Whether a college student, young club hopper, or a curious tourist, there are plenty of reasons to be on the Peninsula after sundown. While there, it is easy to build up an appetite. But after all the quaint diners and swanky restaurants are closed, where is there to turn? Plenty of places! Compiled here is a list of five restaurants downtown that are open even after most people have gone to bed. They are listed in order of closing times, from earliest to latest, for easy browsing. So grab a map or your bicycle and head on in to these tasty late-night eats!

Charleston Restaurant - Kaminsky's
Kaminsky's Most Excellent Cafe (Open until 'late night'): If your dinner was filling enough but you crave something sweeter, there is nowhere better than Kaminsky's. The desserts are all made fresh daily, and are displayed in a case just inside the door to tempt in passer-by. It is also possible to enjoy a beer, a glass of wine, or a cup of coffee while eating your pie or ice cream. The name of the place is rather presumptuous, but they do offer good desserts for your late-night snacks. Located at 78 North Market Street.
 
Charleston Restaurant - D'Allesandro
D'Allesandro's Pizza (Open until midnight): The Allesandro brothers opened their little pizzeria with the intent of providing Elliotborough residents with quality pizza for an affordable price--and they do it. Unlike the other pizza place down the list, D'Allesandro's offers many kinds of pizza, but do not offer pizza by the slice. They also offer local microbrew beer. The staff is friendly and fun, even into the middle of the night, and help with the local atmosphere. So grab a few friends and head over to D'Allesandro's for tasty pizza choices for a great price. Located at 229 St. Philip Street.

Charleston Restaurant - Tattooed Moose
Tattooed Moose (open until 2am): When it's a dive bar you want, the Tattooed Moose is the place to go. But it is not a regular bar, with nothing more than nachos or peanuts to eat, as the sandwiches are superb and the fries have a good reputation as well. The bar was featured on the series 'Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,' which sometimes causes the crowd to be unruly and large, but it is not always difficult to get a seat and good service. This option is the farthest up the Penninsula, which may automatically cause some crowds to give it a pass. But if you don't mind straying from the historic downtown a bit, the Tattooed Moose may be for you. Located at 1137 Morrison Drive.

Charleston Restaurant - Eat-A-Pita
Eat-A-Pita (open until 2:30am): Like mentioned in a review here on Charleston.com, Eat-A-Pita is a wonderful restaurant. The late-night menu changes a bit from the daytime menu, but it is not lacking. A unique change is the addition of breakfast pitas, which include standard breakfast fare like eggs, bacon, or ham. The college bunch really likes to visit this location, particularly because of its proximity to the College of Charleston, but anyone should feel welcome. Located at 370 1/2 King Street.

Charleston Restaurant - Giovanni
Pizzeria di Giovanni (open until 3am): The restaurant offering food at the latest hours is another pizzeria, this one serving up pies New York style. The pizza slices are very large (you'll probably need to fold it, or even cut it!) and freshly made. One downside is the drink situation: the pizza slices are very reasonably priced, and the 'meal' comes with a slice and a drink. But once the fountain drink is gone, it costs fifty cents to refill it, which seems rather cheap. It is a small restaurant with few workers, but that does not change the taste of the food or the convenience the restaurant offers after a long night at the bars or even just a walk through the market. Located at 40 North Market Street.

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