REVEALED: EUROPE’S BEST CITIES FOR TRAIN STATION DINING
A new study by Radical Storage finds out which European cities have the best food options at their railway stations
Whether you’re a busy commuter or a longer-distance intercity traveller, Europe’s great railway stations are known for their wide variety of food options, including lavish restaurants such as Le Train Bleu at Paris’s Gare du Lyon – establishments that remind us of the ‘golden age of rail travel’.
But in which cities can you find Europe’s finest cuisine? Radical Storage has analysed the dining options at Europe’s 100 most popular railway stations to find out.
To work out which European city has the best dining options at its railway stations, they used Google data to analyse the variety, cost and average rating of restaurants and eateries at 100 of Europe’s most popular stations.
With this information, they created a simple index rating which takes into account the quality of establishments and their value for money.
London is Europe’s best city for food at train stations
Based on the index rating system, Radical Storage found that London takes the crown as Europe’s best city for train station dining. Its rail hubs scored an average of 7.5 in the index rating, with a meal at one of the British capital’s major stations costing around €25.49.
London has no less than 14 rail termini that serve destinations all across the UK (as well as Paris, Amsterdam, and Brussels if you include the Eurostar platforms at St Pancras). Its variety gave London the edge over its European rivals, with 181 different food and drink options for passengers.
Top 10 European cities for food at train stations
| Rank | City | Average Food Price | Average Google Rating | # of Restaurants | Index Rating |
| 1 | London | €25.49 | 4.0 | 181 | 7.54 |
| 2 | Berlin | €21.65 | 3.6 | 141 | 6.53 |
| 3 | Paris | €25.58 | 3.7 | 160 | 6.48 |
| 4 | Vienna | €21.95 | 4.0 | 60 | 6.02 |
| 5 | Venice | €17.07 | 3.9 | 18 | 5.82 |
| 6 | Hamburg | €19.60 | 3.7 | 50 | 5.52 |
| 7 | Birmingham | €24.91 | 4.2 | 29 | 5.49 |
| 8 | Leipzig | €20.07 | 3.8 | 33 | 5.38 |
| 9 | Glasgow | €24.78 | 4.2 | 20 | 5.35 |
| 10 | Munich | €24.32 | 3.8 | 64 | 5.26 |
Berlin and Paris are also among Europe’s highest-rated cities for train station food. Paris’s six terminal stations each offer a distinct variety in terms of food quality, with a total of 160 establishments to choose from. However, Berlin’s dining options worked out cheaper overall – averaging €21.65 compared to Paris’s €25.58.
German Bahnhofs among best European stations for food
Serving as an entry point to Germany’s second-largest city, Hamburg Hauptbahnhof handles around 550,000 passengers a day, making it the most-frequented station in the country. Our research shows that it is also Europe’s best train station for food. Its Wandelhalle (promenade hall) sits above the station’s platforms and has a wide range of dining options serving local and international cuisine.
Top 10 European train stations for food
| Rank | Train Station | City | Average Food Price | Average Google Rating | # of Restaurants | Index Rating |
| 1 | Hamburg Hauptbahnhof | Hamburg | €17.43 | 3.6 | 36 | 8.43 |
| 2 | London Bridge | London | €22.35 | 4.0 | 34 | 8.23 |
| 3 | Wien Mitte | Vienna | €22.72 | 4.2 | 29 | 8.10 |
| 4 | Berlin Friedrichstraße | Berlin | €21.38 | 3.9 | 32 | 8.04 |
| 5 | Leipzig Hauptbahnhof | Leipzig | €20.07 | 3.8 | 33 | 8.02 |
| 6 | Birmingham New Street | Birmingham | €24.91 | 4.2 | 29 | 7.71 |
| 7 | Wien Hauptbahnhof | Vienna | €21.17 | 3.7 | 31 | 7.64 |
| 8 | London St Pancras | London | €27.46 | 4.0 | 31 | 7.25 |
| 9 | Marienplatz | Munich | €21.97 | 4.1 | 22 | 7.23 |
| 10 | Estación De Atocha | Madrid | €22.10 | 3.8 | 27 | 7.21 |
Following a £1bn renovation completed in 2018, London Bridge has become one of the capital’s most desirable rail hubs. According to the research, it is Europe’s second best station for food, with an average rating of 4.0 for its 34 on-site restaurants.
London Bridge also boasts Europe’s tallest building, the Shard, on its footprint. So commuters facing a delayed service could find time to enjoy one of the tower’s bars and restaurants with incredible views of the capital’s skyline.
Seven German stations crack the top 20 for best station food. These include Berlin’s popular Friedrichstraße station (rated 8.04 in the index) and Leipzig’s Hauptbahnhof (8.02), which underwent an extensive renovation in 2013 to become ranked by the Consumer Choice Center as the best station in Europe as of 2021.
Featured Photo by Benjamin Davies on Unsplash.