As one of the increasingly rare 24-hour establishments left in the city, Court Square Diner is as much a restaurant as it is a public good. Even if you’re not a regular—at least, not yet—you’re bound to feel like one at this shiny, retro-styled joint in the shadow of the 7 train. It's been in the same location, just off Jackson Avenue, since 1946, and remains a hub for people who live nearby, or need to pass through. At any hour, you’ll encounter a cross-section of fellow New Yorkers enjoying a golden-brown belgian waffle or the extremely gooey French onion soup: construction workers in hi-vis vests, subway conductors, two-year-old kids throwing fistfuls of (very good) curly fries from their booster seats, or 22-year-old kids coming in straight from the afterparty. We once spent 24 full hours here, and it was a great time.