Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International Airport

Cali's airport may not be a culinary destination in its own right, but it surprises travelers who know where to look. The main terminal's food court sits past the security checkpoint and offers a solid range of Colombian staples — think empanadas de pipián, the city's beloved snack made with a distinctive red peanut-and-tomato sauce that you simply won't find prepared quite this way anywhere else in the country. Grab one before your flight and you'll understand why caleños are so fiercely proud of their food.

For a sit-down experience, the small cluster of café-style spots near the domestic gates does a respectable job with bandeja paisa-style plates — beans, rice, chicharrón, and a fried egg — along with fresh fruit juices that are hard to resist in this tropical heat. The lulada, a frothy drink made from lulo fruit, occasionally appears on menus here and is absolutely worth ordering if you spot it. Coffee, naturally, is excellent; you're in the heart of Colombia's coffee-growing region, and even airport vendors take their brew seriously.

A word of advice: airside dining options are limited in number, so if you're on a long layover, don't hold out for something spectacular. Instead, treat the experience as a genuine taste of Cali's street-food spirit — unpretentious, generous, and quietly delicious. Stock up on a bag of local snacks like cocadas or chontaduros from the small kiosks, which make wonderful edible souvenirs and keep you fueled on the flight ahead.