

278 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

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Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant

Lincoln Tavern’s full dinner menu wraps up at 10 p.m., but there’s late-night food — mostly wood-fired pizzas — available until 1 a.m. nightly at this popular South Boston spot, which specializes in the aforementioned pizzas and gastropub fare, not to mention fun cocktails.

425 W Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127

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Porter Cafe

Another comforting gastropub, West Roxbury’s Porter Cafe stays open till 1 a.m. nightly, serving an eclectic mix — from Quebecoise poutine to pork schnitzel to fish tacos to Mississippi pot roast — alongside wine, local beer, and cocktails.

1723 Centre St, Boston, MA 02132

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Love Dog Hot Dog Buffet

1865 Revere Beach Pkwy, Everett, MA 02149

Late-late-night Brazilian hot dogs — what more does anyone need in life? Hungry visitors will likely find this Everett truck parked and serving up sliced and pressed hot dogs loaded with toppings from dinner time until at least 1 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

1865 Revere Beach Pkwy, Everett, MA 02149

Visit Website

The Abbey

1755 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

At the Abbey, a gastropubby neighborhood spot with locations in Cambridge and Brookline, the full dinner menu is available until 1:30 a.m. nightly, including dishes like bison Bolognese, grilled pizza, black pepper gnocchi, and steak frites.

1755 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140

Visit Website

La Hacienda

150 Meridian St #150, Boston, MA 02128

From pupusas and tacos to platters of marinated chicken, steak, and beef liver, East Boston’s La Hacienda serves some irresistible Mexican and Salvadoran specialties until 2 a.m. nightly (an Everett location closes at 1 a.m.). The drink menu includes a full slate of margarita flavors, too.

150 Meridian St #150, Boston, MA 02128

Visit Website

Joe’s Pizza

3 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

When the night calls for a glistening slice of pepperoni pizza, follow the crowds to Joe’s, a New York City-based pizza institution that just expanded to Cambridge’s Harvard Square. It’s open until 2 a.m. from Sunday through Wednesday and 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Open in Google Maps

3 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Visit Website

Bova's Bakery

134 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113

Classic North End spot Bova’s Bakery is one of the only 24-hour establishments in town, covering your very-late-night grab-and-go needs with Sicilian pizza slices, arancini, Italian pastries, and more — dinner, dessert, and breakfast in one.

134 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113

Visit Website

View of a pastry case in an old-fashioned Italian bakery, with rows of cannoli and other treats behind glass. — Bova’s Bakery pastry case.

JM Curley

21 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111

In the heart of Downtown Crossing, neighborhood mainstay JM Curley stays open until 2 a.m., serving glorious piles of fries, chicken wings, and more until 1:30 a.m. nightly. Midnight espresso martini and a burger, anyone? (For more excellent cocktails and snacks like lobster pancakes, the Wig Shop, JM’s new next-door sibling, also stays open till 2 a.m.)

21 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111

Visit Website

Lone Star Taco Bar

479 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

Lone Star is open until 1 a.m. daily, both at its original Allston location and its Cambridge outpost. As the name suggests, the menu is mostly focused on tacos, although there are a few other options too, such as Frito pie, torta Milanesa, and cheesy, saucy piles of nachos.

479 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

Visit Website

Two shredded beef tacos and a wedge of lime sit on a plate — Tacos at Lone Star.

Double Chin

86 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02111

When the occasion calls for cube toast stuffed full of ice cream and other sugary treats, or scallion pancake sandwiches, or mapo tofu nachos, it’s Double Chin to the rescue. The Chinatown restaurant is open until 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights (11 p.m. the rest of the week).

Open in Google Maps

86 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02111

Visit Website

Cube Toast is a doughy exterior stuffed with several scoops of ice cream, candy pouring out, Pocky sticks, and chocolate syrup — Double Chin’s cube toast is for those with a major sweet tooth.

