Margaritas and Tex-Mex snacks in RNO’s Main Terminal
Cantina Bar in the Main terminal is the spot in RNO when you want a margarita instead of another generic burger. Reviews call out decent mixed drinks, basic tequila shots, and simple Tex‑Mex snacks as the core lineup. Expect standard airport pricing, so plan on paying a bit extra for that pre‑flight drink.
This is a sit‑down bar with counter stools and some tables past security in the Main concourse, so you’re already through TSA before you order. Most reports mention using it to fill a 30–45 minute wait with a drink and chips rather than a long meal. Figure one margarita and a shared snack will run you mid‑$20s with tip at this $$ spot.
Menu highlights are simple: chips and salsa, quesadillas, and bar‑style Tex‑Mex plates, plus bottled beer and tequila options that reviewers say are better than they expected in a small airport. One Yelp review mentions splitting chips and salsa and “a couple beers” as a good way to pass 45 minutes before boarding. If you want a real entrée, this isn’t the best pick; portions and options lean more snack than dinner.
What regulars do: treat Cantina Bar as a ritual stop for a single margarita or beer, then move on. Several frequent flyers suggest grabbing a stool at the bar itself for faster service, especially when the place is short‑staffed and the tables back up. Google and Yelp comments line up on this: the bar rail gets attention first.
Watch out for the usual airport markup and service lag when flights bank. If you’re tight on time, grab a bar seat, order your drink and chips in the first 5 minutes, and set a hard cutoff 20 minutes before boarding.