Vingt Quatre Restaurant

Kensington / Chelsea, London –

Anyone in need of an early morning meal or a late-night drink will find it at Vingt Quatre (Twenty-Four), a manic, bustling, and aptly named little bistro that’s open for business 24/7 – a rarity in London.

Despite its French name, the restaurant’s vinyl booths, laminate tables, and snappy no-nonsense service would fit right into Anytown USA, and the single dining area’s long cushioned waiting bench and jumble of tables are clearly designed to pack in the university students who frequent the diner for study eats and boozy munchies.

Though early risers clamor for the Cadbury hot chocolate and local retail workers swarm in for the lunchtime burgers, it’s the half-cocked club-goers who keep the place hopping until the sun rises again. There’s almost always a line, but the wait is worth it for night owls craving a club sandwich at 4am or dance fiends looking for a full English breakfast to soak up the booze.

Foodies also join the fray at the champagne breakfast, where silver straws and caviar add a dash of class to the usually casual atmosphere, though the overall vibe is always lively and loud thanks to the crowds of friendly post-grads and chatty young friends.

Day or night for fifty-two weeks a year, Vingt Quatre is guaranteed to always be waiting with a smile – or at least a plate of pancakes.