Gate-side snack stop in Terminal 3 before passport control
Snack Bar Departures sits in Terminal 3 at José Martí International Airport, in the departures zone used by most long-haul and regional international flights. It’s a basic stand-up café setup, useful when you just need something quick before heading to security and the gate area.
This is more kiosk than full restaurant, so expect counter service, limited seating, and a short menu focused on grab-and-go items. You’ll usually find simple sandwiches, packaged snacks, and soft drinks typical for HAV Terminal 3 outlets, with prices higher than Havana city cafés but still below many big European or US airports.
Coffee is the safest bet here: a short Cuban-style espresso shot runs in the typical airport range and usually comes faster than any food order. Cold drinks lean heavily on bottled water and sodas, which helps before a 2–3 hour regional flight in the Caribbean heat.
Food options can run out later in the day, especially after mid‑afternoon banked departures around 14:00–17:00, when several flights leave close together. If you’re passing through Terminal 3 in the evening bank, don’t count on your first-choice sandwich still being available and order whatever is left on hand.
Payment in Terminal 3 outlets often means cards issued outside Cuba are hit-or-miss, and Snack Bar Departures is no exception. Bring enough euros or US dollars in small bills to avoid issues if the card terminal is offline or only certain cards process successfully.
Lines can build quickly when a widebody departure is checking in for gates in Terminal 3, so if your airline suggests being at the airport three hours before departure, aim to stop here in the first 30–45 minutes after arriving rather than just before boarding.