Hector's Cafe & Diner

Since it first opened in the ’40s, this classic diner, tucked right under the High Line, has had many lives. For a long time, it fed its Meatpacking neighbors (as in, the actual meatpackers) pancakes and coffee starting at 2am. Then, in the early aughts, zonked out club-goers came in for fried food to soak up the alcohol after last call. At some point, scenes for Taxi Driver and Law & Order were filmed inside. Nowadays, it’s only open until 3pm on weekdays and midnight on Friday and Saturday, so it’s main function is to feed people who don’t want to pay for any of the other overpriced eateries in the area. You’ll get perfectly fine versions of all your diner basics here, as well as gyros, Mexican food, beer, and wine. They even sell cigarettes.

photo credit: Alex Staniloff