American Express' Newest Centurion Lounge At this Washington D.C. Airport Is Perfect for Both Foodies and Business Travelers — See Inside (2024)

Are airport lounges the next culinary frontier? If you are an American Express cardholder passing through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), the answer is a resounding yes. Today, the credit card issuer opens its 29th Centurion Lounge right outside the nation’s capital, and it comes with some serious foodie perks.

Located off the airport's South Security Checkpoint, the new sunlit space boasts 12,000 square feet of upscale amenities, including a shower suite, conference rooms, workstations, local artwork, floor-to-ceiling windows, and access to high-speed WiFi.

However, the highlight is the food and beverage program, led by not one but three award-winning chefs, spanning Latin, Israeli, and Hawaiian cuisines, a first for any Centurion Lounge.

"Food is an important part of any travel experience. It's also a very important part of our lounge experience," Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel, said at a preview for the lounge.

The new space brings together a menu of curated dishes from Miami-based James Beard Award-winning chef Michelle Bernstein, James Beard-nominated chef Ravi Kapur of San Francisco, who showcases a blend of Hawaiian, Indian, and Chinese flavors, and five-time James Beard award winner Michael Solomonov, renowned for his Israeli-inspired cuisine at restaurants like Zahav in Philadelphia and New York City's Goldie, K'Far, and Laser Wolf.

A rotating selection of dishes by all three chefs will ensure that even frequent travelers find something new to try each time they visit the lounge. Highlights include Chef Kapur's deliciously juicy tamari-honey glazed tofu and pineapple, Chef Bernstein's smoky Chimichurri grilled chicken, and Chef Solomov's tender Shabazi spiced salmon with pomegranate BBQ sauce.

"The experience for [American Express] card members in the lounge should just be that at a restaurant," Solomonov told Travel+Leisure. "If you're a DCA three times this week, you should be able to come to the lounge and not have fatigue and not say, ‘Well, you know, I had that last time’ … We have Floridian-Caribbean food by Michelle Bernstein, you've got my food, and you've got Ravi from San Francisco—all in DC. What other platform would you have access to those things? It's like an international food hall."

Food is presented buffet-style and also includes a variety of appetizers, salads, and decadent desserts that can be paired with an assortment of drinks, including co*cktails curated by Centurion Lounge mixologist Jim Meehan. For this location, he has dreamed up several locally-inspired options, such as Haku Hanami, a martini with cherry blossom-infused vodka and brandied cherries, and Ambrosia Spritz, a refreshing spritz featuring bitters and liqueurs from local producer Don Ciccio & Figli.

There is a strong local flavor to American Express' lounges, not limited to the food and beverage offerings. As guests check in to the lounge, they are welcomed into an elegant gallery and living room space showcasing art by local artists, including a bold canvas print of the Capitol by Maggie O'Neill, a striking black-and-white abstract painting by ​​Emon Surakitkoson, and a pair of mixed media tiles by Lori Katz. The most spectacular artwork—both in its sheer size and significance—hangs above the dining tables. It is a sculpture comprised of more than 260 custom-built lanterns inspired by the original markers of Washington’s city limits. Together, they form a shape that references the topography of the Potomac River as it passes through the city.

Due to its proximity to Washington D.C.—the airport is located in Arlington, Virginia, just four miles from downtown—DCA is a preferred airport for many business travelers to the capital, and American Express has ensured the lounge provides plenty for those travelers.

The spacious residential-style work area features a large conference room-style table and more intimate vignette. All have access to electrical outlets and plenty of natural sunlight. A separate section reserved for Centurion members features a private drinks and snacks station and plush seating.

Overall, the lounge has 260 seats arranged in various configurations for socialization or privacy.

"This lounge is just short of 12,000 square feet, so we don't want it to look like a hodgepodge of furniture, but we also want to allow people a private seat if they want privacy and something more loungy and social if they want that," Kate Hardman, director of global brand design at American Express, told T+L.

The lounge also features a single unisex shower suite with complimentary towels and toiletries.

Access to DCA's Centurion Lounge is reserved for American Express Platinum card members, Centurion members, and travelers who have a Delta SkyMiles Reserve card. Cardholders can bring guests for an additional $50 fee ($30 for children between 2 and 17 years old).

Earlier this year, American Express debuted its largest Centurion lounge in Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. More are in the works at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, slated for a 2025 opening, and at New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport in 2026.