Up all night

Date: May 31, 2008 8:54:55 PM EDT
To: inyc@timeoutny.com
Subject: city that never sleeps?

I’m new to New York—moved from South Jersey (ha, ha, ha) a few weeks ago. Love your magazine and love NYC, but something bothers me: All I hear is that this is the city that never sleeps.... So how come nothing seems to stay open past 3am?!? Just wondering if you guys had ever done a 24-hour issue or if you could talk about stuff beyond the usual diners or delis?

Jamie Adams, Financial District

Where to go if you're...

…jetting town
Shot your husband and need to leave the country pronto? For $250–$350, Rush Passport cuts through the red tape, working directly with the Department of State to turn ’ports around fast. Rush president Roman Yagudaev has even made last-minute passports for Grace Jones, Marc Jacobs and Annabella Sciorra (a.k.a. Tony Soprano’s mistress). 875 Sixth Ave at 31st St (877-937-7277)

Photo: Beth Levendis

…feelin’ fat
Late-night Triple Whoppers got you down? Join a gym that’ll bust your bones at ungodly hours. Citi Fitness exercise manager Stephanie Correa says doctors, policemen, strippers and cabbies are among the moonlight patrons—and with good reason: They can purchase a yearlong nights-only membership for just $300. 242 E 14th St between Second and Third Aves (212-598-9800)

…feelin’ lucky
Plasma TVs line the walls of K-town’s Space Billiard Café, where refugees from the nearby karaoke bars come for the pool ($15/hour) and stay for the free hot sweetened tea. 34 W 32nd St between Fifth Ave and Broadway, 12th floor (212-239-4166)

Photo: Ben Norman

…a creative genius
Need a hell’s kitchen apron, like, now? Weekly and monthly renters ($200–$250) at the Lower East Side Printshop have 24-hour access to its presses (including intaglio, monotype and silk screen). But newbies beware: Program assistant Lilly De Lucia says rentals are only for people who know what they’re doing. (In other words, no one is there to show you the ropes.) 306 W 37th St at Eighth Ave, sixth floor (212-673-5390)

…late on those
TPS reports Crap! Crap! Crap! If you’re running behind but are too cheap for FedEx, you can buy stamps, drop packages or check your P.O. box all night long at the U.S. Post Office’s James A. Farley branch. Regular processing hours still apply, though, so your parcel won’t ship any sooner if you drop it at 2am than at 8am. 421 Eighth Ave at 31st St (212-967-8585)

…building a treehouse
Homefront Hardware has been open for roughly 61,320 hours—or 24/7 for the last seven years. Apart from the world’s worst neighbor, who really needs a hammer and nails at 2am? “We’ll get designers in browsing our housewares,” says sales associate Larry Fine. “Plus, if people have emergencies, specialists have a place to pick up supplies.” 202 E 29th St between Second and Third Aves (212-545-1447, hfront.com)

Photo: Beth Levendis

…craving a schmear
Expect to find a mix of Orthodox Jews and their goyim pals chowing down at Avi and David’s all-night kosher kitchen (shuttered only for Shabbes). “Saturday night is lively,” says co-owner Avi Harel. “There’s a large young Jewish community that needs somewhere very chic to go when they finish partying.” 1046 Third Ave between 61st and 62nd Sts (866-336-7933)

…Morticia Addams
Pasty, yellow-toothed partygoers can stop by the 86th Street Beach Bum any hour of the night for a nap in the sun bed, airbrush tan or teeth-whitening sesh. “We tan tons of celebrities,” says general manager Dante Fitzpatrick. “We even tanned Lance Bass from ’N Sync.” Might sound crazy, but it ain’t no lie! (Sorry.) 1276 Lexington Ave at 86th St, second floor (212-996-8261)

…two minutes away from a crash ’n’ burn
If you need someone to rid your computer of spyware at 4am (cough, cough), the geeks at Geek Aid are awake and willing. Manager Sanford Wilk says a team of 25 work on-call ($85–$115/hour) to get your system up and running, reconnect you to the Internet, or save your Great American Novel from that Great American Catastrophe called “the blue screen of death.” 1001 Sixth Ave at 37th St, fourth floor (877-433-5243, geek-aid.com)

