Terminal 5 has 12 places to eat and drink, plus an M&S Food and a WHSmith for grab-and-go. Four of them are before security, the rest are after. This guide lists every one with its exact location, its opening hours and whether you can use it without a boarding pass, so you can decide before you get to the airport. All opening hours below were checked against Heathrow’s own restaurant listings on 13 October 2026.
The short answer
- If you are flying, go through security first. Eight of the 12 venues are airside, including every sit-down restaurant except one.
- If someone is seeing you off, eat before security. The Globe is the only pub in T5 you can use without a boarding pass.
- Earliest opening in T5 is 04:00, at Pret A Manger in the check-in hall. Airside, The Crown Rivers opens at 04:45.
- The only 24-hour option is Pret A Manger in Arrivals, landside. There is no Costa, no McDonald’s and no Joe & the Juice in Terminal 5.
- You can now take liquids in containers of up to 2 litres through Heathrow security, Terminal 5 included, so a drink bought landside can come with you.
Every place to eat in Heathrow Terminal 5
Hours are the same seven days a week unless stated. Phone numbers are the ones Heathrow publishes for the Terminal 5 branch.
| Venue | Food | Security | Where exactly | Opening hours | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pret A Manger | Sandwiches, salads, hot drinks | Before | Arrivals | 24 hours | |
| Pret A Manger | Sandwiches, salads, hot drinks | Before | Check-in hall | 04:00 – 21:00 | |
| Caffè Nero | Coffee, pastries | Before | Arrivals | 05:00 – 23:30 | 020 8897 6160 |
| Caffè Nero | Coffee, pastries | Before | Arrivals (second branch) | 05:15 – 21:30 | 020 8897 6160 |
| Caffè Nero | Coffee, pastries | Before | Zone A, check-in area | 05:15 – 21:30 | |
| The Globe | Craft beer, full English, pub classics, grills | Before | Check-in hall | 06:30 – 21:30 | 020 8283 8751 |
| M&S Food | Packaged food, meal deals | Before | Arrivals | 06:00 – 23:00 | |
| The Crown Rivers (Wetherspoon) | British pub food, breakfast | After | Gate A5, near gates A1-A7 | 04:45 – 21:00 | 020 8283 6208 |
| Pret A Manger | Sandwiches, salads, hot drinks | After | Gate A9 | 05:00 – 22:00 | 020 8283 7230 |
| Pret A Manger | Sandwiches, salads, hot drinks | After | Gate A3 | 05:00 – 22:00 | 020 8283 7230 |
| Giraffe | Family world kitchen, all-day menu | After | Departures | 05:00 – 22:00 | 020 3117 5500 |
| Gordon Ramsay Plane Food Market | Breakfast, sushi, burgers, pizza | After | Upstairs | 05:00 – 21:30 | 020 8897 4545 |
| itsu | Sushi, gyoza, rice and noodle bowls | After | Gate A15 | 05:00 – 23:00 | 020 3728 2469 |
| M&S Food | Packaged food, meal deals | After | Departures | 04:30 – 23:00 | |
| Fortnum and Mason Bar | Champagne, seafood, light bites | After | Gate A17 | 05:30 – 22:00 | 020 7734 8040 |
| wagamama | Ramen, curries, rice bowls, breakfast | After | Departures | 06:00 – 21:30 | 020 8283 6186 |
| Pilots | All-day brasserie, burgers, breakfast | After | Gate A19 | 06:00 – 21:00 | 020 8812 3213 |
| Starbucks | Coffee, panini, cakes | After | Gate A10 | 06:00 – 21:00 | 020 8283 7249 |
| Starbucks | Coffee, panini, cakes | After | Gate B35 | 06:00 – 21:00 | 020 8283 6538 |
| Starbucks | Coffee, panini, cakes | After | Gate C55 | 06:00 – 21:30 | 020 8283 7033 |
| Five Guys | Burgers, fries, shakes | After | Departures | Hours not published by Heathrow |
Source: Heathrow’s Restaurants A-Z and Shops A-Z listings, checked 13 October 2026. Wetherspoon’s own listing for The Crown Rivers gives an opening time of 04:30 rather than 04:45, so if you are relying on the very first service, allow for either.
