Got to catch a flight? Got hungry? Can’t decide where to stop? Relax. We now have the list of the best airports in FAB (Food and Beverage) as determined by judges of The Moodie Davitt report and The Foodie Report, organizers of the 2016 Airport FAB Awards.
FAB-ulous dining ensues here:
You’ll find the very best at the end, because that’s only fare. (hehe.)
Java–gotta get yourself a cuppa espresso?
We can recommend a visit to Emirates Leisure Retail: Hudsons coffee, at Brisbane Airport. They won Airport Coffee Shop of the year.
Highly commended: Red Rock Leisure, Brunetti, Melbourne Airport
Not headed down under? Fret not: You’ll also get a good cafecito at honourable mention Caffè Nero, London Heathrow Airport Terminal 2 Arrivals.
Depending on where you are, these might seem a long way to fly for the world’s best airport coffee..but Hello! Coffeeeeee. Give them a shot.
Rushing to Board Now Hungry Flying Economy OMG!!
Don’t panic. We’ve all been there. There are solutions.
You’ll find the #1 Best Top-Shelf Food-to-Go at Tastes on the Fly, Modmarket, Denver International airport. They’ve also got locations at SFO, BOS, JFK.
Also commended: Wrights of Howth at Dublin Airport and Lagardère Travel Retail, Sumo Green Label, Sydney Airport.
It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere and I Need Me Some Pacific Time
Poor dear. Flying can be stressful. Finland understands. Wine & View comes FABulously recommended as best in glass.
Drink responsibly before you fly, but feel free to enjoy these other Highly Commended bars: OTG, Vinifera, Toronto Pearson International Airport (lovely) and Feudi di San Gregorio, Dubl Lounge, Naples International Airport (bubbly).
Let Me Sit Down for a While My Feet are Killing Me and I’m Peckish..But Nothing Too Fancy, Ta!
Hausmann’s at Frankfurt Airport was judged world’s best for casual dining. They even have a Google Street view map on their site–take a virtual tour and you’ll see it’s a nice place to sit down and catch up with email while you eat.
Also Highly Commended: HMSHost Corporation, Lee Kitchen, Toronto Pearson International Airport and TRG Concessions, Wondertree, London Heathrow Airport.
Nothing Short of A Michelin Star Will Do!
Of, course not. You deserve to dine divine, especially if your plane is late for the gate.
This year’s winner in Restaurant Chef-led airport gourmand goodness is Areas, I Love Paris by Guy Martin, situated in Hall L of terminal 2E at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Guy Martin is the three-Michelin-star artiste chef creator of Le Grand Véfour,Paris.
I Love Paris by Guy Martin (PRNewsFoto/Elior Group)
“Launched in June 2015, I Love Paris by Guy Martin is a unique place embodying the Parisian identity. This veritable declaration of love for the French capital was inspired by another of the Chef’s prestigious restaurant, Le Grand Véfour. Designed by India Mahdavi, I Love Paris by Guy Martin is ideally located and offers a new approach to traditional French cuisine using bio and in-season products,” says Group ADP. So, nummy!
Guy Martin has been described as “A poet under the stars” which I don’t even really know what that means in the kitchen but it sounds really good, right?
He’s proud of the venture with Groupe ADP to deliver this pinnacle of airport culinary experience.
“Thanks to the unfailing support of the Areas teams, I have fulfilled my dream of letting my guests taste a cuisine prepared with love,using the finest ingredients. It was essential for us to respect the spirit of the Grand Véfour and the very special atmosphere of the Palais Royal. Our goal is to give pleasure and ensure the well-being of our guests in a comfortable,contemporary and friendly setting designed by India Mahdavi; a beautiful,collective adventure that has been rewarded,” Guy Martin.
Yay!
I’m quite happy with baguette and beurre in Paris, but that’s just me..because PARIS!! (And have you sampled the beurre? I mean..sorry, Denmark..but French butter is the best.) At the terminal, you may find me nibbling on a pain jambon. Anyway…
If you aren’t in Paris (domage) but still want to dine like royalty, consider Highly Commended Gordon Ramsay Group, Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food, London Heathrow Airport. The food at Plane Food may be peppered with fewer expletives than you’ve become accustomed to from Ramsay, but let’s face it, the man knows how to stir.
I Dunno. I Can’t Decide if the Kids Want Something Else. Please, Let’s Just Eat Already!
If variety is your spice, then the Universal Dining, Straits Food Village, Singapore Changi Airport food court is very nice.
In my experience, it is very difficult not to eat well at Changi. It’s hard not to find a wide variety of magnificent food anywhere and everywhere in Singapore, for that matter. Non-foodies beware: this place is a real problem for anyone who hates eating.
You will also find delectable selections at these Highly Commended foodcourts: Areas, MyChef, Milan Malpensa Airport, and at Marqette and ARI: Marqette, Dublin Airport.
I Feel The Need…The Need For Speedy Food
Got it. Get top-shelf fast food here: HMSHost International, Leon, London Heathrow Airport
Also, jet over to these Highly Commended: Crews, Cava Mezze Grill, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and HMSHost Corporation, Local Food Truck, Los Angeles International Airport
I’m On A Train. I Can’t Complain.
