Café Bar

By the non-Schengen gates in T1, Café Bar is basically the “nowhere else to go” option.

This is the small, generic-looking Café Bar you’ll hit after security near the non-Schengen gates in Terminal 1, where BA and other UK flights depart. It’s airside, right by the crowded seating areas, and mainly sells beer, basic spirits, soft drinks, coffee, and packet snacks like crisps and nuts. Think quick refuel near the gate rather than a sit-down meal.

Expect “airport high” pricing: reviews mention standard beer here costing noticeably more than in Rhodes town bars, with a basic drink and crisps adding up fast. There’s no published menu online, but plan for around double what you’d pay in town for a draught beer. Payment is card-friendly, and you won’t be the only one doing a quick mental currency conversion before ordering.

Space is tight. One FlyerTalk user described the bar by the non-Schengen gates as “packed,” with staff rushing to clear orders during the UK departure banks. Seating is limited to a few stools and nearby tables in shared gate space, so you’ll often end up standing with your drink, keeping one eye on the boarding queue at your exact gate number.

Order here only if you really want a cold draught beer or a mixed drink before a BA Club Europe or other non-Schengen departure. Snacks are mostly pre-packaged crisps and similar, so don’t come expecting a proper meal or fresh sandwiches. Service is fast but not chatty when two or three flights go within 30–45 minutes.

Regulars often skip the line at Café Bar entirely and pick up bottled drinks from the airside kiosks or duty free instead, then sit closer to their gate. That move can easily save 5–10 minutes of queuing. One practical tip: if your flight leaves in a busy morning or evening bank, grab what you want before you head to the far end of the non-Schengen gates, then claim a seat and stay put.