Better Late

Fourteen places to eat very late, and very well

Photo: Les Wood

ostonians dream wistfully (and usually in vain) of enjoying fine dining after, say, 9 p.m., chowing down on some exotic fare past midnight, even sampling a fresh-baked cannoli at 3 in the morning. That’s not easy in our notoriously early closing town, where the subway shuts down helpfully just before last call. But we know the secrets of Boston late at night. We’ll tell you the unexpected places to get real meals—not reheated munchies—late at night, or a jelly doughnut right out of the oven at 4 a.m., or a great New York-style pizza till 1 without having to go to Manhattan (you got a problem with that?). Here are some great places that will light up your nights:

An innovative restaurant that serves till 2

Great food till 1:30

A North End restaurant where you can eat well till 2

Where to get your doughnut fix—at 4 a.m.

Inspired sandwiches till 1

A retro basement bar with comfort food till 2

An Italian bakery that’s open all night

A hidden-away late-night supper club that’s a homage to the Rat Pack

Great New York-style pizza, fresh till 1

A late spot with Hollywood cred and a secret special, served till midnight

How to get your late-night cookie fix

A gourmet pizza place ready to serve you till 2 a.m.