Eating before security (landside)
Four operators serve the landside areas of Terminal 5, split between the check-in hall and Arrivals. You do not need a boarding pass for any of them, which makes this the only part of T5 where you can eat with people who are not flying.
- The Globe, check-in hall, 06:30 – 21:30. The only pub in T5 before security, and the obvious choice for a farewell meal. Beers and ciders come from Big Smoke Brew Co, and the menu runs from a full breakfast to pub classics, American-style grills and ribs, sharing platters and DIY tacos. It is also one of the three T5 venues in Heathrow’s Kids Eat Free scheme during school holidays.
- Pret A Manger, check-in hall, 04:00 – 21:00. The earliest opening of anything in Terminal 5, landside or airside. If you have a 06:00 departure and want breakfast before you join the security queue, this is the one that is open.
- Pret A Manger, Arrivals, 24 hours. The only round-the-clock food in T5. Useful if you land late, or if you have been dropped off in the middle of the night.
- Caffè Nero, Arrivals and Zone A check-in. Three branches: Arrivals 05:00 – 23:30, a second Arrivals branch 05:15 – 21:30, and one in the Zone A check-in area 05:15 – 21:30.
- M&S Food, Arrivals, 06:00 – 23:00. Sandwiches, salads, fruit and meal deals to take with you.
One practical point if you are being dropped off or coming in from a car park: the transfer buses and the drop-off area both put you into the check-in hall, so The Globe, the check-in Pret and the Zone A Caffè Nero are the places you will walk past first. Arrivals is one level down.
Eating after security (airside)
Most of T5’s food is here, and it is worth knowing which gate area each venue sits in. The A gates are in the main terminal building; B and C gates are reached by the underground transit train, which takes a few minutes, so do not plan to walk back for a meal once you are at a B or C gate.
Main departures and the A gates
- The Crown Rivers, gate A5, 04:45 – 21:00. The Wetherspoon pub, near gates A1-A7. More than a dozen beers on tap, order and pay at the table through the app, and the cheapest sit-down breakfast in the terminal. It is the first airside venue to open.
- Giraffe, departures, 05:00 – 22:00. The family option: booths, large tables for groups, a world-kitchen menu and a children’s menu. Part of Heathrow’s Kids Eat Free scheme in school holidays.
- Gordon Ramsay Plane Food Market, upstairs, 05:00 – 21:30. Note the name: this is no longer the old sit-down Plane Food restaurant. It now runs as a market-style operation with several counters under one roof, covering breakfast and coffee, sushi, burgers and pizza, and it works for both a sit-down meal and a grab-and-go box.
- itsu, gate A15, 05:00 – 23:00. The latest-closing food airside. Sushi, steamed gyoza, rice and noodle bowls, plus a breakfast range. Good for taking to the gate.
- Fortnum and Mason Bar, gate A17, 05:30 – 22:00. Champagne, seafood and light bites in a bar setting rather than a restaurant one. There is also a separate Fortnum & Mason shop near gate A18 if you want to buy something to take with you.
- wagamama, departures, 06:00 – 21:30. Breakfast is served 06:00 – 11:00, then the usual ramen, curries and rice bowls, with vegan and children’s options. There is also a wagamama on-the-move counter in T5 for dishes prepared to take away.
- Pilots, gate A19, 06:00 – 21:00. A vintage-inspired all-day brasserie: pancakes, eggs benedict, salads, sandwiches and a burger menu, plus a children’s menu. The third T5 venue in the Kids Eat Free scheme.
- Five Guys, departures. Burgers and fries, cooked to order. Heathrow does not publish opening hours for this branch.
- Pret A Manger, gates A3 and A9, 05:00 – 22:00, and Starbucks, gate A10, 06:00 – 21:00.
- M&S Food, departures, 04:30 – 23:00. The earliest-opening and latest-closing food in the airside terminal, and the easiest way to put together something to eat on board.
The B and C gates
The satellite buildings are much thinner on food than the main terminal. There is a Starbucks at gate B35 (06:00 – 21:00) and a Starbucks at gate C55 (06:00 – 21:30), plus WHSmith branches, and that is essentially it. If your gate is in B or C and you want a proper meal, eat in the main terminal before you take the transit train.
