A night out presents a specific set of restroom challenges: many public facilities are closed after dark, and bars and restaurants may have private-only facilities. Here is how to navigate it in any city.
Use the Bar or Restaurant You Are At
The simplest strategy: if you are at a bar, use their restroom before you leave. Most hospitality venues make restrooms available to patrons; do not wait until you have already left and are now looking for options on the street.
Major Hotels
Hotel lobbies are your nighttime safety net. Any major hotel with an active lobby — and in entertainment districts, there are usually several — has accessible restrooms. Walk in with confidence and head to the lobby-level facilities. In most cases, no one will question you.
24-Hour Fast Food
McDonald's, Taco Bell, IHOP and other 24-hour fast food locations maintain accessible restrooms through overnight hours. They may require a purchase in some locations but many have open-door policies.
Plan Your Route
If you are doing a planned pub crawl or bar hop, map your route around venues with reliable facilities. Identify landmarks along the way — a hotel, a 24-hour diner — as backup options.
Transit Stations
In cities with late-night or 24-hour transit, major terminal stations often keep restrooms accessible during service hours. In New York City, for example, most major subway stations have staff overnight and accessible facilities.