Juvenex Spa

…itchin’ for a scrub
By day, Juvenex Spa is a girls-only retreat. But from 7pm to 7am, gents who arrive in the company of a woman are also welcome. Popular with celebs (“Paris Hilton was here last week—and Alicia Keys the very next day!” says spa director Michael Modiri) and deep-pocketed night owls, Juvenex offers 80 percent of its standard menu in the wee hours, including body wraps and facials. 25 W 32nd St between Fifth Ave and Broadway (646-733-1330)

…domestically challenged
When Basic Assembly owner Daphney Marin watched her pal disassemble and reassemble her unwieldy sofa, she saw dollar signs and decided to set up an assembly company. “Generally, people don’t want you at their house that late,” says Marin. “But if someone called, we’d be there.” Good to know when that Ikea coffee table is looking more and more like firewood. (718-207-6464, basicassembly.com)

NEXT: More diners, delis and other 24/7 diversions »

Diners and delis

2nd Ave Deli
Although the moniker 2nd Ave Deli is no longer accurate, the Murray Hill reincarnation of the original East Village restaurant now serves up its famous kosher staples around the clock.

Amy Ruth’s
Reverend Al Sharpton probably wasn’t thrilled when trusted aide Carl Redding finally fulfilled his dream of opening a soul-food restaurant in Harlem, but the rest of us should be. Amy Ruth’s (named for Redding’s grandmother) serves some of the city’s finest Southern cooking, and is open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

Grand Morales Diner and Bakery
Contrary to popular belief, hipsters eat too. Grand Morales Diner and Bakery in Williamsburg serves hearty Mexican staples at any hour. http://grandmorelos.com/product.html

Empire Diner
It’s 3am—do you know where your middle-of-the-night grub is? Fodero-style Empire Diner is a longtime Chelsea fave.

Waverly Restaurant
This is the quintessential working-class diner of your granparents, complete with neon sign and leather booths.
385 Ave of the Americas at 9th St (212-675-3181). Daily 24hrs.

Veselka
The enormous variety of Eastern European menu items offered at Veselka can seem overwhelming to the average East Village barhopper with a head full of beer. But in the week hours, who knows what you’ll be in the mood for?

Ziggiz
When you’ve got the drunken munchies at 4am and you’re hankering for a Philly cheese steak, Ziggiz’s doors will be open.

Pop Diner
Open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays, Pop Diner specializes in seafood entrées.

Sarge's Deli & Restaurant
If you ever find yourself wandering around midtown in the dead of night hungry for kosher food, you’re in luck. Sarge’s Deli & Restaurant rolls out scrumptious matzo balls all 24 hours of the day.listing

Gold St.
Though the Financial District is typically a ghost town after all the Wall Street suits have taken off for the day, you can still score a decent after-hours meal at Gold St. Its globe-trotting menu offers a little something for everyone, from tacos to sushi.

Market Diner
Market Diner has it all—a parking lot, riotous decor, waitresses who call you “honey” and 24-hour service. The parking lot in front is free for customers—which is nice, because the diner is damn-near New Jersey.

Big Nick's Burger and Pizza Joint
The menu at Big Nick’s Burger and Pizza Joint features 27 pages of dishes and reads like it’s from a truck-stop dive by way of the Aegean: all-day breakfast, three-napkin burgers, Greek standards such as gyros and souvlaki, pizza, meat-and-potatoes suppers and a wide range of desserts.

Coffeeshops and pastries

Aroma Espresso bar
You couldn’t dream up a better study spot than Aroma Espresso bar. With 24/7 access to comfy leather chairs, free Wi-Fi and the opportunity to purchase periodic brain boosts in the form of caffeinated beverages, it’s a haven for writers and college students alike.

The Donut Pub
When you consider yourself a true New Yorker and thus too cool for Dunkin’, the Donut Pub offers an alternative spot to satisfy an early-morning or late-night sweet tooth.

French Roast
Sit at French Roast’s zinc bar in a room filled with vintage posters and big mirrors, order a glass of vin rouge and imagine that you’re on the Boulevard St. Germain instead of Sixth Avenue. First dates share crème brûlée and writers loudly discuss American foreign policy between swigs of beer.