Early flights: what is open before 06:00
Terminal 5 handles a lot of early departures, and this is the question we are asked most often. In opening order:
| Opens | Venue | Security |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hours | Pret A Manger, Arrivals | Before |
| 04:00 | Pret A Manger, check-in hall | Before |
| 04:30 | M&S Food, departures | After |
| 04:45 | The Crown Rivers | After |
| 05:00 | Giraffe, Gordon Ramsay Plane Food Market, itsu, Pret A Manger (gates A3 and A9), Caffè Nero (Arrivals) | Mixed |
| 05:15 | Caffè Nero (Zone A check-in and second Arrivals branch) | Before |
| 05:30 | Fortnum and Mason Bar | After |
| 06:00 | wagamama, Pilots, Starbucks, M&S Food (Arrivals) | Mixed |
| 06:30 | The Globe | Before |
So for a 06:00 departure, a sit-down cooked breakfast means The Crown Rivers at 04:45 or Giraffe at 05:00, both after security. Before security your only options that early are the two Prets. If you want a full English specifically, The Globe does not open until 06:30, which is too late for most first-wave flights.
Late arrivals and overnight
After 23:30 the only food open in Terminal 5 is Pret A Manger in Arrivals, which trades 24 hours. Airside, the last to close are itsu and M&S Food at 23:00; landside, the Arrivals Caffè Nero closes at 23:30. Most restaurants wind down between 21:00 and 22:00, in line with the last departures.
Eating with children at T5
Three Terminal 5 venues take part in Heathrow’s Kids Eat Free scheme during school holidays: Giraffe and Pilots airside, and The Globe landside. One free children’s menu meal comes with each adult main course priced over £14.95, for children under 12, up to four free meals per table, and you have to mention the offer when you order.
Heathrow’s 2026 qualifying dates are 16-22 February, 30 March – 12 April, 25-31 May, 20 July – 1 September, 26 October – 1 November, and 21 December 2026 – 3 January 2027. Terms can change, so check the Heathrow page before you count on it.
Outside the holidays, Giraffe is the most child-friendly room in the terminal, wagamama has a children’s menu and plenty of mild dishes, and The Crown Rivers is the budget option with a children’s menu and quick service.
Is there a … in Terminal 5?
Quick yes-or-no answers to the brands people search for, based on Heathrow’s own listings as at 13 October 2026.
- Costa Coffee: no. Heathrow lists Costa in Terminal 4 only. The coffee in T5 is Caffè Nero landside and Starbucks airside, and the 24-hour option in Arrivals is Pret, not Costa.
- Starbucks: yes, three branches, all airside: gates A10, B35 and C55.
- Caffè Nero: yes, three branches, all before security.
- Wetherspoons: yes. The Crown Rivers, at gate A5, after security.
- M&S: yes, two branches, one in Arrivals and one airside in departures.
- wagamama: yes, airside, plus a separate on-the-move counter.
- McDonald’s: no. There is no McDonald’s in any Heathrow terminal listing. Five Guys airside is the nearest equivalent.
- Joe & the Juice: no, not in Terminal 5.
- Gordon Ramsay: yes, but as Plane Food Market rather than the previous restaurant format.
Taking food and drink through security
This has changed, and it is worth knowing before you buy anything landside. Heathrow now allows liquids in containers of up to 2 litres through security, and this applies at Terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5. You can leave them in your cabin bag; they do not need to come out for screening. So the coffee, smoothie or bottle of water you bought in the check-in hall can go through with you.
- Most solid food is fine in hand baggage, though it can slow screening down, so pack it where it is easy to reach.
- Empty a reusable metal or insulated bottle before security. You can refill it afterwards.
- Flying to Australia? Containers over 100ml are not allowed on those flights, whatever Heathrow’s general rule says.
- Flying to the US? Powders over 350g or 350ml are not allowed in cabin baggage, with exemptions including medicines and baby powder.
- Most other airports still apply the 100ml limit, so do not assume the same rule on the way home.
Full details are on Heathrow’s hand baggage and liquids page.
How much time to allow
A sit-down meal at Giraffe, Pilots or The Crown Rivers realistically needs an hour from sitting down to paying, and longer at peak breakfast times. A counter order at Pret, itsu or M&S takes a few minutes.
