Feast before you ride? Tuck into unexpected fine-dining bistros in Europe’s popular railway stations

Feeling peckish before a long train journey is normal, but where do you go to refuel?

The days when your only options for a pre-train journey snack were a burger or a packet of crisps are long gone, thanks to the growing number of fantastic restaurants opening inside Europe’s busiest train stations.

From London to Paris and Amsterdam to Stockholm, Euronews Travel is on track to deliver you the best of railway station haute cuisine.

Booking Office 1869, London, UK

You’ll find the Booking Office 1869 restaurant in what was once St. Pancras Station’s ticket office.

When French architect Hugo Toro reimagined the space in 2021, his inspiration was a Victorian-style winter garden, hence the towering palm trees and plant-themed chandeliers (each one of which features 275 hand-cut brass leaves). Other highlights include the artfully exposed brickwork and the 22-metre bar, carved from marble and walnut.

As for the menu? Expect British classics alongside ones offering a nod to far-flung destinations – you don’t have to be a vegetarian to love the Miso-glazed aubergine with tahini dressing, while the Scottish charcuterie board is perfect for lunch.

Le Train Bleu, Paris, France

This spectacular restaurant, in the heart of the Gare de Lyon train station, dates back to 1901, when former French president Emile Loubet opened it.

An explosion of Belle Époque grandeur, it became a meeting place for artists, poets and playwrights, and the decor was inspired by the Mediterranean coast’s most glamorous destinations.

The walls were – and still are – lined with priceless watercolour paintings, while chandeliers, gilt-framed mirrors, frescos and leather banquettes ramp up the luxury.

When it comes to the food, expect elevated takes on French classics – there’s a delicious Provençal-style octopus stew, although one of the most popular dishes is the roast leg of lamb, carved tableside.

Wagon Restaurant, Athens, Greece

This fantastic restaurant, which you’ll find at Athens’ Rouf Station, was founded by director and actress Tatiana Ligari. She restored several vintage train carriages - including the original dining car from the 1926 Simplon Orient Express, which is now this fabulous restaurant - and transformed them into a cultural venue that also incorporates a theatre and bar.

Ligari’s inspiration was the so-called train theatre referenced in Jules Verne’s ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ and, somewhat fittingly, many of the dishes are inspired by exotic destinations. We recommend the braised veal with rigatoni, aromatic tomato sauce, cinnamon, allspice and red pepper.

Luzette, Stockholm, Sweden

A brasserie-style restaurant in Stockholm’s Central Station, Luzette is located in what was once the station’s main hall. It’s filled with reminders of the building’s past, including replicas of original lamps which illuminated the station in the 1920s.

The walls, floor and windows are all original, although when the restaurant opened in 2014, architect Jonas Bohlin added limestone tiles, granite, brass, marble and wooden details to offer a nod to both modernity and the golden age of rail. In fact, his influences included some of the world’s most beautiful train stations.

Seafood and seasonal cuisine is the speciality here – almost all of the food comes from local suppliers and the restaurant even has its own fishing boat.

Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Centraal Station’s Grand Café Restaurant 1e Klas is a restaurant worth missing your train for in Amsterdam.

Designed by Pierre Cuypers (the nineteenth-century architect behind some of Amsterdam’s most famous buildings), it was previously the station’s first-class waiting room, and it’s packed with original features, including the original station clocks, which relay the times in Amsterdam, New York and Tokyo, and Chinese urns displayed behind the Victorian bar.

Keep an eye out for the restaurant’s rather unusual mascot, a white cockatoo named Elvis, who perches by the bar and is partial to a headbanging session.

The menu, like the setting, is somewhat eclectic – you’ll find everything from burgers (albeit delicious ones) to omelettes, and one of the most popular items is the smoked raw beef sausage.

The Tsar’s Restaurant, Białowieża, Poland

Full disclosure – the Polish station in which this restaurant is located is no longer operational, but given its close proximity to the tracks (the most sought-after tables straddle the rails), that’s probably a good thing.

The Tsar’s Restaurant, in the heart of Poland’s Białowieża Forest, is tucked inside a former train station constructed in 1903 on the orders of Tsar Alexander III. He had chosen Białowieża as the location for his sprawling hunting grounds - and wolves are still regularly spotted here.

Almost all of the original features – including the ornate stucco, wooden floors and terracotta detailing – have been lovingly preserved.

The menu is dominated by local delicacies, including a delicious deer tenderloin steak served with mushroom mayonnaise and fresh horseradish.

The Counter, Zurich, Switzerland

Trust us – typical train station fayre will look depressingly plain after a visit to The Counter, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Zürich Hauptbahnhof, the city’s main train station.

Despite being at the heart of the station, this top-notch restaurant feels wonderfully secluded. It’s an intimate space with room for just 23 people.

The minimalist decor, illuminated by pendant-style lights dangling from the ceiling, ensures the focus stays firmly on the food.

It’s not cheap – the lunch degustation menu starts at 195 CHF (€208) – but then again, this isn’t your average train station fayre. Highlights, especially for those with a sweet tooth, include the bite-sized meringue with cherry and fennel.

Platform Restaurant, Dorset, UK

This is another restaurant in a station which is no longer used - in this case the West Bay Station in Dorset, southern England.

It closed in the 1930s, not that you’d know – you’ll find Platform inside one of several restored railway carriages, including Brunel, which was built in 1911.

During WWI, Brunel transported wounded soldiers to safety from battlefields such as the Somme. The carriages are stuffed with antiques (the gilt-framed mirrors are particularly gorgeous), and the menu is just as stunning, with a focus on the seafood – including juicy Cornish scallops – which England’s southwest coast is famous for.

And, for pre-dinner drinks, head to the Beeching, a similarly beautiful carriage dating back to 1958.