There are few worse feelings than being confronted with a flight delay, or your holidays coming to an end. The upside: wind away an hour or two with a drink at one of the most exceptional airport bars in the world to soothe your mind and woes.
1. Beer Garden – Munich Airport, Germany
Calm your nerves at Munich’s Airport’s Beer Garden.
A trip to Germany wouldn’t be complete without a trip to a beer garden – and just in case you somehow managed to miss one, Munich Airport has had one specially-installed.
With a 600-seater capacity, the airy indoor garden features wooden benches where you can relax among real chestnut and maple trees. In addition to the vast selection of beers, you can gorge on goulash and Bratwurst before working it off dancing around a maypole listening to music from one of the live entertainers!
2. Coopers Alehouse – Sydney Domestic Airport, Australia
Relaxing at Coopers Alehousein Sydney Domestic Airport.
2014’s Airport Bar of the Year offers beer-heads a relaxed drinking experience overlooking the runway at Sydney’s domestic terminal 2. As the name suggests, there is a wide range of Coopers’ ales on offer, as well as imported beers and reasonably-priced eating options. The decor might be basic but it offers large TV screens and a sports bar vibe that has clearly won punters over to earn its recent title.
3. Center Bar – Zurich Airport, Switzerland
Time for a classy drink at Zurich Airport’s Center Bar.
Another previous winner of Airport Bar of the Year, Zurich Airport’s Center Bar, offers a very different drinking experience for travellers. You’ll still find beer but the emphasis is definitely more on champagne and wines. As you might expect of the Swiss, the bar doesn’t come cheap and also offers an extensive range of caviar and sushi. The design is light and airy, with a long counter you can sit at or pairings of wooden tables and leather stools.
4. O2 Bar – Las Vegas Airport, USA
Hydrate yourself in Las Vegas Airport’s O2 Bar. © Josh Parrish
Chances are you’ll be in need of a detox after a trip to Sin City so the clever people behind Las Vegas Airport have introduced an Oxygen bar which serves up air and scented water! Yes, you read that right. It looks like an ordinary bar but you won’t find alcohol here. Instead you’ll be spending your winnings on a tube of air to inhale. That’s right: you pay money for air and water, and you will like it.
5. City Bar and Grill – London City Airport, UK
Grab a drink with a side order of steak of City Airport’s City Bar and Grill. © LondonCityAirport
While you might expect Heathrow to be the shining armour in the UK’s airport scene it’s in fact a small little haunt at City Airport which makes the list. What makes this place unique is the special enomatic dispenser that allows you to try fine wines by the glass instead of forking out for a whole bottle. There are also six wine taster menus where connoisseurs can enjoy 50-milliliter (1.7 ounces) samples with dishes from the menu. If anything particularly takes your fancy you can then order the wine to your home.
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6. Rooftop bar at Ambassador Hotel – Singapore’s Changi Airport, Singapore
Freshen up in the pool at the Ambassador Hotel’s Rooftop Bar.
This really is the stuff of dreams if you’re preparing for a long trip or you have a layover en-route to your final destination. Located in Changi Airport’s Terminal 1, passengers can pay a small fee to unwind at a rooftop pool or chill out in a cabana with a Singapore Sling cocktail. Afterwards make use of the showers and towels. Just make sure you have your swimming costume or trunks handy in your hand luggage!
7. Jet’s – Belize City Airport, Belize
Looking for one of Belize City’s quirkiest bars? Find it at the airport. © audiophant
Perhaps one of the more unexpected entries, this tiny BEACH bar in Belize City Airport makes this list for its laid-back and fun feel. I mean how often do you see a beach bar in an airport? You can enjoy a strong rum punch while chatting to the diminutive Jet (the owner) who has plenty of fun stories to tell.
8. Runway 34 – Zurich Airport, Switzerland
Zurich Airport’s Runway 34 twinkles in the distance.
Zurich Airport gets another mention on this list with Runway 34 – a bar and cigar lounge with a very different vibe. Punters can while away a few hours sitting underneath a massive vintage airplane which is aptly-located overlooking, you’ve guessed it, runway 34.
There is a separate Wingwalker Bar for better views and a Smoker’s Lounge featuring red leather chairs and the original radio control room. The Jetlag is the bar’s signature cocktail, a combination of tequila mixed with orange juice, lemon juice and grenadine.
9. Deep Blue Sushi – John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, USA
Dive in to J.F.K.’s Deep Blue Sushi bar. © robverger.com
As the name of this J.F.K. Airport hotspot suggests, visitors will feel like they’ve sunk to the depths of the ocean in this intimate state-of-the-art bar lit up by swirls of lights on the ceiling. Famous for its Asian-inspired cocktails and fresh sushi punters can relax at the bar or in one of the intimate, more dimly-lit sofa areas around the edge of the venue. The Ginfusion, a mix of gin, ginger, and coriander and lime juice is a popular choice among guests, as is the refreshing Shochu Berry Tea.
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