When you just want to keep that holiday feeling going a little bit longer or you’ve been confronted with a flight delay, you might want a drink to sooth your mind and woes.
So we’ve researched and tested a selection of the most exceptional airport bars in the world to wind away an hour or two. (All in the name of work of course!)
From their futuristic design to mouth-watering cocktails and unique quirky features, these are some airport watering holes you might not mind missing your flight for.
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1. Coopers Alehouse, 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 breakfast, lunch and dinner 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 it’s recent title.
2. Center Bar, Zurich Airport
Chic and sexy, Center Bar offers a very different drinking experience for travellers but is another previous winner of Airport Bar of the Year. You’ll still find beer but the emphasis is definitely more on champagne and posh 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.
3. Eyecon, Copenhagen Airport
A spectacular light curtain hanging from the ceiling makes this bar a winner from the off. Rating well with visitors on TripAdvisor, the two-storey bar serves up high end Scandinavian drinks and tapas, including the trademark “Taste of Denmark” combination of an open prawn sandwich and a glass of ice cold beer.
4. Encounter, Los Angeles International Airport
You’ll feel like you’re in a galaxy far, far, away at this space-age-designed bar housed within the iconic Theme Building at the center of the airport. The crater-shaped building wouldn’t look out of place in a Star Wars movie, while it’s interior features Moonstone quarry walls, floating chairs, lava lamps and alien shaped beer taps. The cocktails are also named accordingly, featuring the Bossa Supernova (Bacardi Light rum, blue curacao and pineapple) and the Jet Set (Bombay Sapphire gin, Campari and sweet vermouth). Listen out for the futuristic sounds whenever a drink is poured! UFO-overload!
5. Runway 34, Zurich International Airport
Zurich airport gets another mention on this list with Runway 34 – a bar and cigar lounge with a very different vibe. Punters can wile away a few hours sitting underneath a massive vintage airplane which is aptly-located overlooking, you’ve guess 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.
6. Beer Garden, Munich airport
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, the 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!
7. O2 Bar, Las Vegas Airport
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.
8. City Bar and Grill, London City Airport
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.
9. Rooftop bar at Ambassador Hotel, Singapore’s Changhi airport
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 at Terminal 1, passengers can pay a small fee to unwind at a rooftop pool or chill out in cabana with a Singapore Sling cocktail. Afterwards make use of the showers and towels. Just make sure you have your cossie handy in your hand luggage!
10. Jet’s, Belize City Airport
Perhaps one of the more unexpected entries, this tiny BEACH bar makes this list for it’s 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.
11. Deep Blue Sushi, John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York
As the name 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 it’s 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, coriander and lime juice is a popular choice among guests, as is the refreshing Shochu Berry Tea.
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(Images: MIKI Yoshihito)
