South Street Diner (formerly the Blue Diner) • 1947

Boston's only 24-hour diner since 1947, South Street Diner (formerly the Blue Diner) draws night owls and early risers to its retro chrome booths for towering Boston Cream Pancakes—a local legend that earned Esquire's nod for best late-night food in America. The Food Network spotlight and steady stream of celebrities haven't changed the all-night breakfast plates, thick shakes, and neon-lit counter where the city's insomniacs, bar crowds, and third-shift workers collide. Pull up a stool at 3 a.m. and you'll understand why this Kneeland Street fixture has outlasted every other round-the-clock joint in town.