Starbucks

Gate-side caffeine in T1

This Starbucks sits post-security in Terminal T1 at MVD, so you can grab coffee after passport control without backtracking. It runs on airport hours, opening at 05:30 and closing at 19:00, which covers the early Montevideo departures but not the last late-night flights.

Prices sit at the lower airport tier, roughly “$” compared with other food options in T1, so a basic espresso or brewed coffee won’t wreck your per diem. Expect the standard Starbucks lineup: espresso drinks, brewed coffee, Frappuccino-style blends, plus a rotating case of pastries and sandwiches tuned to the Uruguay market.

Seats are limited and close to the main T1 gate corridor, so plan on quick turnover rather than camping with a laptop for three hours. The post-security location means you can bring drinks straight to gates used by airlines like LATAM, Gol, and Aerolíneas Argentinas, and you’re usually within a 5–7 minute walk of most boarding areas.

Food options lean light: classic croissants, muffins, and a few pre-made sandwiches, with individual items generally under USD $8 equivalent. It’s enough for a snack before a 2–3 hour regional hop, but not a full meal before an 11-hour long-haul out of Montevideo.

Crowds spike between 06:00 and 08:00 and again from roughly 17:00 to 19:00, when multiple T1 departures cluster. Lines at those times can hit 10–15 minutes, especially if only one espresso machine is running. Outside peak banks, you can usually order and be out in under 5 minutes.

Tip: if you have an early flight, mobile-order-style tricks don’t exist here, so just head straight to Starbucks right after security at 05:30, grab coffee and a snack, then walk to your gate with everything in hand.