As travellers plan upcoming getaways, a key part of the holiday experience begins long before they reach their destination: the airport meal.
While airport food was once an afterthought of soggy sandwiches and lukewarm coffee, it has evolved.
It’s become a genuine highlight for ‘foodie’ travellers seeking high-quality, ‘Instagrammable’ dining experiences as part of their journey.
The world’s best airport for dining has been revealed – and it is in the UK.
In a study that analysed data from Instagram, Google, TripAdvisor, and Yelp to create a definitive ‘Travel Foodie Score’ for international airports, London Heathrow came out on top, outperforming major culinary capitals like Tokyo and Hong Kong.
The London airport boasts the highest average Google rating of any airport worldwide (4.28) and nearly 900,000 Instagram posts – giving it a travel foodie score of 99.16.
This is a much higher score than the hub in second place – Tokyo Haneda – which scored just 88.24.
However, Japan proves it’s a culinary powerhouse, claiming four spots in the top 10.
London Heathrow (pictured) has been ranked as the best airport in the world for dining
As well as Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita came in fourth place with a score of 81.28, Fukuoka sixth with a score of 77.31, and Chubu Centrair in ninth, with 66.44.
Hong Kong came in third place in the study, with a foodie score of 86.25, and an average Yelp rating of 4.06 – more than Heathrow.
When it comes to social media engagement, Fukuoka Airport (Japan) and Singapore Changi lead the way.
Their restaurants averaged 1,250 and 925 Instagram posts respectively.
The top 10 features a diverse global spread, including European hubs such as Zurich and Munich, alongside North America’s Vancouver.
Paul Stewart, CEO of My Baggage, who conducted the research, said: ‘For many travellers, the holiday begins the moment they step into the terminal, and the quality of dining is now a major part of that experience.
‘Our study shows that London Heathrow is currently the gold standard for airport food, combining high-quality options with a massive social media appeal.
‘It’s also striking to see Japan’s dominance in the rankings, with four airports in the top ten.
Tokyo Haneda came in second place, a core hub in Japan
‘This reflects a growing trend where passengers expect more than just a quick snack; they want authentic, high-quality meals that are worth sharing online.
‘From Michelin-standard dining in London to the world-renowned flavours of Tokyo, these airports have successfully turned transit time into a culinary highlight.’
It comes after Heathrow Airport failed to make the list of the world’s best airports for business travellers.
London Heathrow Airport came in 11th spot with a business travel score of 7.24 out of 10.
