Gate-side option in T1 before security: Boulevard Aeropuerto
You see Boulevard Aeropuerto as soon as you walk into T1’s public departures hall at Carrasco, on the check-in level, before security. It runs all day from early morning to late evening to match most Montevideo departures, so you can grab something even on those 06:00 flights to São Paulo or Buenos Aires.
Menu reads like a standard Uruguayan café-bar: medialunas, tostados, and espresso in the morning, then sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, and milanesas later in the day. Expect coffee around 150–200 UYU, simple sandwiches in the 300–450 UYU range, and a beer or glass of wine near 250–350 UYU. Portions lean large by airport standards, so one main easily covers a quick meal before a regional hop.
Service works at a typical sit-down pace for Montevideo, not fast-food speed. Figure 30–45 minutes if you sit for a full meal, especially during evening bank departures between 18:00 and 21:00. Bar orders move faster: a cortado or draft Patricia beer usually appears in under 10 minutes when it’s not peak time, which helps on a tighter schedule.
Food quality tracks with a mid-range city café, not a gourmet spot. Toasted ham-and-cheese and milanesa al plato are safer picks than the more elaborate pastas or pizzas. If you care about coffee, ask for espresso or cortado; the larger “americano” can taste weak compared with what you’d get in Ciudad Vieja. Desserts sit in a display case near the bar, so you can eyeball options before you commit.
Big advantage here: you can sit with family or friends who aren’t flying, since it’s outside security in T1. That makes it one of the few spots at MVD where non-ticketed visitors can share a proper meal with departing passengers. Smart move: check in, eat at Boulevard Aeropuerto, then head to security about 45–60 minutes before boarding.