Star Chefs, Local Art, Cherry Blossom Cocktails: Discover D.C.’s New AmEx Lounge

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This week, American Express unveiled its 29th Centurion Lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Spanning nearly 12,000 square feet, this impressive new venue provides travelers with ample room to eat, drink, work, relax, and explore. Its modern design is consistent with recent Centurion Lounges, such as the one in Atlanta, and rivals the innovative spaces introduced by Capital One and Chase, which are also enhancing airport experiences for credit card enthusiasts today.

The Centurion Lounge at DCA operates Sunday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET and on Saturdays from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. Located in a transformed outdoor seating area off the main departure hall in Terminal 2 near the B Gates (serving Delta flights), the space shines like a jewel box after a four-year renovation, featuring glass walls that offer views of the terminal, the Potomac River, and the airfield. Designed primarily for solo travelers seeking privacy, the lounge includes a large dining area with bar seating, alongside numerous chic nooks for working, all while enjoying artisan cocktails. Exceptional cuisine defines the DCA lounge, with celebrity chefs from other Centurion locations—chef Michelle Bernstein from Miami, chef Ravi Kapur from San Francisco, and chef Michael Solomonov from Philadelphia—crafting a lavish buffet menu.

Passengers in Terminal 2 can reach the lounge from Gates B, C, D, and E, servicing airlines like American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, and United. However, those flying from Terminal 1, Gate A, which accommodates Air Canada, Frontier, and Southwest, do not have access.

This week, I had the chance to preview AmEx’s newest lounge, and I’m already planning to arrive early for my next DCA flight to enjoy some extra time here. Here’s what you need to know about the new Centurion Lounge at DCA, including entry details.

Delicious offerings await

“Food is a primary reason we all travel now, so it was crucial for us to incorporate a robust culinary element into our latest lounge,” states Audrey Hendley, president of American Express Travel. Unlike other Centurion Lounges that feature a single local chef, the DCA lounge brings together the talents of three renowned chefs from different locations to craft a diverse, ever-evolving menu. The culinary trio includes Chefs Michelle Bernstein, Ravi Kapur, and Michael Solomonov, who design the menus at Centurion Lounges in Miami, San Francisco, and Philadelphia, respectively. The outcome is a vibrant celebration of Israeli, Hawaiian, and Latin flavors, embodying the cultural melting pot of Washington, D.C. Summer 2024 menu highlights feature shabazi-spiced salmon with pomegranate BBQ sauce, tamari-honey–glazed tofu with pineapple, and cherry malabi for dessert. Fortunately, the lounge offers large dinner plates instead of the small side plates often found in lounges, so you won’t have to stack your food sky-high. But be warned: once you taste the dishes, you’ll likely find yourself going back for more.

Artisan cocktails and local wines

As with all Centurion Lounge locations, renowned mixologist Jim Meehan has crafted cocktails tailored to D.C., with the standout being the Haku Hanami, which pays tribute to the city’s iconic cherry blossoms and its Japanese community. This elegant martini blends cherry blossom-infused Haku vodka, Dolin Blanc vermouth, and Luxardo maraschino liqueur, finished with three brandied cherries.

Likewise, Centurion Lounge Wine Director Anthony Giglio has curated a selection of wines for the lounge, featuring a white blend from Monticello, Virginia, and a Barboursville Cabernet Franc Reserve from Virginia’s wine region. If Virginia wines aren’t your preference, you’ll also find seven varietals from well-known regions like Sonoma Valley and Tuscany on the wine list.

Inspirational art and design

The Centurion Lounge in D.C. captivates at first glance. Behind a two-story glass façade lies a stunning living wall adorned with both local and exotic plants, complemented by a wooden staircase that leads to the second-floor reception. Upon scanning your Platinum or Centurion Card, turn left to discover an art gallery and lounge featuring ten original works by local Washington artists, specifically commissioned for the space. A highlight is a printed canvas of the Capitol Building by Maggie O’Neill, known for her pop impressionist depictions of D.C. landmarks. Another notable piece is a modern take on the watchdog, one of AmEx’s earliest brand symbols from the 19th century, crafted from a collage of archival materials like brochures and ads. QR codes are cleverly placed beneath all ten gallery pieces and alongside other artworks throughout the lounge, allowing guests to delve deeper into the stories behind each creation.

Beyond the entry gallery, the lounge expands into a series of cohesive areas, designed with a minimalist aesthetic that evokes a chic and serene study, ideal for productivity. With 250 seats thoughtfully arranged, the lounge features a delightful mix of seating options in gray and royal blue, many of which overlook expansive glass walls. At the heart of the lounge is a main dining area, adorned with a stunning meta-lighting fixture comprising 260 lanterns inspired by D.C.’s original boundary markers from 1791 (scan the QR code for a deep dive into this art and history lesson), collectively resembling the shape of the Potomac River.

Within the lounge are several small multipurpose rooms designed for phone calls and quiet work, as well as additional private rooms exclusively for Centurion cardholders.

Showers, charging, and Wi-Fi

For the occasional transit passenger at DCA or anyone looking to freshen up before their flight, the lounge features a spacious shower suite complete with a vanity and makeup area. There are numerous power outlets throughout the lounge, accommodating 120-volt plugs, including many located on the floor in the main dining space. High-speed Wi-Fi is available at no charge.

How to gain entry to the Washington, D.C., 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 accompanying an eligible cardholder will incur a fee of $50 each (or $30 for children aged 2 to 17, while infants under 2 enter free with proof of age). Additionally, those with a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card or a Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card can access Centurion Lounges at no charge when flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight, allowing them to bring up to two guests at $50 each.

While the offers outlined above were accurate at the time of publication, they may change at any time and could have been altered or may no longer be available.