Chai Point

Gate 8 in T1 is your last easy chai stop

Near Gate 8 in Terminal T1, Chai Point is the quick caffeine fix before boarding. It sits post-security on the domestic side, so you’re already through checks and just a short walk from most gates in this pier. Think tea-first coffee shop: cutting it close for a 10:20 flight, you can still grab a paper cup of masala chai and make boarding.

This is a budget stop: price tier is firmly $, with basic chai and filter coffee typically in the ₹80–₹150 band and small snacks a bit higher. You order at the counter, pay, then wait for your name; even with five or six people in line, drinks tend to come out in under 5 minutes. Seating is limited to a few stools and ledges, so assume you’re drinking at the gate rather than camping here to work.

The focus is tea: masala chai, ginger chai, and kadak-style options built for a quick sugar and caffeine hit before a 6:00–7:00 a.m. departure. Coffee is available but basic—think machine espresso rather than anything third-wave. Snack-wise, expect grab-and-go items like samosas, puffs, and biscuits that travel well and won’t stink up row 24; nothing that needs real cutlery or a tray.

Hours track the domestic bank: shutters usually open before the first T1 departures around 4:00–4:30 a.m. and stay up through the late-night waves toward 11:00 p.m. or later. Card and UPI payments work reliably, and staff are used to passengers flashing a boarding time and asking for “fast” service. No power outlets at the counter, and Wi‑Fi is the airport’s, not theirs.

Practical tip: if your gate is 1–4 in T1, stop at Chai Point near Gate 8 first; backtracking 5–7 minutes later during boarding calls is a pain.