The State of Late Night Dining: Drinks, Bites, and Habits

Not every restaurant thrives at the same time of day. Breakfast can be hit or miss, lunch traffic hasn’t fully bounced back since the pandemic, and sometimes even dinner sales aren’t consistent. But one thing tends to remain constant: people—especially younger diners—love a night out. And when the weekend rolls around, late night hospitality is still alive (spoiler: we’ve got the data to prove it). 

This is where a real opportunity lies. Alcohol sales can help drive strong margins, and the right late night bites can add to this. Of course, becoming someone’s go-to joint at 12 a.m. on a Friday doesn’t happen overnight. But if you want to secure a spot on the “Late Night Hits” list in guests’ Notes app, we’ve got the insights to help you get there.

Toast surveyed 850 restaurant-goers to uncover where, when, and why they dine out late at night. Here’s what we found.

Late night dining trends

Nearly half of late night diners are motivated by socializing with friends

So, what motivates people to head out late at night? And by late, we mean at least past 11 p.m. The top reason is spending time with friends: 43% of respondents say socializing with friends is the primary reason why they go out late. Nights out don’t seem to be for the solo diner. Instead, they revolve around having a good time with a group. 

Late night cravings are next, with 24% of diners heading out late for food. After hours, guests might give in to a slice of pizza, a burger, or a sweet treat. It’s the kind of indulgence that feels justified because, well, it’s late. The calories don’t count. 

Concerts, performances, or other events are also a draw, with 21% of respondents noting that live entertainment motivates their late night plans. What’s better than a live band or DJ on a night out with friends? Check out our crash course on everything you need to know about restaurant music licensing laws and fees in your restaurant.

Late night dining isn’t just about filling a stomach. It’s about mixing friends, food, and fun. Restaurants looking to capture this crowd can think beyond traditional dinner service and offer reasons for guests to linger and enjoy the late night vibe.

Dinner peaks early, but late night dining is driven by 18–24-year-olds

Most people stick to a “normal” dinner schedule, with 61% eating between 6 and 8 p.m. and another 19% pushing it to 8–10 p.m. But once the clock strikes 11, the late night crowd starts to appear, and it’s mostly younger diners.

At least on weekends, 31% of people dine late, and 25% do it very often. Breaking news: young adults like to grab food when out late. Top late night goers are 18–24-year-olds, with 55% grabbing meals past 11 p.m. on weekends and 31% doing it almost all the time. 

Men are slightly more likely to dine out late than women on weekends (32% vs. 29%), and while 31% of men dine late very often, 35% of women tend to avoid late night dining altogether. Translation: men are braving the late night burger run, while women are more likely to stick to earlier dinners. 

Bars and restaurants that cater to late night diners can boost revenue by offering food and drinks that appeal to younger guests when the rest of the city is asleep.

When it’s late, diners want pizza most

Nothing hits as hard as a slice of pizza after a night out. Overall, 35% of respondents say pizza is their go-to, and it’s especially popular with 18–24-year-olds (48%). But it’s not just the top choice for the younger crowd, as 45–54-year-olds (42%) and even diners 55+ (35%) also say pizza is their favorite when hunger strikes after dark. 

Burgers and fries come in next at 29%, skewing more toward men (33% vs. 25% for women) and particularly hitting the sweet spot for 25–34-year-olds (36%). Tacos and burritos round out the top picks at 23%, with women showing a stronger preference (29% vs. 18% for men). Birria tacos at 1 a.m., anyone?

Late night diners have simple cravings, and catering to those cravings can make your restaurant the place they think of first when hunger hits after hours. Use this data to curate a late night menu that aligns with your cuisine type and culinary capabilities. Tailoring your offerings to what guests actually want after dark can turn otherwise quiet hours into a reliable source of revenue. 

Beer tops late night drink orders, but non-alcoholic options are close behind

Late night diners can’t resist a cold one, with 31% choosing beer as their go-to late night beverage. But non-alcoholic options aren’t far behind at 28%, and cocktails follow closely at 27%. There’s something for everyone at the bar.

Women are more likely to choose a non-alcoholic beverage (33%), while men are more inclined to stick with beer (44%). Guests 55+ lean heavily toward non-alcoholic drinks (40%). This reflects the importance of a well-rounded drink menu. 

By aligning your drink menu with our data, you can make sure everyone finds something to order, even if it doesn’t contain alcohol. Find out which non-alcoholic options your bar can offer without having to purchase any new ingredients with this Mocktail Guide. 

One in three guests drink alcohol late at night, led by men and younger diners

While those non-alcoholic options are in demand, alcohol still plays a big role in late night outings. One in three guests drink alcohol late at night, with 33% doing so at least on weekends and 18% indulging very often, even on weekdays.

Men are slightly more likely to participate in late night drinking, with 36% of men choosing alcohol after dark compared to 31% of women. On the higher frequency side, nearly 25% of men drink very often, versus 11% of women.

Younger diners ages 25–34 are topping the late night alcohol charts: 39% drink at least on weekends, and 27% do so very often. Offering late night drink specials, curated flights, or shareable cocktails targeted toward younger adults can turn these hours into a profitable segment.

Late night menus and promotions: food discounts are the top draw

Speaking of targeting young adults, late night diners respond well to a little incentive. Reduced prices are the top promotion, with 47% of guests saying discounts on food could influence their late night plans. A well-timed deal can turn a quiet evening into a busy one. 

A well-curated late night menu can also do the trick, with 24% of diners citing it as a top influencer to go out to a bar or restaurant later at night. This doesn’t have to be a full menu overhaul. Think small plates, shareable snacks, or late night versions of your most popular dishes that match the vibe of your restaurant. Check out our Late Night Menu Guide for tips and insights. 

Saturdays rule late night dining, with Miami in the lead

Looking at 2024 restaurant data on the Toast platform, it’s clear that late night dining isn’t evenly spread across the country or days of the week. Saturdays dominate, accounting for 32% of all late night transactions, followed by Friday (25%) and Sunday (12%).

Miami takes the top spot, with 50% more transactions past 10 p.m. than the average city, followed by Charlotte, NC (32% more) and Dallas (29% more). Chicago (13%) and New York (12%) round out the top five, while San Francisco records the fewest late night transactions among major cities (-67%), proving some cities actually do sleep.

When looking at states, Florida leads late night dining overall, with 62% more volume per restaurant than the average, followed by Texas (49%), Ohio (45%), and New York (39%). At the bottom of the list, Arkansas sees the least late night traffic, with 66% below the average.

If you’re operating in top locations, such as Florida, maximizing late night hours and tailoring menus or promotions can turn late nights into a lucrative opportunity.

Later nights, fuller registers

The late night crowd can create a profitable opportunity for bars and restaurants that properly plan for it. Diners are heading out past 10 p.m. more often than many operators might realize. Among all service industry business types, bars see the highest late night volume across all major cities, showing that a well-curated menu, drinks, and promotions can turn late hours into a revenue driver rather than a quiet lull.

Looking for more ways to increase your late night sales? We’ve got you covered. Check out this guide: How to Attract Customers to Your Restaurant to Increase Late-Night Sales.

Methodology

Toast conducted a blind survey of 850 U.S. adults ages 18+ on this topic on August 13, 2025. Respondents were not made aware that Toast was fielding the study. Using a standard margin of error calculation, at a confidence interval of 95%, the margin of error on average is +/- 3-5%.

Toast compared transaction data from cities with restaurants open past 10 p.m. in 2024. Past midnight transactions were included in the day previous. All restaurant types were included in this analysis, and Toast used a cohort of same-store customers that were on the platform from April 1, 2024, through July 15, 2025.