Eight Must-Go Airport Bars for the Craft Beer Obsessive

By Spencer Spellman
April 15, 2015
Credit: Mission Yogurt, Inc.
It’s no secret that airport imbibing leaves much to be desired. What you’d pay for a great craft beer or cocktail at your local haunt doesn’t go quite as far at the airport—that’s assuming the airport pub even offers your brew of choice. Happily, that’s all changing, and fashionable bars boasting local beers, Icelandic spirits, and hundreds of vintages are now tapping into (pun intended) the much-maligned air travel market.
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Loksins at Iceland’s Keflavík International Airport

Credit: Courtesy of Loksins bar

Loksins not only serving beers from one of Iceland’s leading craft breweries, Borg Brugghús, but also other island-native potables, including Brennivin, the original spirit of Iceland.

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Spinnakers Brewpub at Victoria International Airport

Credit: Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub

Spinnakers has been a standby brewery in Victoria, British Columbia, for more than three decades, and is one of a growing number of beer-makers opening up brewpubs in airports. This outpost now serves from 12 different taps, as well as local wines and spirits.

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Bar Symon at Washington-Dulles International Airport in D.C.

Credit: J. David Buerk / jdavidbuerk.com

Bar Symon is the latest, loudest bar opening representing the craft beer trend’s entrée into airport bars. At Terminal D, James Beard Award–winning chef and television personality Michael Symon serves beers from D.C.’s own DC Brau Brewing Company, as well as wines from New Zealand, Chile, Italy, and more.

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Halo Fizz Bar at London’s Stansted Airport

Credit: Halo Fizz

This craft cocktail spot, part of a new terminal development at London’s Stansted Airport, also features an impressive wine, beer, and champagne selection from around the world.

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Rock & Brews at Los Angeles International Airport

Credit: Rock & Brews

This L.A. spot has long provided the West Coast a beloved dose of rock music, comfort food, and a full bar, and now Rock & Brews has come to LAX Terminal 5.

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Stone Brewing at San Diego International Airport

Credit: Stone Brewing Co.

Located at Terminal 2 of the San Diego, California’s major, Stone Brewing’s own craft beer offerings far outnumber the entire beer selection of many airport bars. Taste from a variety of its regular, seasonal, and limited-release beers, such as the Stone Pale Ale, IPA and Arrogant Bastard series.

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Le Grand Comptoir at John F. Kennedy International Airport in NYC

Credit: Images property of SmartDesign Group

Wine bar Le Grand Comptoir features more than 100 premium wines from around the world (and 50 vintages available by glass), along with a selection of craft beer and cocktails.

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Sip Savvy at San Jose International Airport

Credit: Mission Yogurt, Inc.

Part wine bar, part cocktail bar, Sip Savvy focuses on California-sourced drinks and eats, such as wines from Clos du Val and spirits from St. George Spirits, both of which hail from the Bay Area.

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