That Panos by the A-gates is the default “it’ll do” stop
Right in Pier A after security in Terminal T, Panos - Gates A is the place people land when they’re not in The Loft or a lounge and need something quick and familiar. It’s a local Belgian café-style chain, so you’ll see the same pastries and sandwiches you’d get in town, just at airport pricing in the single-euro-teens for coffee and around mid‑single digits for basic sandwiches.
This Panos sits along the A-gates used heavily by Brussels Airlines and Star Alliance Schengen flights, so it stays busy around SN morning banks. Expect a line that can snake into the concourse between about 06:30 and 09:00, with seat hunting tougher than finding a free power outlet near A40.
Food skews simple: premade baguette sandwiches, viennoiserie, and snacks. Regulars mention the coffee is strictly average but consistent, and a croissant with a medium coffee will usually run under €7. Sandwiches are described as “okay and consistent,” which is about all you need before a 90‑minute hop to FRA or MUC.
Prices are higher than city Panos branches; frequent flyers call out the markup on basic ham-and-cheese baguettes and bottled drinks. If you’re price-sensitive, skip the bottled juice and grab tap water at the fountains near gates like A40 instead, then just buy a pastry or one sandwich to hold you until onboard service.
What regulars do: grab takeaway and walk. Staff don’t mind you carrying your bag of food to nearby A-gates, and eating at your seat near A36 or A42 is more relaxed than hovering over the tight in-store tables. Many use Panos as backup when The Loft is crowded or when flying low-cost carriers out of Pier A.
Watch out for late-evening freshness; reviewers say sandwiches around the last SN departures can taste tired after 21:00. If you’re on a late A-pier departure, stick to pastries baked that day or just grab coffee and wait to eat in town.
Fastest move: spot the queue length from the concourse before committing; if the line is past the entrance, budget at least 10–15 minutes before you need to be at A-gate boarding.