A tall latte here can run close to London prices.
This Starbucks sits airside in Terminal 1 at OTP, right in the main departures hall after security, and leans hard on the chain’s predictability. Expect Western Europe-style pricing: think around 20–25 RON for basic espresso drinks, noticeably higher than the same cup in central Bucharest. If you just want something familiar before a TAROM or Wizz Air flight, it does the job, but your wallet will feel it.
Opening hours usually track the flight banks, with shutters up from early morning departures around 04:30–05:00 until late evening flights near 22:00–23:00. Peak queue times line up with the morning wave between roughly 05:30 and 08:30 and again around 17:00–20:00, when lines can reach 15–20 people and a drink can take 15–20 minutes. Off-peak midday, you might be in and out in under 5 minutes with a flat white and a croissant.
Menu is the usual Starbucks playbook: espresso drinks, Frappuccinos, teas, bottled juices, and standard pastries like muffins, croissants, and sandwiches. A basic Americano comes in as the relatively “cheap” option, while Frappuccinos and seasonal specials can push 30 RON once you add syrup and alternative milk. Food is airport-priced too, with sandwiches often over 25 RON and muffins in the 12–15 RON range, so think full European city-center costs, not downtown Bucharest.
Regulars who transit OTP a few times a month say mobile ordering through the Starbucks app, where available, shaves 5–10 minutes off the wait during that early morning crush. Others head straight there the moment they clear security, even before checking their A- or B-gate on the screens, to get ahead of the queue. The main complaint you see repeated is the combination of 20-minute waits and those London-level prices.
Practical tip: if your departure is between 06:00 and 08:00, budget at least 20 extra minutes for Starbucks or grab coffee in the city before the airport and use this spot only as a backup.