Domestic departures at ESB is where you’ll spot Ankara Cafe
You’ll find Ankara Cafe airside in Esenboğa’s domestic area, useful if you’ve already cleared security and don’t want to backtrack to landside chains. Seating skews café-style with small two-top tables that work for a 20–40 minute sit-down while watching the gate boards. Expect a mix of hot and cold items plus the standard Turkish airport coffee lineup.
Pricing at Ankara Cafe usually sits in typical airport territory: think roughly 70–120 TRY for a sandwich or pastry-and-coffee combo, more if you start adding fresh juice or bottled drinks. Filter coffee and Turkish tea often land under 50 TRY, which is about as budget-friendly as it gets in a Turkish airport terminal right now. Cards are accepted, including foreign Visa and Mastercard.
Food-wise, assume the standard Turkish café roster: simit, poğaça, basic toast, and pre-made sandwiches in a refrigerated case, plus a few cakes by the slice. If you’re flying around meal times, aim for items that can be reheated rather than anything that has obviously sat in the case for hours under bright lights. For tea, ask specifically for fresh-brewed çay rather than something that has been sitting in a samovar since early morning.
Service at smaller ESB cafés like Ankara Cafe tends to be quick: expect to order, pay, and get a drink in under 5 minutes outside of peak bank times around the 07:00–09:00 and 18:00–20:00 domestic waves. Staff usually call out orders by item or first name; keep your receipt handy in case they ask you to confirm.
One tip: if your gate is more than a 5-minute walk away, grab takeaway cups and wrapped items so you can move the moment your flight shows “boarding” on the Esenboğa domestic screens.