Cocada and strong coffee are the draw at Tabuleiro
Right after security in Terminal 1, Tabuleiro runs like a classic Brazilian café with counter service and quick turnover. It sits in the main departures hall, so you see it as you walk toward the domestic gates in T1. Seating is mostly small two-tops and a few high stools, fine for a 20–30 minute stop between check-in and boarding.
Prices land in the mid-range for SSA: expect around R$8–12 for espresso-based drinks, around R$15–25 for pastries or small salty snacks, and R$20–35 if you build a more filling plate with breads and spreads. It’s firmly $$, not a budget bakery, but still cheaper than a full-service restaurant in Terminal 1.
The move here is the cocada, their signature coconut sweet that usually sits in trays near the front counter. Pair one with a short espresso or pingado and you’re at roughly R$20–25 total. You’ll also see basic café fare: pão de queijo, simple sandwiches, and occasionally small cakes by the slice, all prepped for a 10-minute in-and-out stop.
Tabuleiro keeps airport hours, typically opening by 5:00–6:00 a.m. and running until the last evening departures push out of Terminal 1, often around 10:00–11:00 p.m. That makes it workable for an early Azul or LATAM domestic hop, or a late return from São Paulo when you still want a coffee before the ride into Salvador.
Service is counter-order, pay, then grab a seat; cards are accepted, and small cash notes in Brazilian reais speed things up. Lines spike in the 6:00–8:00 a.m. window and again around 6:00–8:00 p.m., so build a 10-minute buffer at those times. One practical tip: if your gate is at the far end of Terminal 1, order takeaway and walk; it’s about a 5–8 minute stroll from Tabuleiro to the last domestic gates.
Cocada