Outdoor Decks, Comforting Soul Food, and a Whiskey Bar: AmEx Launches Its Largest Airport Lounge in Atlanta

Dinogo collaborates with CreditCards.com and may earn a commission from card issuers. This site does not feature all financial companies or all available financial offers. Compensation may influence the presentation of an offer. Our coverage remains independent and unbiased, and has not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any entities. The views expressed here are solely those of the Dinogo editorial team.

Terms apply for American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be necessary for select American Express benefits and offers. For more details, visit americanexpress.com.

On February 14, American Express unveiled its largest Centurion Lounge ever at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), offering 26,000 square feet for travelers to unwind, dine, and explore. This lounge is also the most stylishly designed one yet, showcasing AmEx's effort to keep pace with competitors like Capital One and Chase, who are expanding their airport lounge offerings.

The Centurion Lounge at ATL, open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., occupies a prime spot in Concourse E of the International Terminal, featuring both indoor and outdoor spaces. Conveniently located near gate E11, it offers a beautifully designed atmosphere with ample seating, dining areas, outdoor terraces, and excellent views for plane spotting through expansive windows overlooking the airfield. The hearty menu, crafted by Atlanta chef Deborah VanTrece, highlights soul food, while the Reserve by American Express introduces the first dedicated whiskey bar in a Centurion Lounge.

Thanks to the Plane Train, which connects all terminals airside, you can reach the Centurion Lounge at ATL no matter which gate you’re at.

This week, I had the opportunity to explore AmEx’s newest lounge, and I was captivated. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Centurion Lounge in Atlanta, including why it’s a must-visit during an ATL layover and how to gain access.

The largest and most stylish Centurion Lounge to date

Stepping into the Centurion Lounge in Atlanta evokes a sense of escape. The chaos of the world’s busiest airport fades away, revealing a serene environment filled with comfortable seating, soaring ceilings, abundant natural light, and lush greenery. Thoughtfully crafted as a collection of distinct yet harmonious spaces, this lounge represents a significant expansion compared to others in the Centurion network. (For reference, the Dallas Centurion Lounge is half its size at 13,000 square feet, and JFK's second largest lounge measures just 15,000 square feet.)

At the heart of the main seating area stands a towering live olive tree, aged 50 years, set within an elevated rock garden and surrounded by 19 low-rise bar stools. A harmonious blend of wooden chairs, emerald sofas, olive-green booths, and gold and wood lattice dividers contributes to a contemporary, enchanted forest vibe. Above, a magnificent lighting installation featuring 2,400 abstract glass leaves symbolizes a forest canopy and stretches into the adjoining section. This second area boasts an expansive dining space complete with a full-service bar, hot and cold buffet stations, and a variety of seating options in a regal blue color scheme.

Flanking the lounge are outdoor terraces, a first for the Centurion Lounge network. Adorned with lush greenery and featuring stylish, cozy couches, they serve as the perfect alfresco escape envisioned by the designers. Equipped with integrated heaters and fans for year-round use, these terraces also offer in-seat outlets for charging devices—yes, even outside!

Inside, additional areas cater to working, relaxing, and socializing. There are living room-style setups, bar seating with views of the airfield, private phone rooms for Zoom meetings, a dedicated whiskey lounge, and an exclusive room for Centurion cardholders.

Artistry infuses the lounge with a unique sense of place. My favorite piece is a fresh interpretation of the watchdog, one of AmEx’s earliest brand symbols from the 19th century. Local artist Lucha Rodríguez, known for her intricate paper-cutting and folding techniques, was commissioned to create a textured representation of the watchdog for the lounge entrance. She also crafted three abstract cloud pieces, Vistas Tranquilas I, II, and III, which are displayed beyond the main entrance.

Global soul food crafted by a local chef

“I spent countless nights awake, contemplating how to design the menu for the Centurion Lounge Atlanta,” shared chef Deborah VanTrece, a James Beard Award semifinalist and owner of the popular Atlanta eateries Twisted Soul Cookhouse & Pours, Oreatha’s at the Point, and La Panarda. “My goal was to showcase Atlanta's hospitality, reflect our diverse cultures, and add a Southern flair to everything,” she explained during the lounge’s preview.

The fruits of her sleepless nights manifest as stunning displays of modern, global soul food that will leave you craving more (and more). VanTrece’s offerings are divided between two generous food stations: one entirely cold and the other predominantly hot. Standout hot items include jalapeño hotcakes (think spicy, savory pancakes), vegan black-eyed pea biryani, za’atar grilled chicken thighs with green tomato chimichurri, and an indulgent three-cheese mac and cheese topped with breadcrumbs. Other must-tries are the house-made pimento cheese served with fresh garden crudités and soul salad (mixed greens with fried goat cheese and cornbread croutons, drizzled with strawberry-peppercorn vinaigrette). Don’t miss the bananas foster bread pudding for dessert. Having sampled nearly all 14 domestic Centurion lounges and several international ones, I can confidently say this has the finest food in the network.

In addition to the main dining area, several small food and beverage stations are scattered throughout the lounge, offering light snacks and drinks like immunity-boosting apple-beet juice shots, jars of pimento cheese paired with celery sticks, sliced dragon fruit, and cannoli filled with mascarpone and chocolate chips. You'll also discover various specialty coffee machines, water refill stations with sparkling and still options, and five Vivreau flavor enhancers, including orange-tangerine and blueberry-raspberry.

The Centurion network's inaugural whiskey bar

As with all Centurion Lounge locations, renowned mixologist Jim Meehan has crafted cocktails uniquely tailored to Atlanta. (Don’t miss the Hot One, an unexpected yet delightful blend of Del Maguey Vida mezcal, local Atlanta Independent Distilling Co. white rum, grenadine, lime juice, and a dash of hot sauce.) Additionally, esteemed wine expert Anthony Giglio has curated a selection of wines for the lounge, featuring various sparkling, white, red, and one rosé option. The main bar also offers two mocktails and a range of beers.

The Atlanta lounge stands out by featuring the Reserve by American Express, an exclusive whiskey bar and lounge offering its own drink menu. Here, guests can select from over 20 classic and contemporary American whiskeys—served neat, on the rocks, or mixed. Alternatively, try five specialty whiskey cocktails crafted by Meehan, including a fresh twist on the Manhattan named Drink a Peach, which combines straight rye and peach-infused whiskeys with sweet vermouth and peach bitters.

Due to Georgia's liquor regulations, alcohol is served from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday (with limited breakfast cocktails available from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.) and from 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Sundays.

Additional amenities

The lounge features dedicated workstations, three all-gender shower suites, and plenty of smart power outlets accommodating 120-volt plugs, USB3 (Thunderbolt) cables, and standard USB cords. High-speed Wi-Fi is complimentary. However, unlike some other Centurion lounges, the Atlanta location does not include an Exhale Spa.

How to gain access to the Atlanta Centurion Lounge

Access to the Centurion Lounge at ATL is complimentary on the day of travel for holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, regardless of the airline or class of service. Guests will incur a fee of $50 each (or $30 for children aged 2 to 17; infants under 2 are free with proof of age) when accompanying an eligible cardholder. Additionally, holders of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card can access Centurion lounges at no charge when traveling on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight, with a maximum of two guests allowed at $50 each.

While the information provided here is accurate as of publication, it is subject to change at any time and may have been altered or may no longer be applicable.