Gate-side caffeine fix before T1 departures
Tea Lounge sits airside in Terminal T1, just past passport control, and works as a simple coffee-and-tea stop when you want something quick before boarding. It’s a small counter-style setup, so think grab-and-go rather than a long sit-down meal. You’ll usually see passengers from Air Côte d’Ivoire and other regional flights grabbing drinks here in the hour before departures.
Opening hours generally track the main T1 schedule, with shutters usually up from early-morning departures through the late-evening wave of regional flights. If your flight leaves before 06:00 or after 23:00, don’t count on it and have a backup plan. Service pace matches airport flow: slower in the early afternoon, tighter during the 2–3 main departure banks.
Prices land in the mid-airport range: expect coffee or tea to sit around a few euros’ worth in local currency, with cold soft drinks higher than city cafés but still manageable for a quick stop. You pay at the counter, and cards backed by Visa or Mastercard typically go through, though the terminal can be finicky during peak times, so having some CFA on hand helps.
Food options lean to simple bites that hold up under a heat lamp: think packaged pastries, cookies, and small snacks rather than full meals. If you need real food, plan on hitting a larger restaurant in T1 or T2 before you settle for what’s in the case here. On tight connections under 45 minutes, Tea Lounge works as a backup for a fast croissant and bottled water.
One practical tip: grab your drink here after clearing security in T1, not before. Lines inside can build suddenly 30–40 minutes before departure, so if you see more than five people waiting, skip the pastry, just take a drink, and walk it to the gate instead.