Sugar Café
With its decadent selection of desserts and what it calls “real food,” Sugar Café provides an anytime solution to appeasing a growling tummy—whether you’re in the mood for something sweet or salty.

More 24-hour dining

Han Bat
If you like Korean but aren't into grilling your own, 24-hour Han Bat is your spot.

Uncle George’s Greek Tavern
Come by Uncle George’s Greek Tavern any time of the day or night (except during the dinner rush) to view the parade of locals and others who represent the Queens melting pot. While you’re there, fill up on the usual suspects—a meal-size Greek salad with thick chunks of feta, slow-roasted lamb, béchamel-topped moussaka—all at low Greek-diner prices.

Bobby’s Fish and Seafood
Need red-snapper stew, papas fritas and jukebox merengue at 3am? Bring your friends, your appetite and your Spanish skills to Bobby’s Fish and Seafood—an all-night, cafeteria-style seafood shack in Inwood.

Horus Café
Puff away on a hookah with some friends while lounging about at Horus Café. At this East Village chill station, you can also order a variety of traditional Mediterranean dishes including pastas, grilled seafood and meats, and yes, kebabs, too.

La Casa Del Monfogo
The bi-level Washington Heights restaurant that goes by the name La Casa Del Monfogo does indeed serve mofongo—a traditional Puerto Rican dish made with mashed plantains, yuca, garlic and pork—along with many Caribbean dishes.

Don’s Bogam BBQ & Wine Bar
You can fire up the grill 24 hours a day, year-round, at Don’s Bogam BBQ & Wine Bar. Walk past the sleek lounge and you’ll hit a dining room, where tables are outfitted with barbecue burners. The signature dish, cabernet three-layer pork, is a must-try.

Won Jo
Cheap and delicious, Won Jo cooks up some serious appeal. What reads on the menu like a basic sautéed fish is actually a plateful of meaty morsels of mackerel in a peppery soy sauce; and the intensely spicy yuk gae jang is laden with thin slices of tender beef, seaweed and cellophane noodles.

Bereket Turkish Kebab House
The lamb sizzles and Turkish pop blasts at this after-hours favorite. Since the decor (fluorescent lighting, bright-orange trays) might as well be nonexistent, focus on the satisfying eats.

Kebab King Diner
The kebabs at Kebab King Diner are always grilled to order, resulting in an explosion of flavor. This joint also features delectable curries; favorites include chicken makhani in a fiery lentil-based sauce, and the ever-popular yogurt-marinated chicken tikka.

L'Express
Dodge that hangover with something other than a slice of pizza. Options at L’Express include steak au poivre, niçoise salad with seared tuna, monkfish, homemade sausage and roasted rabbit.

Village Shawarma
Village Shawarma is a notch above most MacDougal Street falafel joints-in-the-wall. Order any platter and you’re free to visit the Israeli equivalent of a fixins bar to heap your plate high with tabouli, hummus, tomato-cucumber salad and roasted eggplant.

Yaffa Café
This cozy, vegetarian-friendly, vaguely Middle Eastern café is the essential endpoint for any East Village pub crawler. Though it’s notoriousfor its crappy wait service, Yaffa’s kitschy décor and quaint backyard garden provide an ideal atmosphere for killing time in the wee morning hours.

Maison
Swing in for a late bite at this 24-hour joint, where things get going just as the witching hour approaches. A full raw bar and cooked shellfish make seafood de rigueur on a menu serious about quality.

Odessa
Although Odessa offers classic Greek and Italian dishes, it actually pulls in a frugal, funky, all-hours clientele for its Eastern European specialties. Potato pancakes are made with real grated potato, and the Romanian pastrami sandwich is salty, fatty and delicious.

Other round-the-clock diversions

Whitestone Lanes Inc
Have a good time—anytime—knocking down pins at Whitestone Lanes, the only bowling alley in the city open 24 hours. http://www.whitestonebowling.com

Apple Store, Fifth Avenue
For those in need of an emergency MacBook repair, the Fifth Avenue Apple Store welcomes customers at all hours. You might even get lucky and pick up a genius from the Genius Bar.

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