New York City is often referred to as “the city that never sleeps” due to its vibrant, 24-hour activity. This nickname reflects the city’s relentless energy, with businesses, entertainment, and transportation operating around the clock. The 24/7 subway system and numerous late-night venues contribute to its reputation as a place of non-stop action and excitement.

In many “24-hour” cities, plenty of eateries are open until 3 am, some clubs are open until 6 am,^[4] and bars close at 2 am^[5] or a few hours later.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many 24-hour and late-night establishments began closing earlier. Coffee shops in lower Manhattan, in particular, began to close at 9:30 pm, whereas before the pandemic they had frequently closed at 12:30 am.^[36]

The people who make use of these facilities, studies have found, are nevertheless affected by sunrise and sunset.^[37][38] In other words: “that most humans aren’t as influenced by Earth’s light-dark cycle as we used to be” is not fully supported; there is an observed annual shift for “a stretch of three or four months” and “then, the process reversed direction