Bristol Airport food options split into a small landside selection and a wider airside choice. Before security you'll find Caffe Nero, Burger King and Starbucks, plus WHSmith and M&S Food for grab-and-go. After security, the options widen considerably to include Frankie & Benny's, Brigg & Stow Bar and Kitchen, Tortilla, Soul + Grain, Soho Coffee Co and more. Checked against Bristol Airport's own shop and eat listings, 2026.
What food is available before security at Bristol Airport?
The check-in concourse, where you arrive before dropping bags or heading to the gate, has a limited but useful selection:
Cafes and restaurants: Caffe Nero, Burger King, Starbucks
Grab-and-go shops: WHSmith, M&S Food
This is your last chance to pick up snacks, drinks, chargers or reading material if you haven't packed them, or to grab breakfast before an early flight if you're running ahead of schedule. Bristol Airport itself notes that most of its restaurants, bars and shops sit beyond security, so the landside food selection is deliberately smaller than what you'll find airside.
What food is available after security at Bristol Airport?
Once through security, the departure lounge has considerably more choice for eating:
Cafes and restaurants: Alembic, Brigg & Stow Bar and Kitchen, Burger King, Frankie & Benny's, Cabin Bar, Soho Coffee Co, Starbucks, Tortilla, Soul + Grain, Caffe Nero
Shops: World Duty Free, InMotion, Boots, JD, WHSmith, The Bookshop, Accessorize, curi.o.city
World Duty Free also has a smaller presence in the arrivals area for passengers landing at Bristol, useful for a last-minute purchase on the way out of the terminal.
Bristol Airport food before vs after security at a glance
| Before security | After security | |
|---|---|---|
| Quick coffee/snack | Caffe Nero, Starbucks, WHSmith, M&S Food | Caffe Nero, Starbucks, Soho Coffee Co |
| Sit-down meal | Burger King | Frankie & Benny's, Brigg & Stow Bar and Kitchen, Tortilla |
| Bar | None | Alembic, Cabin Bar |
| Healthier options | M&S Food | Soul + Grain |
| Best for | A quick bite while checking in or dropping bags | A proper meal, duty-free shopping, or killing time before boarding |
Is there anywhere to eat before security at Bristol Airport?
Yes, five options: Caffe Nero, Burger King and Starbucks for a sit-down coffee or meal, plus WHSmith and M&S Food for grab-and-go. It's a smaller selection than airside, so if you have a specific restaurant in mind, it's more likely to be after security.
What are the healthier food options at Bristol Airport?
Soul + Grain, airside after security, is the closest thing to a dedicated healthier option, built around fresher, lighter food than the quick-service chains around it. M&S Food, before security, also stocks sandwiches, salads and snacks if you want something lighter than a fast-food meal while you're still in the check-in concourse. Beyond that, most outlets are standard airport quick-service chains, so if you have specific dietary needs, check menus in advance using each outlet's own site or app.
Can you get a proper sit-down meal at Bristol Airport?
Yes, airside. Brigg & Stow Bar and Kitchen and Frankie & Benny's both offer table service style dining after security, so if you have time before your flight and want more than a quick-service option, head there rather than staying landside.
Duty-free shopping at Bristol Airport
World Duty Free is the main duty-free retailer, located in the departure lounge with a smaller arrivals presence. Bristol Airport also offers a Reserve & Collect scheme through World Duty Free, giving a discount when you order online ahead of travel and collect in store. For the detail on what you can actually buy, allowances, and whether duty-free is worth it on your route, see our separate guide to Bristol Airport duty-free.
Practical tips for eating at Bristol Airport
- If you have an early flight, check opening hours for your specific outlet before you travel. Not every unit opens at the same time as the terminal, particularly cafes aimed at commuter traffic on the first Airport Flyer buses rather than the earliest departures.
- If you have a late flight, Bristol Airport's own site confirms its cafes, bars and restaurants stay open until the final flight of the day, so a late departure shouldn't mean an empty food hall, though an individual unit can still close early on a quiet night.
- If you're on a tight security queue buffer, eat or shop before security rather than gambling on time after. Bristol Airport recommends arriving in the terminal at least two hours before departure, which should comfortably allow for both security and a stop airside, but delays happen.
- If you're travelling with dietary requirements, the after-security options run from quick service to sit-down dining, so check menus in advance if you have specific needs.
- If you plan to buy liquids duty-free, keep in mind the current security rule allows liquid containers up to 2 litres in hand baggage at Bristol Airport since its move to CT scanners, though airline hand baggage size and weight limits still apply separately.
Where can I buy medicine or toiletries at Bristol Airport?
Boots, airside after security, stocks over-the-counter medicine, sun care and toiletries, with Click & Collect available if you order at least five days ahead. There's no pharmacy landside. See our full guide to buying medicine and toiletries at Bristol Airport for opening hours and what's in stock.
What's changing at Bristol Airport
Bristol Airport has confirmed a phased transformation of its departure lounge, including more retail and dining units over the next few years, alongside expanded washroom and assisted travel facilities. This means the exact food outlet list can shift as work progresses, so treat the listings in this guide as accurate at the time of the check above, and expect some units to relocate, close temporarily, or be replaced as the terminal is redeveloped.
If you're deciding how to get to the airport before your meal stop, our taxis and public transport pages cover the main options.
Bristol Airport Guide is an independent travel guide, not affiliated with Bristol Airport. Opening hours and exact outlet lists can change; check the airport's own shop and eat pages if a specific outlet matters to your trip.
FAQs
What food is at Bristol Airport?
Before security: Caffe Nero, Burger King, Starbucks, WHSmith and M&S Food. After security: Alembic, Brigg & Stow, Frankie & Benny's, Cabin Bar, Soho Coffee Co, Tortilla, Soul + Grain and Caffe Nero.
Is there anywhere to eat before security at Bristol Airport?
Yes: Caffe Nero, Burger King and Starbucks for a sit-down option, plus WHSmith and M&S Food for grab-and-go. The selection is smaller than airside.
What are the healthier food options at Bristol Airport?
Soul + Grain airside, and M&S Food before security, are the closest options to a lighter, fresher choice compared with the quick-service chains.
Is there a pharmacy at Bristol Airport?
Yes, Boots, located airside after security. There is no pharmacy or chemist before security.
Does Bristol Airport have duty-free?
Yes, World Duty Free in the departure lounge, plus a smaller arrivals store. See our separate guide to Bristol duty-free prices and allowances for the full detail.
Will the food outlets at Bristol Airport change soon?
Some will. Bristol Airport has confirmed a phased terminal transformation including more retail and dining units, so expect some units to relocate or be replaced over the next few years.
What time do the restaurants and cafes close at Bristol Airport?
Bristol Airport's own site states that its cafes, bars and restaurants stay open until the final flight of the day. Individual units can still close earlier on a quiet evening, so if you're relying on a specific outlet for a very late flight, it's worth checking that outlet's hours directly before you travel. Checked 2026.