The best airlines and airports for dining in 2026 include Vietnam Airlines, London Heathrow Airport and Turkish Airlines’ international lounges, according to the latest World Culinary Awards, which recognise food experiences for travellers both in the air and before departure.
Vietnam Airlines won the title of World’s Best Culinary Airline 2026, becoming the first Asian carrier to receive the award. It beat a competitive field of nominees that included Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Cathay Pacific and Turkish Airlines.
The results also recognised London Heathrow as the World’s Best Airport for Dining, Turkish Airlines’ international lounges as the World’s Best Airline Lounge for Dining, and Clubrooms at Gatwick South Terminal as the World’s Best Airport Lounge for Dining.
Vietnam Airlines has made Vietnamese cuisine a central part of its in-flight dining offering, with menus designed to introduce international passengers to the country’s food culture. The airline adjusts its dishes according to the season and destination, giving passengers different dining options depending on their route.
In economy class, breakfast can include the airline’s signature crispy, layered croissant, while lunch and dinner menus feature rice and spaghetti dishes served with sauces, alongside bread rolls and desserts. The offering combines familiar international meals with elements of the carrier’s wider culinary identity.
Business class passengers can expect a broader selection of regional and international dishes tailored to their destinations. Flights to South Korea, for example, may feature bibimbap, a mixed rice dish, as well as samgyetang, a traditional ginseng chicken soup, and jajangmyeon, noodles served with black bean sauce.
Passengers travelling to Europe may find French, German and British dishes on the menu. Vietnam Airlines also allows business class travellers flying to destinations in Europe, Australia and the United States to pre-order meals, giving them an opportunity to select their preferred dishes before departure.
On the ground, London Heathrow took the top airport dining award ahead of Dubai International Airport, Hamad International Airport in Qatar, Hong Kong International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Paris Aéroport and Singapore Changi Airport.
Heathrow’s four terminals offer a wide range of dining options, from cafes and casual restaurants to international food outlets and premium dining experiences. The choice gives passengers alternatives for different budgets, tastes and amounts of time before boarding.
Among the airport’s more distinctive offerings is Le Café Louis Vuitton in Terminal 2, which combines dining with the luxury fashion house’s visual identity. Its menu includes desserts such as a hazelnut flower creation made with hazelnut ganache, praline and fleur de sel, shaped to reflect the brand’s signature floral motif.
Terminal 5 offers another high-profile option through celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s Plane Food Market. The restaurant serves a varied menu throughout the day, including breakfast, pizza, sushi, noodles and British classics such as fish and chips.
The World Culinary Awards also recognised Turkish Airlines’ international lounges as the leading airline lounge dining experience in 2026. The category featured prominent competitors, including Air France’s La Première First Class Lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Etihad Airways’ First Class Lounge and Spa at Zayed International Airport, and Lufthansa’s First Class Lounge at Frankfurt Airport.
Other nominees included Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa First Class Lounge at Hamad International Airport, SWISS’ First Class Lounge at Zurich Airport, Thai Airways’ Royal Orchid Prestige Lounge at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse at London Heathrow.
Turkish Airlines’ international lounges serve a mix of Turkish specialities and international dishes, with hot and cold selections available at buffet stations. The lounges operate at several airports, including Edinburgh, offering travellers a place to eat before continuing their journeys.
A separate award went to Clubrooms at Gatwick South Terminal, named the World’s Best Airport Lounge for Dining 2026. The award recognises a lounge experience distinct from the airline-operated lounges considered in the airline lounge category.
Clubrooms updates its menus seasonally and offers a selection of hot and cold dishes, as well as smaller bites for passengers who prefer a lighter meal. Breakfast options include eggs Benedict and Belgian waffles, while the evening menu features dishes such as chicken Caesar salad, a gochujang chicken thigh bowl and Moroccan nut roast served with green beans in lemon olive oil.
The awards highlight how dining has become an important part of the airport and airline experience, extending beyond the meal served on board. For passengers, the options available before departure can also shape the journey, whether that means choosing a quick meal between connections, sitting down at an airport restaurant or spending time in a lounge with a more extensive menu.
