The new American Express Centurion Lounge in Denver is spacious, comfortable, and offers a great menu of food and drinks.
American Express Centurion Lounge Denver Review
While connecting in Denver this morning I had a brief opportunity to check out the recently-opened lounge. My takeaway is that this is a lounge I would deliberately schedule a longer layover for in order to visit. The food and drink are better than anything you will receive on a plane, especially during the pandemic.
Location + Hours + Access
The lounge is located in Concourse C, just above Gate C46. It’s located on the “mezzanine” level one floor above the gate area and accessible by escalator. All terminals are connected airside (past security) in Denver via train.
Currently, the lounge is only open from 7:00AM to 3:00PM. Hopefully the lounge will be opened later in the months ahead.
Access is reserved for:
- Centurion cardholders
- Platinum cardholders
- Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders
Other American Express cardholders cannot buy access. Platinums are allowed two guests for free, Delta SkyMiles Reserve members are allowed two guests for $50/each, and Centurion members can enter with two guests or their (larger) immediate family (spouse and children).
Furthermore, keep in mind:
- You can only enter the lounge with a confirmed onward boarding pass
- Centurion members and their guests can use the lounge upon arrival
- Those who are originating Denver cannot access the lounge more than three hours before their flight, though passengers connecting from another flight are allowed longer stays
Seating
The lounge is rectangular in shape and utilizes, if you can visualize it, the rectangle outside the central rectangle. In the center is a floor-to-ceiling atrium that may not be an effective use of space, but provides great natural light. From the outer edges you can view the tarmac and enjoy a mix of couches, chairs, and desks. The majority of seats are currently blocked to promote social distancing.
There’s also a fairly large dining room near the main bar:
Game Room
Next to the craft beer bar, there’s a game area where you can play billiards or checkers while enjoying a drink.
Family Room
A family room offers a more private setting for families with small children.
Food + Drink
The lounge menu is inspired by cuisine from Northern Italy and designed by local Colorado restaurateur, Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served from 7:00AM to 11:00AM and offers. Menu items include:
- Tortilla Española with Potatoes, Peppers and Onion
- Eggs Stanley with Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Sweet Potato & Broccolini
- Gubana French Toast with Pecans, Pistachios, Hazelnuts, Cinnamon and Raisins
- Almond Flour Waffle with Date Butter
Although a buffet is present, you point to what you want and an associate hands it to you.
There’s also a live kitchen area where shots of fresh pressed juice were offered.
Two self-serve coffee bars are available as well.
Lunch
Lunch runs from 11:00AM to 2:30PM and includes:
- Quinoa Salad with Cucumber, Tomato, Roasted Cauliflower, Olives, Oranges and Pine Nuts
- Chestnut Soup with Honeycrisp Apple and Speck
- Grilled Chicken with Salsa Verde, Amatriciana Potatoes, and Green Beans
- Rigatoni al Portonat | Rigatoni with Prosciutto and Poppy Seeds
- Roasted Carrot Salad with Cashews, Pomegranate, and Mint
- Chicken Tortilla Soup with Sour Cream, Cilantro, Fried Tortilla Strips and Lime
- Maiale Tonnato | Pork Loin with Capers and Tonnato Sauce
- Girini di Pasta | Spelt Pasta with Guanciale, Zucchini, Rosemary and Montasio Cheese
- Basque Cheesecake
- Tiramisu
The menu looks beautiful…I hope to visit for lunch next time.
Main Bar
The main bar includes a menu of craft cocktails especially designed for this location, including Rocky Fence, High Plains Sip Stir, and Cold Byrrh. Beer, wine, Champagne, and spirits are also available.
You can view the full bar menu here.
Craft Beer Bar
A craft beer bar in the game room area offers an additional menu of speciality beers.
Showers + Restrooms
Two showers suites are available, though not yet open due to pandemic guidelines.
Restrooms are adjacent to the shower suites.
CONCLUSION
I was very impressed with the tarmac views, natural light, and food and beverage options in this lounge. This is a nice addition to Denver International and far better than anything you will find in an American, Delta, or United lounge (the other lounges at this airport).
Holy crap. This actually looks solid. Like Asian or European style lounge offerings. There IS HOPE! Can’t wait to try this out next time through DEN.
For those who can’t visualize the “rectangle outside the rectangle,” here’s the lease:
https://denver.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=6149780&GUID=EE6D7308-0D7B-4348-AE90-3B976883AEE5
Exhibit A shows the layout in plan view.
Thanks!
The chestnut soup is the best thing I’ve eaten at this lounge so far. The tiramisu, grilled chicken, and french toast are also delicious.
Looking forward to trying every dish!