CUP cash is king at Cafeteria Primera Planta in T1
This small café sits on the first floor of Terminal 1 at Antonio Maceo International (SCU), before security, and mostly handles short-haul traffic for Cubana and other regional flights. Expect a basic counter-service setup with a few tables and bar stools. Signage reads “Cafeteria Primera Planta”, and you’ll usually spot it near the central check-in area. Opening hours tend to track flight banks, with activity strongest in the morning and late afternoon, roughly 07:00–20:00.
Prices generally run in local pesos, not in EUR or USD, and simple items like coffee, soft drinks, and small snacks often fall in the CUP 80–200 range. Stock seems to vary a lot with deliveries, so don’t count on a specific brand of cola or a particular sandwich always being available. Think basic ham-and-cheese, packaged cookies, and maybe a small hot snack if you hit it at the right time. Order and pay at the counter; there’s usually just one till.
Card acceptance is unreliable at SCU overall, and Cafeteria Primera Planta follows that pattern, so carry enough cash in CUP or MLC-equivalent to cover a snack and a drink for everyone in your group – say CUP 500–800 per person. If you’re connecting from another Cuban city, remember that ATMs in Santiago de Cuba and at the airport can be offline, and foreign-issued cards (especially US-linked) often fail. Plan your currency situation in town before heading out to the airport.
There’s no menu online, no published phone number, and no verified reviews specific to this spot as of 2026, so treat it as a last-minute top-up, not your only meal of the day. Security at T1 can bunch up around large departures and easily eat 30–40 minutes. One practical move: eat a proper meal in Santiago de Cuba, then use Cafeteria Primera Planta for a quick coffee or water refill about 60 minutes before your flight.