Work backwards from your gate, not from your departure time. If you are flying from a B or C gate, add time for the transit train, and remember that nothing substantial is open there beyond a Starbucks. Heathrow publishes live security wait times, which is the number to check before deciding whether to eat before or after the queue.
If you are driving, the drop-off and the transfer buses both bring you into the check-in hall, so a landside breakfast costs you nothing in walking. We compare Heathrow Terminal 5 parking options with their transfer arrangements, and if you want a longer, calmer start there are Terminal 5 hotels with parking where breakfast is included before you even reach the airport.
Restaurant or lounge?
A pay-per-use lounge includes food and drink in the entry price, so if you are hungry and planning a drink or two it can work out comparably to a restaurant meal, with somewhere quiet to sit and power sockets. If you want one dish and the gate called in 40 minutes, a restaurant is the simpler choice. You can compare and book Heathrow airport lounges through APH.
Frequently asked questions
Should I eat before or after security at Terminal 5?
After security, if you are flying. Eight of the 12 venues are airside, including every sit-down restaurant except The Globe, and you are not watching the security queue while you eat. Eat before security if you are with people who are not flying, if you arrive before 04:45 when nothing airside is open yet, or if you specifically want The Globe.
What is there to eat before security at Terminal 5?
The Globe pub and a Pret A Manger in the check-in hall, a Caffè Nero in the Zone A check-in area, and in Arrivals a 24-hour Pret, two more Caffè Nero branches and an M&S Food. No boarding pass is needed for any of them.
Is anywhere in Terminal 5 open 24 hours?
Yes, one place: Pret A Manger in Arrivals, before security. Everywhere else closes between 21:00 and 23:30 and reopens between 04:00 and 06:30.
Where can I get breakfast at Terminal 5?
For a cooked breakfast: The Crown Rivers from 04:45 and Giraffe from 05:00, both airside, Pilots from 06:00, and The Globe landside from 06:30. wagamama serves its breakfast menu 06:00 – 11:00. For something quick, Pret opens at 04:00 in the check-in hall and 05:00 airside, and Gordon Ramsay Plane Food Market serves breakfast from 05:00.
What are the vegetarian and vegan options?
wagamama marks vegan dishes clearly and has the widest choice. itsu has vegetable sushi, gyoza and bowls. Pret and M&S Food both carry labelled vegetarian and vegan items you can take to the gate. Giraffe, Pilots and The Crown Rivers all keep vegetarian options on the main menu. If you have an allergy rather than a preference, tell the staff when you order rather than relying on the menu, and the packaged ranges at M&S and Pret are the easiest to check for yourself.
Is there food at the B and C gates?
Very little: a Starbucks at B35, a Starbucks at C55 and WHSmith branches. The satellites are a transit train ride from the main terminal, so eat before you travel over.
Can I book a table?
T5 restaurants work on walk-ins. The Crown Rivers takes orders at the table through the Wetherspoon app, which is usually the quickest way to be served at a busy breakfast time.
How we checked this page
Every venue, location and opening time on this page was taken from Heathrow’s own Restaurants A-Z and Shops A-Z listings and checked on 13 October 2026, venue by venue, rather than carried over from previous versions of this guide. Where an operator’s own site disagrees with Heathrow, we have said so. Where Heathrow does not publish a detail, such as Five Guys’ opening hours, we have left it out rather than estimated it. Terminal 5 venues do change, so we review this page quarterly.
APH has arranged airport parking, hotels and lounges for UK travellers since 1980, and books parking and hotels at Heathrow Terminal 5 every day, which is where the practical advice about drop-off, transfers and timings on this page comes from.
Reviewed by T. Liaqat, Group Acquisition Manager, APH. Last reviewed 13 October 2026.
Sources
- Heathrow Restaurants A-Z and the individual venue listings for The Crown Rivers, Giraffe, Gordon Ramsay Plane Food Market, itsu, wagamama, Pilots, The Globe, Pret A Manger, Caffè Nero, Starbucks, Fortnum and Mason Bar, Five Guys and Costa, all checked 13 October 2026
- M&S Food and WHSmith listings, checked 13 October 2026
- Heathrow Kids Eat Free terms and 2026 dates, checked 13 October 2026
- Heathrow hand baggage and liquids, checked 13 October 2026
- J D Wetherspoon, The Crown Rivers, checked 13 October 2026