One night, one world: late night experiences around the globe

Between the last light of one day and the break of a new one, the world is full of opportunities to seize the night – from peaceful moments of spirituality cocooned by darkness to thumping, strobe-lit dancefloors filled with thrashing limbs. Let us fly you on a tour around a planet that never stops turning.

18:00

Bali, Indonesia

As daylight ebbs, tangerine flames roar to life at temples across Bali, from the cliffside Uluwatu to sanctuaries hidden in central Ubud. Chanting fills the air as worshippers sway, signalling the start of the Balinese kecak dance, a ritual depicting the story of the Ramayana. Golden-masked deities emerge, stomping through fiery coals as crowds gather to watch the high-octane performance.

19:00

London, UK 

Nine-to-fivers spill out of offices onto London Underground platforms to be redispersed across the city. At the Southbank Centre, there’s always something new to try. It’s happy hour, and Londoners pitch up everywhere from the National Theatre’s courtyard and the East End’s industrial rooftops to the city’s parks and traditional pubs. Whose round is it now?

20:00

Singapore

In Singapore’s bustling hawker centres, hear the sibilance of garlic in spitting oil, the clatter and fiery whoosh of woks and the laughter of diners guarding prized seats. Every inch of the plastic tabletops is taken up by plates of golden-brown char kway teow noodles, perfectly grilled satay skewers, frosty bottles of Tiger beer and, of course, scarlet chilli crabs.

21:00

Kuala Selangor, Malaysia

Just outside Kuala Lumpur, fireflies blink and glow along the Selangor River, home to one of the world’s largest colonies of these light-emitting insects. Cruises glide quietly under inky skies as mangroves light up. Keen photographers raise their cameras, though the moment is best savoured with the naked eye, the twinkling darkness etched into memory. 

22:00 

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

It’s last call at dark sky reserve Tekapo, where the sun has disappeared behind emerald mountains and its famed lake is now a sheet of onyx with the Milky Way swirling in the heavens. Amateur astronomers peer through telescopes while their guides tell stories of the universe and Māori legend. 

23:00

Barcelona, Spain

The rapid-fire cadences of Catalan and Spanish buzz in bars across the city, where late-night pintxo snacks are slung out in equally quick succession. Vinegary boquerones anchovies, garlicky cod omelettes and cheesy croquetas are polished off quickly as glasses of Basque wine clink.

00:00

New York, US

Stand-up comics step up to the mic at clubs across town, firing barbs at rowdy hecklers. Soho’s stylish set holds court on roof terraces, and closing cocktail bars beg the question: time to go home… or to take things up a notch? While queues of clubbers snake around city blocks, the rest fuel up on pastrami sandwiches at Katz’s Deli or give in to the urge for a dollar slice.

01:00

Macao SAR

The cacophony of boisterous crowds rules Macao’s casino-crammed Cotai Strip. Meanwhile, bar-hoppers stumble across The Londoner’s marble floors towards a nightcap or stare up at The Venetian’s eternal daytime sky in search of a lavish afterparty.

02:00

Hong Kong SAR

Things are now a little blurry. Central’s clubs are bumping, with everything from hip-hop and funk to techno and house music on offer as dancefloors pack out with revellers. Farther east in Wan Chai, partiers take the compulsory rite of passage at Carnegie’s, clambering onto the bar and clinging to golden rails as they dance, while bartenders pass drinks between stomping feet.

03:00

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Dawn comes and brings with it the sound of the early morning Fajr prayer over loudspeakers. Prayer mats whisper across floorboards and mosque tiles as heads bow in unison to verses from the Qur’an. The night sky slowly gives way to the sun as the desert city’s inhabitants – and temperature – rise together.

04:00

Paris, France

Ovens hum in boulangeries, fired up by bleary-eyed bakers nursing morning coffees. The ritual begins anew as kilos of butter, flour and yeast cover previously spotless counters. Hands sift through powder, kneading and shaping pillowy white dough into hearty breakfast staples, waiting to be proved, baked and devoured.

05:00

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Tuk-tuks race the sun, speeding past still-dark homes out onto jungle-lined roads towards Angkor, the former capital of the Khmer Kingdom. Visitors descend upon the archaeological park, seeking out the best vantage point of Angkor Wat’s tiered silhouette. A hush. Then dawn breaks, flooding the ruins with molten gold.

06:00

Tokyo, Japan

Fresh, crimson incense sticks are lit at Meiji Shrine, streaming with scented smoke in worn braziers. Feet shuffle over stone and wood as priests prepare for the day of worship ahead. Stray winds buffet wooden ema plaques and carry scribbled prayers to the sunrise. Just a short walk away, Harajuku sleeps on as Tokyo’s trendsetters plump for a few more hours of slumber.