Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport

Let's be honest: airport dining rarely earns any gold stars, but Alicante-Elche holds its own better than most regional Spanish airports. The single terminal is compact and easy to navigate, and once you're through security you'll find a solid spread of options clustered in the departures hall. The standout stop is Casa Mediterránea, which leans into the region's sunlit culinary identity with bocadillos stuffed with local embutidos, fresh gazpacho served chilled, and a rotating selection of tapas that actually taste like they belong on the Costa Blanca rather than a generic food court.

For something heartier before a long flight, seek out the Restaurante La Taberna near the central gates, where you can sit down to a proper plate of arroz a banda — the saffron-kissed, seafood-forward rice dish that is the undisputed soul food of Alicante province. It's not a Michelin experience, but it's honest, generous, and deeply regional. Pair it with a glass of local Monastrell red or a cold Estrella Damm and you'll leave feeling like the Costa Blanca sent you off properly. Portions are Spanish-sized, so come with an appetite.

If you're short on time or travelling with restless kids, the grab-and-go options are genuinely decent. Cervecería 1900 does a brisk trade in montaditos and freshly squeezed orange juice — Valencia and Alicante's liquid gold — while the bakery kiosk near Gate B stocks turrón, the local almond nougat that makes an ideal last-minute edible souvenir. Coffee, predictably, is good throughout; Spain's café culture doesn't abandon you the moment you clear passport control, and a well-pulled cortado here will see you right to your destination.