Inside the new Amex Centurion Lounge in DC’s Reagan National Airport – The Points Guy

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA location

Amex’s new Centurion Lounge at DCA is located in a newly built extension to the airport’s Terminal 2.

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You’ll find the lounge in the airside National Hall near the entrance to the pier for the B Gates. The space is located just past the south security checkpoint, so I’d recommend clearing security here if you’re planning to use the lounge after completing check-in and security screening.

It’s hard to miss the entrance once you’re in National Hall. It’s located right opposite Lucky Buns, and the glass-lined entrance couldn’t be more prominent.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA access

The new lounge opens daily at 5 a.m. It closes on every day at 9 p.m., except for Saturdays when it closes at 7 p.m.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA layout

The new Amex lounge is located on a newly constructed upper level to the departures hall.

After entering the space, you’ll need to either take an elevator or climb about 50 stairs to reach the reception desk.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA dining

Though the lounge itself may resemble other Centurion Lounges, Amex is debuting a unique dining concept in this lounge.

The menu is designed in partnership with three award-winning chefs who have partnered with other Centurion Lounges nationwide. These include Chef Michelle Bernstein, Chef Ravi Kapur, and Chef Michael Solomonov, all of whom have incredibly successful restaurants in Miami, San Francisco and Philadelphia, respectively.

With this trio, travelers will be able to enjoy a wide range of cuisines on the lounge’s all-day buffet. As with all Centurion Lounges (and unlike the Capital One Lounge and Chase Sapphire Lounge), there is no a la carte dining here.

That said, the dishes that I tried at the media preview were all delicious, especially the Shabazi-spiced salmon.

I’m personally a big fan of Chef Solomonov’s Zahav restaurant in Philly, so getting to sample some of his creations in another Amex lounge is a big win in my book (especially given how hard it is to snag a reservation at his flagship restaurant).

At the bar, you can order from the cocktail menu curated by Centurion Lounge mixologist Jim Meehan or from the wine list designed by Anthony Giglio, the issuer’s wine director. Amex always invests in offering a pretty extensive and elevated drink list, and this lounge is no exception.

In addition to the buffet and signature bar, there are two drink stations located throughout the lounge. Here, you’ll find Eversys coffee machines, Vivreau water taps and even some delectable chocolate chip cookies.

While the culinary experience is highlighted by delicious food and drinks, you definitely don’t want to miss taking a glance at the dining room, which has a beautiful light fixture hanging from the ceiling. This fixture is a collection of 260 lanterns that are designed to resemble the topography of the Potomac River.

There aren’t many tables in the dining room, though, so during peak periods, I imagine guests will need to take their plates to other areas of the lounge.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA amenities

Although this space doesn’t offer a spa or an outdoor terrace, it does have all the basics covered (and then some).

There is one phone booth and one meeting room in the lounge. They are soundproof, and they feature floor-to-ceiling glass windows. I love the design of the walls in these rooms.

Instead of a family room, the lounge features a multipurpose room, which can be used by families and those traveling together as a group. This space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

There is one set of restrooms in the center of the lounge. The men’s room features three stalls and a few urinals.

There’s even a shower in the lounge, located just next to the reception desk. Be sure to reserve a time with the front desk when you enter.

The shower suite is beautiful and look like it might just be the single nicest shower in the airport. After all, it wins by default because it’s the first shower available to travelers at DCA.

Most seats are within an arm’s reach of power outlets and USB-A ports. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any USB-C charging ports here, despite this rapidly becoming the new charging standard.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the space, and download and upload speeds topped a whopping 300 Mbps.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA bottom line

The long-awaited Centurion Lounge in Washington, D.C., is finally here.

This is DCA’s first credit card-branded lounge, and it sets a very high bar. With plenty of space to relax, delicious food and drinks and thoughtful amenities, expect the location to be a hit with travelers. (So much so that I’d imagine overcrowding will unfortunately be a reality during peak departure windows.)

While this space might not feature special amenities like a spa or outdoor terrace, it fits the bill for what Amex’s top cardmembers passing through DCA likely need most.

As long as you can find a place to relax, this lounge is certainly worth a visit. I, for one, will certainly be back for Chef Solomonov’s salmon.

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