Street Food Market, Schiphol Airport

They might be a destination for stopovers and duty-free shopping, but airports aren’t ordinarily considered a must-visit place for culinary experiences. With its newly launched street food market experience, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is looking to change that.

In the heart of Lounge 2, The UXUS-designed space brings the vibrant buzz of the outdoor market to flight-bound travellers, with three different food concepts catering to visitors of all ages – and tastes from the no-frills economy to the foodie first-class.

UXUS Design’s new food experience at Schiphol Airport is a flight upgrade in its own right.

The Grill serves up barbecued favourites in a bold setting emblazoned with cheerful graphics highlighting grill culture – and a façade featuring a pattern that alludes to the marbling of high-quality meat. Meanwhile, The Oven offers a modern twist on the traditional pizzeria, with a wood-fired oven and fresh food displays contrasted against contemporary design elements. Rounding out the offerings is The Market, serving up snacks and dishes inspired by the local eats of Amsterdam in a setting of fruit-filled wooden crates and boxes that reference the city’s street food aesthetic.

A central condiments station is highlighted by signage built from bottle caps; overhead, an enormous multilingual neon display spells out ‘food’ in different languages. Various seating stations cater to travellers who want to relax, chat, work – or doze off while waiting for a connection.

Paired with nearby options like the first Johnnie Walker House outside of Asia, a Starbucks Evenings, a Leonidas chocolate cafe and artisan bakery Amsterdam Bread Co, and Lounge 2 is an appealing destination even for those without a plane ticket.