Working late? Knocking back holiday drinks with friends? Just off a long-haul flight and ravenous enough to eat your own carry-on? We’ve all been there: it’s late, your stomach’s growling, and every sensible kitchen in Vancouver seems to have packed it in for the night. Cue the panic. Cue the questionable choices. Cue the greasy fast-food shame spiral. But fear not—we’ve got your back. Here’s your guide to finding actual food when the city’s gone to bed and your cravings refuse to.

Open until 1am on weekdays and 2am on weekends, Gastown’s Oku Izakaya has become a go-to spot for night owls and hospitality workers looking to unwind. Owner Takeshi Hasegawa sets the tone with his warm hospitality, making guests feel at home the moment they walk in. The menu blends Izakaya classics like Shishitos and Karaage with inventive dishes like Yellowtail & Wa-Chimichurri, alongside a strong selection of Japanese beers, sake, and whiskey. Straightforward, welcoming and exactly what you need after the daily grind: Just drop in, grab a seat, and let Oku do its thing. Last Call for Food: Sun, Wed + Thurs, 12:30am; Fri/Sat, 1:30am. 

New to the scene (and only a few doors down from Oku) Breeze Bar fills helps to fill the late night gap in Vancouver’s dining landscape by offering a place where late-night workers (and late-night-ers in general) can get a satisfying bite and a nice drink after most kitchen power down. Open Wednesday to Saturday from 6pm to midnight, Breeze is built on a high-low concept that blends comfort with luxury, putting super casual dishes like hot dogs alongside Ossetra caviar served on mother-of-pearl. Co-founders Ryan Tanner and Josh Ochotorena are strict about delivering consistent late-night hours, as well as offering a menu with plenty of options under $20. For those seeking a real late-night dining option that goes beyond fast food, Breeze Bar steps up to the plate. Last Call for Food: 11:55pm.

While the cocktail card may take centre stage at Meo, the Chinatown restaurant’s food menu — crafted by Chef de Cuisine Macià Bagur in collaboration with Co-owner and Michelin Star Chef Joël Watanabe — is just as impressive. Meo’s kitchen delivers bold, eclectic flavours with a playful menu of small plates. From fresh oysters and tartare to curry milk buns, pan-seared duck breast, green papaya salad, and Valencian noodles, this is far from your average late-night fare. Slip into the lounge, relax into its sensual 70s love motel vibes, sink your teeth into something delicious, and complete your night in style. Last Call for Food: Wed/Thu, 11:15pm; Fri/Sat, 11:45pm; Sun, 10:15pm.

At Happy Treehouse, the open and well-lit rooms – replete with wooden tables, bench seating and year-round Christmas decorations – have you covered until 2am. The restaurant gets boisterous, but the food is delicious – particularly late at night. Although known for their BBQ skewers, which cover the basics (lamb, beef, chicken), as well as more adventurous (ox throat, squid tentacles, bull backstraps, chicken gristle, and frog legs) and vegetarian (enoki mushrooms, crispy tofu, and sweet corn) options; beyond that, they’ve got dishes like spicy cucumber or shredded kelp salad, mini lobster, grilled eggplant, and hearty noodle soups. There are two locations too choose from, depending on where you night takes you — Kingsway and Richmond — and both are open until 2am.  Last Call for Food: 1:30am.

When it’s 3am and you’re starving and heading for a hangover, every bowl of pho is a lifesaver (and tastes like the best bowl of pho you’ve ever had). At Pho Extreme Xe Lua on West Broadway, all of the classic pho combinations are available, to warm your cold and tired soul, plus extras like grilled lemongrass chicken, shredded pork, spring rolls, and banh mi. Need a late-night pick-me-up? How about a late-night Vietnamese coffee or smoothie (think flavours like green bean, avocado, durian, and mango)? These guys are open until 4am every day of the week – and until 5am on Friday/Saturday! Last Call for Food: Sun-Thu, 3:30am; Fri/Sat, 4:30am. 

Brought to us by the affable crew behind Nammos and Selene, Ama not only ‘blurs the lines between reality & fantasy’ via a combination of cocktails and tranquil depths-of-the-sea atmosphere – they also blur the lines between lounge and restaurant. Open until 1am, with the kitchen serving dishes until midnight, Ama caters to late-night diners looking for more than just drinks. Staying true to its ocean-inspired theme, the menu here features dishes such as crab dip with taro chips, prawn and black cod gyoza, and even an ultra-indulgent uni pasta; but there are also moments of departure (how good would a wagyu bacon cheeseburger go down?). Last Call for Food: Midnight.

Pinky’s is that spot where the party keeps going looooong after everywhere else slows down. But the real magic? Their kitchen’s partying right there with you until 1am, serving up exactly what your late-night stomach is craving: smashburgers, perogies, mac n’ cheese, and poutine — all the hits. It’s the kind of place that’s got your back when you need it most. “We never reduce our menu or close early. Our posted hours are set in stone and if we’re open the kitchen is cooking!”Last Call for Food: 1:55am.

Good-times Mexican-style cantina located just a few blocks up from Kits Beach sparkles in summer with its lively patio, but the colourful decor, welcoming staff and the fact that it always feels like the sun is shining inside make it just as appealing in winter. Their late-night happy hour menu (10pm to close) is loaded with good things: like crispy chips and chicharrones, smoky barbacoa with consommé, a solid selection of tacos (from confit pork carnitas and chicken al pastor to tempura fish and veggie-friendly cauliflower) plus churros with chocolate dip for dessert. Last Call for Food: Mon – Thu, 12:30am; Fri/Sat 1:30am; Sunday, 11:30pm.

Fully recognizing that the menu you’ll encounter at Duffin’s Donuts sits on the fast-food end of the cuisine spectrum, we have included it on our list because it is also a cultural institution that is best experienced after hours—which, coincidentally, is also when Duffin’s tastes the best. Open 24 hours on the weekends, this iconic donut shop, located on the corner of Knight and East 41st, is as much of an anchor of East Van as Ken Lum’s famous cross. It offers everything from Mexican tortas and tamales to “fritou” fried chicken and a rainbow assortment of donuts. Everything is cheap, plus the service is always quick. Last Call for Food: Weekdays, Midnight; Weekends, Available 24 hours. 

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