A review of the Centurion New York lounge at One Vanderbilt with Daniel Boulud dining, stunning views, and tips for getting a reservation.
If you are considering booking travel or signing up for a new credit card please click here. Both support LiveAndLetsFly.com.
If you haven’t followed us on Facebook or Instagram, add us today.
Location
Adjacent to Grand Central Station and off Madison Avenue and East 42nd Street, the Centurion Lounge is easily accessed by car, train, or subway Manhattan’s east side. Trips to Newark, Laguardia, and JFK airports from this location are all about $60-80 by taxi or rideshare and about 60 minutes in moderate traffic.
Centurion New York is located on the 55th floor of the One Vanderbilt building, reception is in the lobby on the left side. A photo ID and your American Express card (does not need to be a “Centurion” card also known as a Black card) are required for access.
Centurion cardholders are permitted to walk-in any time 11 AM to 11 PM; other American Express cardholders need to make reservations in advance. Resy offers this in their app on a two-day advance basis, but reservations over the phone can be placed up to 60 days in advance, though they are only collected from 10 AM to noon Monday through Friday. Lunch is an easier reservation which non-Centurion American Express cardholders can secure dinner reservations from 5-5:30 or 8:30 onwards. Cardholders are permitted to bring guests. All guests must be at least 13 years old if accompanied by parents or 18 and older for solo visits; just those over 21 are permitted to order alcohol (of course.)
Address: 1 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017
Phone: +1 212-597-9070
Inside the Centurion New York Lounge
The express elevator takes guests straight to the 55th floor where the reception opens and the staff greets guests. Bags and coats are collected and taken to a coat check while guests are taken to their tables.
Dining rooms wrap around the building and offer incredible views of New York City. We sat with a view of the Empire State Building, while the Chrysler building is uniquely framed at the back of one of the dining rooms. Worth the cost of admission, a visual paradox occurs in which the Chrysler Building looks incredibly close, but as you walk the hall and near private room at the end of the hall, the building is further away than it previously appeared (see video below.)
The Gallery dining room is occupied for fine dining dinner while The Studio opposite the bar is primarily used for lunch.
Of note, American Express has issued a number of rules for the members-only club which include dress code, photography limitations, and cell phone/laptop use restrictions. For what it’s worth, I asked for permission to collect media and the staff was happy to accommodate so long as other guests were excluded. A guest was in the lobby on his laptop when we arrived but otherwise we didn’t see anyone else and everyone complied with the dress code requirements.
Dress Code
We ask that all patrons are respectful in their choice of attire to reflect the ethos of Centurion New York. We reserve the right to refuse any patrons that are not well-presented.
Proper Attire:
- Smart chic attire
- Gentlemen are encouraged to wear jackets for dinner servicein The Gallery and collared shirts for both lunch and dinner service in all spacesImproper Attire:
- Athletic or leisure wear, track suits, casual t-shirts, hooded orzip-up sweatshirts
- Casual sandals or flip-flops
- Baseball or casual hats
- Inappropriate or offensive clothing
For any questions, please call the number on the back of your Card.
Work Rules
- We ask that you limit the use of laptops, cell phones and tablets, and other electronic devices after 6:00 pm in all dining areas.
- Please keep cell phones on silent and be respectful of other patrons when using cell phones.
Photography Limitations
- To respect the privacy of all patrons, photography is discouraged in all areas. Exceptions to this rule may be made for private events.
Food
I was unable to secure photos of the menu and it’s unavailable on American Express’ website. However, I am happy to share photos of our food. Lunch is not prix fixe with appetizers, soups, and salads around $20 each, entrees from around $40-69, and dessert around $15-20.
Lunch starts with warm baguettes and fresh homemade butter.
My dining companion ordered the pea and lettuce vichyssoise to start.
I started with a burrata, mango, and oat salad which was an excellent combination of sweet, creamy, tangy, and a variety of textures.
I ordered hanger steak and a grilled Caeser salad while my companion had the lup de mer and a side of broccolini.
My guest ordered the eclair for dessert and we both had espressos ($7 for a single.)
The bar offers a number of signature cocktails but this was a lunch meeting and we didn’t closely examine the list.
Service
Service, as expected, was exceptional. Our server, Ivan, offered a flawless experience but all of the staff we encountered were absolutely top-notch. From the reception, where they knew my name before I arrived to the coat check where our items were pulled before we asked for them – it was befitting the experience we expected.
Conclusion
The Centurion New York does not include its menu online. Unlike the airport lounges, dining experiences in the Centurion do come at an additional cost. Our lunch for two included above had two bottles of water, one still and one sparkling and came to $246 before tip. That’s certainly not inexpensive and on future meeting visits, grabbing a drink with a client or supplier in the lounge or at the bar may be more fitting. But for this meeting, it was the right fit and a rare opportunity to impress a key partner (and enjoy an incredible lunch and view.) The menu is also prepared by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud and the food was of the highest quality so the price was fair, however, issuing the menu online in advance might help to set expectations.
What do you think? Have you tried the Centurion New York? How was your experience?
Sounds Great, I’m in New York this week and may give it a try. Thanks I hadn’t heard of this club.
What’s the point of this Lounge (not really a club)? There are many fine restaurants in the City at the same or better price point with less hassle for admission.
It’s called Grand Central Terminal. There is no Grand Central Station
I agree with JetAway. This seems stupid.
Is there a good view of the streets overrun with illegals, or mom and pop stores being looted? Or is the view very much insulated in the very wealthy part of midtown?
Ah, NYC elitism. Is there anything more insufferable? How do you know they’re illegal? Snob.
Best review I’ve seen. The telephone rez will be quite handy.
@jetaway it’s meant to be a ‘club’ for centurion card holders who can walk in at any time.
American Express began as a freight company, and then it started offering financial services to those customers, and then it became an outright financial company. Amex has slowly became more about “hospitality” and “lifestyle” over the years, and this restaurant is a continuation of that. In itself, this restaurant seems silly, but it feels like the first step to a chain of Amex restaurants, hotels and spas. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an Amex casino in Las Vegas eventually.
We booked a dinner reservation, last August as a special treat on our way to Europe…The food and service were both impeccable. The place was about 1/2 full and the staff went out of their way to recognize our special occasion. Dinner was not inexpensive, but oh, so worth it.