Until recently, eating in airports was associated with tasteless pre-packed sandwiches, or with a bit of luck, paying a fortune for a meal that left a lot to be desired. But, fortunately, things have changed, and some of the world’s best chefs have now landed in airport terminals, opening new gourmet spots where we can all benefit from stopovers between flights that always seem to last an eternity.
These are our favourites:
Kirei by Kabuki | Adolfo Suárez-Barajas, Madrid
“Kirei” means marvellous in Japanese. And the experience of eating in Kerei by Kabuki is indeed marvellous, the gourmet Kabuki adventure in the Barajas Airport. Sushis, sashimis, noodles, Japanese grill… The signature dishes on the menu of the main Michelin star restaurant are served on the premises in the departures area of T1 and T4, and they also have a snack bar and serve bento boxes to take on flights. A great opportunity to savour Kabuki cuisine at a much lower price than in the group’s other restaurants.
Top Air | Stuttgart
There is only one airport restaurant in the world with a Michelin star, and that’s Top Air in terminal 1 of Stuttgart Airport. Led by chef Marco Akuzun since 2013, it specialises in modern European cuisine with meat dishes playing a prominent role. The daily menu costs €55.
Plane Food | Heathrow, London
In terminal 5 of Heathrow Airport, we have (probably) one of the most famous chefs in the restaurant world. Yes, Gordon Ramsay is also part of the gourmet experiences in airports. The only difference here is that you don’t have to wait months for a reservation like in many of his other restaurants. Dynamism and speed of service are key concepts in Plane Food, where the two course menu (contemporary European cuisine) is served in 25 minutes to make sure you get to your flight without any problems. Kids eat for free at the restaurant.
Porta Gaig | El Prat, Barcelona
Carles Gaig is a well-known chef on the Catalan gourmet scene who owns and runs Porta Gaig in terminal 1 of Barcelona’s El Prat Airport, which has been named the best airport restaurant in the world by TheDailyMeal.com. Food takes centre stage in the minimalist interior designed by Ricardo Bofill with reinvented traditional Catalan dishes on offer.
I love Paris | Charles de Gaulle, Paris
The chef Guy Martin, who has three Michelin stars under his belt, is the man behind I love Paris that opened in the French capital’s main airport (terminal 2E) less than two years ago. The restaurant’s interior was inspired by the Palais Royal, it has a champagne bar and serves traditional French cuisine using the finest ingredients and the most avant-garde techniques.
Saison | Newark, New York
Newark Airport, Although in New Jersey, Newark Airport is one of the principal entry routes for tourists arriving in New York. Until recently it was an obselete airport with very few services, but it has been given a makeover in recent years, and gourmet dining is now part of its new image. Alain Ducasse, a legend in the gastronomy world, is responsible for designing the menu at Saison, a French restaurant in terminal C that also boasts a fantastic winery and avant-garde design with screens on the tables to make sure you don’t miss your flight.
Dani García Deli Bar | Malaga
With a wealth of experience and two Michelin stars, Dani García is a frontrunner in Spanish gastronomy. Deli Bar opened in 2013 in terminal 3 of the Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport and serves signature dishes like cherry gazpacho and oxtail burgers from Dani’s restaurant Calima, along with new suggestions that are perfect to enjoy one last culinary experience before returning from your holidays.
