Touchdown Bar & Restaurant
Front-row seats to the world's shortest commercial runway
Why Go
There's no better way to end a trip to Saba than watching another traveler's DHC-6 Twin Otter kiss down onto 400 meters of tarmac while you nurse a cold Amstel Bright at the bar. Touchdown is Saba's front porch — a plane-spotter's dream tucked into Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, where the runway ends at a cliff and every arrival gets a round of applause.
The Experience
Don't picture a sterile airport food court. Touchdown feels more like a friendly island canteen that just happens to sit next to the most talked-about landing strip in aviation. Locals drift in for coffee at 6:30am, day-trippers from St. Maarten refuel between flights, and divers back from Ladder Bay linger over a Carib beer as the light drops behind Flat Point. The vibe is unhurried, chatty, and quintessentially Saban — everyone eventually knows your name, and the ceiling fans do most of the AC work. When a Winair flight is inbound, conversations pause, phones come out, and the whole room becomes an impromptu viewing gallery.
What to Try
Keep it simple and local. The kitchen does honest Caribbean plates — think stewed chicken with peas and rice, a crisp fish sandwich, or a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon and Johnny cakes if you're on the first flight out. Pair it with a Saba Spice shot (the island's fiery, anise-tinged rum liqueur) if you're feeling brave, or stick with a chilled local beer. The craft beer selection is a pleasant surprise for such a small operation.
Insider Tip
Check the Winair schedule before you go — Touchdown is at its most magical about 15 minutes before an inbound flight. Grab the corner seat closest to the runway-side windows, order a beer, and you'll catch the landing from roughly 30 meters away. Cash (USD) is king here; card machines on Saba have a habit of going on holiday without warning.
The Practical Stuff
Open daily 6:30am–7:00pm. Located inside Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport at Flat Point/Zions Hill, about a 10-minute drive from Windwardside and 15 from The Bottom. No reservation needed — walk-ins only. Phone: +599 416 3100. Bring cash; small bills appreciated. Wheelchair-accessible via the main terminal entrance.
Pair It With
- Big Rock Engineering Guide — Book your airport transfer with Big Rock before or after your Touchdown stop — they know the hairpin road up to Windwardside better than anyone and can time the pickup to your flight.
- Barney's Ground Guide — If you've got hours to kill before departure, this nearby trailhead is a quick scenic walk that stretches the legs without risking a sweat before boarding.
- Bizzy B Guide — For a proper sit-down meal after landing, swing by Bizzy B in Windwardside — Touchdown is best for a quick drink and the runway view, not a three-course dinner.
