The 5 Best Airport Restaurants in the World

  • Also see Eating Healthy at Airport Restaurants: 7 Travel Tips
  • Also see 4 Must-Visit Airline Lounges at Los Angeles Internation Airport (LAX)
  • Also see JFK Airport Parking and Ground Transportation
  • Also see Time-Saving Tips for Madrid Airport (MAD)

    • Discovering the world's best airport restaurants is one perk to extended layovers, delays and the other hassles of being a frequent flyer. If you're headed to any of these airports, be sure to give yourself the extra time to dine.

    Geneva International Airport (Switzerland): Altitude

    From the creative mind of Gilles Dupont, a Michelin-starred chef, Altitude Restaurant in Geneva is one of the finest airport restaurants that has a global flair, with a little emphasis on creative French-style cooking. From fish to veal, beef fillets to salads, Altitude offers basic dishes in the styles of various cultural cooking made by world-class chefs. Desserts include molten chocolate cake, crunchy almond nougatine, and berries with sorbet. Wine is also available. Prices start at around US$25 for salads and appetizers and can cost upwards of US$50 for entrees. 

    Hong Kong International Airport (China): Cafe Deco

    With live jazz music and a gorgeous view of the South China Sea, this open kitchen restaurant offers both Western and Asian flavor. Western food includes pizza, pasta, steak and sandwiches. Asian-style cooking includes lamb, seafood, sushi, curry, poultry, soups and Asian noodle dishes. There are no wines or cocktails, but there's beer, coffee and tea. Desserts include fresh-baked pastries and ice cream. Best of all, it's affordable. Entrees range from approximately US$9 to $25.

    LAX: Encounter

    A frequent winner of "best airport restaurants in the world" reviews, Encounter at LAX is a futuristic-looking restaurant intended to emulate spacemen and aliens out of 1950s sci-fi movies. The gimmick of the decor is worth a look, but the food is even better. Seafood, poultry, steak, pasta, soup, salad, burgers, sandwiches and cocktails make up the bulk of the menu. Lunch ranges from around US$10 to $15 an entree, and dinner from US$20 to $30.

    Atlanta Hartsfield Airport: One Flew South

    Luckily the world's busiest airport is also home to fine dining at about US$20 to 30 per entree - not a bad price for a fancy restaurant. One Flew South claims to serve "Southernational" food: global cuisine with a little Southern style cooking flavor. All ingredients are local and fresh. Food includes soup, pasta, poultry, seafood, sushi, burgers, pork and beef. Wine and cocktails are available. Most international dishes include a somewhat Japanese or Chinese flavor, although Italy is represented in the range of pasta dishes as well.

    London Heathrow Airport (UK): Plane Food

    The irony of the name of this example of the best of airport restaurants is that Plane Food serves anything but. This popular restaurant, developed by famed chef Gordan Ramsay, serves breakfast through dinner. From pancakes, eggs and salmon in the morning to pasta, risotto, fish, lamb, poultry, pork and grain-fed steak in the evening, this edgy restaurant has something to whet most anyone's appetite. Includes a full wine list and desserts ranging from cheesecake to braised pears. The average cost is about US$17 to $34.

    Dining in the finest airport restaurants in the world can make the time travelers spend in airports much more pleasant. Plan ahead and arrange your travel plans to include a stop at any of these establishments.