Food Market

Gate-side in NAT terminal, Food Market is the main sit-down option

Food Market sits airside in Alicante’s NAT terminal, just past central security and a few minutes’ walk from the main Schengen gates. It runs through most of the day to match the early Ryanair and easyJet departures, so you can usually grab something from breakfast through late afternoon without hunting around.

The menu leans Spanish: think tortilla, bocadillos, mixed platters with jamón, and basic tapas alongside burgers and salads. Expect airport pricing: a coffee runs around €2–3, soft drinks about €3, and mains tend to land in the €10–€16 bracket depending on how many extras you tack on. Portions skew decent for a European airport, so one main and a drink usually does the job before a 3-hour flight.

Service is table-based, which is useful if you’re traveling with bags and kids and parked near the nearby B gates. Staff are used to tight turnarounds on 40–60 minute connections, and food generally lands within 15–20 minutes after ordering. If your boarding pass shows a non-Schengen gate, allow at least 20 extra minutes to walk to passport control after you pay.

Best bets: simple dishes that the kitchen sends out all day, like a ham and cheese bocadillo, tortilla with salad, or a burger with fries. The beer and wine list is short but covers the basics with a couple of Spanish lagers and house wines by the glass, usually in the €4–€6 range. Skip anything that sounds too elaborate or heavily customized if your flight boards in under 30 minutes; the kitchen slows down when the NAT terminal banks departures.

Practical tip: check your gate number on the big screens by Food Market before you sit; gates at Alicante NAT shuffle often, and a last-minute switch from B to C can add a 10-minute walk to your clock.