Pastoral

345 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

Between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, visitors to Pastoral in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood will find a variety of wood-fired pizzas and garlic knots on the late-night menu.

Open in Google Maps

345 Congress St, Boston, MA 02210

Visit Website

A large, wood-fired fennel sausage knot sits on a plate, covered with grated cheese — Fennel sausage knot at Pastoral.

The Avenue Bar

1249 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02134

Open until 2 a.m. nightly with the kitchen firing until last call at 1:45 a.m., the Avenue is the type of place to relive those college years with Fireball shots, Jell-O shots, wings and burgers in a variety of flavors, cheap beer buckets, and more.

Open in Google Maps

1249 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02134

Visit Website

South Street Diner

178 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111

Another member of Boston’s rarefied class of 24-hour dining options, South Street Diner has been open for decades, serving typical diner fare (omelets, club sandwiches, frappes, and such) a short walk from one of Boston’s main transportation hubs, South Station. You can also order beer and wine until 1 a.m. nightly.

178 Kneeland St, Boston, MA 02111

Visit Website

A patron at South Street Diner cuts into food on a plate, with a pile of fries in the foreground — South Street Diner is open 24/7.

Back Door Donuts

1 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215

One of New England’s legendary doughnut spots, Back Door Donuts, expanded from its original Martha’s Vineyard location this spring to an ongoing pop-up out of a space next to Loretta’s Last Call in Fenway. Open nightly from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., Back Door’s “Donuts After Dark” flavors include Boston Creme, honey-dipped, maple bacon, and the bakery’s must-try apple fritters.

Open in Google Maps

1 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA 02215

Visit Website

Two men stand in front of Loretta’s Last Call in Fenway, smiling and holding out donuts towards the camera. — Back Door pastry chef Raffi Jabri and general manager Tyler Heineman.

Tasty Burger

1301 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215

The best late-night solution is often a fast-casual burger or hot dog with a milkshake and a jumble of fries and onion rings on the side. Local chain Tasty Burger offers just such a fix: The Harvard Square, Central Square, and Back Bay locations are open until 2 a.m. on the weekends and midnight the rest of the week, while the Fenway original stays open till 2 a.m. nightly.

1301 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215

Visit Website

Anchovies

433 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Anchovies, a South End neighborhood staple, is the place to go for cheap beer, generous cocktail pours, and red-sauce Italian in a dining room open until 2 a.m. nightly. Nothing says midnight dining like cheesy stuffed peppers over linguine and marinara.

433 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02116

Visit Website

A non-descript storefront with pale blue exterior walls and a faded red awning. — Late-night plates of pasta await.

Ali Baba Restaurant Boston

145 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118

Ali Baba, primarily a takeout and delivery joint, is serving halal Turkish and other Middle Eastern fare until 3 a.m. — think kebabs, pide, meze, and more. Find its sibling in Boston’s Charlestown, also open late.

Open in Google Maps

145 E Berkeley St, Boston, MA 02118

Visit Website

Related Maps

Franklin Cafe

278 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Open for over 25 years, Franklin Cafe offers its full menu until 1:30 a.m. nightly in the South End. The lineup is belly-warming gastropub fare, from spicy lamb ragu to steak frites to salt and pepper chicken wings.

278 Shawmut Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Visit Website

Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant

425 W Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127

Lincoln Tavern’s full dinner menu wraps up at 10 p.m., but there’s late-night food — mostly wood-fired pizzas — available until 1 a.m. nightly at this popular South Boston spot, which specializes in the aforementioned pizzas and gastropub fare, not to mention fun cocktails.

425 W Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127

Visit Website

Porter Cafe

1723 Centre St, Boston, MA 02132

Another comforting gastropub, West Roxbury’s Porter Cafe stays open till 1 a.m. nightly, serving an eclectic mix — from Quebecoise poutine to pork schnitzel to fish tacos to Mississippi pot roast — alongside wine, local beer, and cocktails.

1723 Centre St, Boston, MA 02132

Visit Website

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