Maybe you’re going the multi-modal route and would rather eat at the station before you arrive at the airport (or both, we’re not judging.)
The FABest railway station (Overall Food & Beverage Offer of the year) is HS1: London St Pancras International, UK. Highly Commended: MTR Corporation, Hong Kong MTR Station
Individual Food & Beverage Offer of the Year in a Railway Station Winner: SSP France, Le Train Bleu, Gare de Lyon, France. Highly Commended: JD Wetherspoon, The North Western, Liverpool Lime Street Station; Tim Ho Wan, Hong Kong Station
Eat Like A Local
If you want to enjoy local flavor, the winner in the Best Reflecting ‘Sense of Place’ category is Xi’an Xianyang International Airport Co.
Also Highly Commended in this category were Copenhagen Airport: CPH – A Sense of Home; and BTA Cafés & Restaurants: Tadında Anadolu, Istanbul Atatürk Airport.
Peeps Preferred
The FAB awards include a category for consumer favorite concessions. This year’s winner was TRG Concessions, Frankie & Benny’s (available at various airports in the UK).
Highly Commended: Travel Food Services, GVK Lounge by TFS Performa, Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.
Better Now
The top prize in the FAB equivalent of the most-improved,“Great Transformation in Airport F&B” award went to Brisbane Airport Corporation: Brisbane International Airport Terminal Development.
Helsinki Airport received a Highly Commended award.
Drumroll Please
What you really want to know is what airport offers the very best of the best places to eat all around. Well, we can reveal that London Heathrow Airport is the second best (Highly Commended) airport in the world for food and beverage.
And…
The absolute world’s best airport to get stuck in for hours so you have to have all three meals there (and merienda) is Copenhagen Airport.
Both Heathrow and Copenhagen offer a variety of food and beverage outlets of very high quality with good service.
Even if all you’re grabbing at Copenhagen is a quick franske pølse, you won’t be disappointed.
I recommend rushing to Yo! Sushi or grilling out in MASH. When I need a quick vitamin-rich refreshment, the folks at Joe & the Juice have NEVER let me down.
Copenhagen Airport offers passengers their choice of more than 34 restaurants and coffee shops serving everything from quality snacks to fine dining: Caviar House, Grab and Fly (2), Food Market, Starbucks (3), The Bar, Segafredo (3), Joe & the Juice (2), Lagkagehuset (3), 7-eleven Deli, Baresso (2), Le Sommelier Bar and Bistro, O’Learys (2), MASH, Aamans, Gorm’s, Foodmarket, Yo! Sushi and Steffs Place (4).
There’s also gourmet shopping if you want to bring something nice back home with you.
Lise Ryevad, Copenhagen Airport’s Director of Airport Sales, is pleased with the award and commented:
“We are constantly working to offer our passengers something extra such as an attractive range of coffee shops and restaurants of a high quality. The FAB award shows that we are on the right track.”
According to Lise Ryevad, the airport’s strategy is to establish a good mix of internationally well-known restaurants and very good Danish names:
“We are hosts in Denmark – in Copenhagen – so Copenhagen and Denmark naturally are strongly reflected at the airport. A crucial part of Denmark’s and Copenhagen’s success as a destination in recent years is the major international breakthrough of new Nordic food culture. This should also be reflected at the airport. It is therefore very important that you can eat well – very well – at the airport. The food range must be Danish and international,” said Lise Ryevad.
A new survey conducted by Analyse Danmark for Copenhagen Airport shows that 63% of passengers consider good food an important part, or the most important part, of their journey.
“The journey begins at the airport, and we listen to our travelers. We interview up to 100,000 passengers each year to ensure that we can meet the wishes and demands of our guests. One of the important requests was good and attractive deals for both big and small travel budgets. We offer that today, and we intend to develop our F&B offering in the future to ensure that it matches the wishes and demands of our travelers,” said Lise Ryevad.
Copenhagen has taken home the FAB awards before, with the TOP award in 2014, so they’re doing something right!
The 5th annual Airport Food and Beverage (FAB) Awards winners were revealed on June 30 during a special gala event in Geneva, Hosted by Caviar House. Nice.
Other honors handed out on the night:
Food & Beverage Marketing & Promotions Campaign of the Year
Winner: CJ Foodville, CJ Airtown Marketing Campaign, Incheon International Airport
Highly Commended: HMSHost Corporation, Channel your Inner Chef, Chicago O’Hare International Airport; London Heathrow Airport: Kids Eat Free
Digital or Social Media Initiative of the Year
Winner: Autogrill, Le Chef, Geneva Airport
Highly Commended: Zone: London Gatwick & Symmetry Breakfast, Gatwick Airport
Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year
Winner: Autogrill: Ten years of sustainability looking at the future
Highly Commended: HMSHost International, Made Blue, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol; London Heathrow Airport: Ingredients for Success: A guide to sustainable food services at Heathrow
Outstanding Originality in Airport Food & Beverage
Winners: Airport Retail Group, The Coffee Club, Brisbane Airport; TRG Concessions,
The Nicholas Culpeper Pub & Dining, London Gatwick Airport
Food & Beverage-Related Innovation of the Year
Winner: OTG: Tech Integration
Highly Commended: Universal Dining, Straits Food Village, Singapore Changi Airport; Incheon International Airport, F&B transformation program