5 hours in… Heathrow
The best places to drink, eat and shop at London Heathrow
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving over 80 million passengers every year and nearly 200,000 daily… and with this volume, every palate to cater to. Over four terminals, Heathrow is packed with restaurants and shops, listed in the airport’s online directory: www.heathrow. com/shops-and-restaurants/restaurantsa-z. While the discerning diner and drinker will struggle with the usual airport compromises, a little digging yields better options for food, bars and spirits shopping, grouped here by terminal. Note the helpful Grab mobile ordering app if you want to order ahead at select eateries.
TERMINAL 1
Closed in 2015.
TERMINAL 2
THE QUEEN’S TERMINAL
RESTAURANTS & BARS
The Flying Chariot
Pre-security, the food is average at this twostory pub/restaurant, but go for a pint from a lengthy menu of regional craft beers and ciders or artisanal gins with a flavour guide and mixers from tonics to ginger ale. www.heathrow.com/shops-and-restaurants/ restaurants-a-z/the-flying-chariot(Wetherspoon)
The Gorgeous Kitchen
Despite some mediocre dishes, expect large portions and traditional British fare at The Gorgeous Kitchen. Try the English breakfast platter, express menus or afternoon tea starting at noon daily, including a glass of English bubbly. https://thegorgeouskitchen.com
La Salle Restaurant and Bar
At this Parisian brasserie, it’s best to stick to the straight-forward, like a Le Club sandwich (Camembert cheese, bacon, chicken breast, avocado, garlic aïoli). Better yet, grab frites and a glass of Côte du Rhône wine or Piperheidsieck Champagne at the bar. www.heathrow.com/shops-and-restaurants/ restaurants-a-z/la-salle
The Perfectionists’ Café
Friendly servers take care of you at famed British chef, Heston Blumenthal’s cafe serving items as varied as black pudding Scotch eggs, chicken tikka masala or Neapolitan pizza. Save room for nitro ice cream and milkshakes. www.theperfectionistscafe.com
SHOPS
Alongside international shops from Britishbased designers and businesses like Paul Smith, Burberry or Boots, The Caviar House & Prunier (also in Terminals 3 and 5) fulfills all your caviar and chocolate gift needs.
TERMINAL 3
RESTAURANTS & BARS
The Darwin
Pre-security, The Darwin pub is full-on British comfort food, serving crumpets, black pudding bon-bons and sweet potato cottage pie. There is also a gluten-free and vegan menu. www.heathrow.com/shops-and-restaurants/ restaurants-a-z/the-darwin
Spuntino
With a dedicated children’s menu, burgers, pizzas, classic cocktails and Italian wines, Spuntino is the airport locale of the popular London restaurant, also featuring unique vegetarian options like a spicy jackfruit burger. www.heathrow.com/shops-and-restaurants/ restaurants-a-z/spuntino
The Curator
Modern British fare (smoked haddock fishcakes, feta mint burger, steak and ale pie) pairs well with the Curator’s barrel-aged cocktails, house soft drinks (like Apple Rhubarb Fizz), craft beers or international wines. www.heathrow.com/shops-and-restaurants/ restaurants-a-z/the-curator
SHOPS
World of Whiskies (https://boutique.heathrow. com/en/retailer/world-of-whiskies) is the T3 stop for rare whiskies, including decades-old Scotch and a range of spirits. The Caviar House & Prunier (also in Terminals 2 and 5) offers gourmet foods to go, or linger over caviar and Champagne.
TERMINAL 4
RESTAURANTS & BARS
The Commission
The Commission was opened by London restaurant chain Drake & Morgan, offering everything from Napoli flatbread or Baja fish tacos to tandoori monkfish curry. The bar menu is also a draw with options like red pepper tomato hummus and a sweet pea mojito. www.heathrow.com/shops-and-restaurants/ restaurants-a-z/the-commission
Comptoir Libanais
A rare airport offering of Lebanese food, Comptoir Libanais is a colourful shop, cooking shakshuka and Lebanese lamb sausages for breakfast, mezze platters, lamb kofta wraps or falafel halloumi burgers all day. It’s also an easy drink stop for a rose rum Daiquiri or glass of Lebanese wine. www.heathrow.com/shops-and-restaurants/ restaurants-a-z/comptoir-libanais
Carluccio’s
Carluccio’s (also found pre-security in T5) is a popular London Italian chain. Spaghetti carbonara, arancini and chicken Milanese pair with Italian wines, followed by cannoli for dessert. Morning drinks and pastries include Italian classics like panettone or Cioccolata Fiorentina (thick Florentine drinking chocolate). www.heathrow.com/shops-and-restaurants/ restaurants-a-z/carluccio’s
SHOPS
Over 40 shops pack Terminal 4, with The World Duty Free shop the best source for reasonablypriced spirits from Cognac to gin.
TERMINAL 5
RESTAURANTS & BARS
Fortnum & Mason Bar
The legendary upscale British grocer brings its gourmet goodness to T5 with an all-day restaurant. Breakfast includes creamed mushroom on toast or croque monsieurs, while the all-day menu includes salade niçoise, Welsh rarebit toasties or dressed Dorset crab. A Champagne menu and cocktails like Tea-5 Martini (dry gin martini with house Tea-5 bitters) make it an ideal drink stop. www.fortnumandmason.com/restaurants/ heathrow-terminal-5
itsu
Founded by Julian Metcalfe (behind the ubiquitous Pret A Manger chain), itsu launched in London in 1997 and has been a popular sushi and Asian food chain ever since. Don’t expect authenticity here but you will get a healthy airport source for maki (sushi rolls), creative salads, wraps, rice bowls, udon and miso soups. More importantly, they import ethically sourced, sustainable ingredients. www.itsu.com
Wagamama
Wagamama, an international chain, isn’t exactly superb Japanese food, but it’s solid airport food, offering popular duck ramen, yaki soba (fried soba noodles), Japanese curry, teppanyaki and afternoon tea service with Hirata steamed buns or beetroot kimchi onigiri. www.wagamama.com/restaurants/heathrowterminal-5
Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food
Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food capitalises on the chef’s fame with a little bit of everything on the menu: porridge and eggs Benedict at breakfast; a vegan menu, tuna tartare, udon or short-rib beef burgers all day. There’s a bar menu if you want to quickly stop in for an Italian Spritz with bites like Szechuan salt and pepper squid. www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/planefood/menus
SHOPS
Fortnum & Mason Bar offers champagne, wine or cocktails to-go alongside a range of meals packed in reusable ‘hamperlings’ for in-flight ease. Gordon Ramsay Plane Food also offers multicourse picnics for the plane or two- and three-course express meals for those in a hurry. The World Duty Free shop offers exclusive bottlings and discounts on a range of spirits.
SPIRITS EXCLUSIVE TO HEATHROW
Tamdhu
15 Years Old
Single Cask 57.1% ABV
Limited to just 595 bottles, this single cask was distilled in September 2003 and was matured in first-fill American Oak Oloroso sherry casks. It is available at Heathrow’s World of Whisky stores at Terminals 4 and 5 for £249.