Capital One just opened a new airport lounge in Denver — here’s your first look
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Today — November 3, 2023 — Capital One is opening its third Capital One Lounge at Denver International Airport (DEN), joining its existing Washington-Dulles (IAD) and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) lounges.
Capital One invited CNN Underscored to the lounge a day early to see it first-hand, and we were impressed. The Denver lounge is a lot larger than the recently-opened Dulles location, and it’s continued the tradition of offering local food and beverage to patrons. As a signature of the Capital One Lounge network, it also has an array of grab-and-go food options.
Let’s take a closer look at the Capital One Lounge in Denver and run through what to expect when you visit. But first, here’s how to access the lounge.
How to access the Capital One Lounge
First: You’ll need an eligible Capital One credit card to access the Capital One Lounge. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business card holders have unlimited access to all Capital One Lounges, as long as they have a boarding pass for a flight departing within three hours.
Meanwhile, those with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Spark Miles for Business can only enter a Capital One Lounge twice per year — if they have a boarding pass for a flight departing within the next three hours.
Don’t have an eligible card? Here’s a look at the cards that will get you into the lounge as well as their respective annual fees and welcome offers:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 within the first three months from account opening. $395 annual fee.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 within the first three months from account opening. $95 annual fee.
Capital One Venture X Business: Earn 150,000 bonus miles once you spend $30,000 within the first three months from account opening. $395 annual fee.
Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Earn 50,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,500 within the first three months from account opening. $95 annual fee, waived the first year.
Inside the Denver Capital One Lounge
Travelers who have been to other Capital One Lounges will find a similar experience at the Denver lounge. It has a clean and modern aesthetic, with locally-sourced food and drink, plenty of power outlets and special features like relaxation rooms and reservable workspaces.
Entering the Denver Capital One Lounge
The Denver Capital One Lounge is located in Denver’s Concourse A, near Gate 34. All of Denver’s concourses are connected air-side, so you can visit regardless of which airline you’re flying. That said, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to catch your flight if you’re departing from another concourse.
To enter, head up the escalator and you’ll find the check-in counter. This is right in front of the Capital One Lounge’s grab-and-go food station — we’ll discuss that shortly.
Seating at the Denver Capital One Lounge
Seating is plentiful at the Denver Capital One Lounge. When you walk into the lounge and take a left, you’ll see lounge seating up and down the aisle. Each is outfitted with power outlets and USB ports.
Continuing down the hall, there are two wellness rooms that you can book in 30-minute increments. One room even has an “EnergyPod” that has massage function, offering a restful start to your journey.
There are also a handful of workspaces and phone booths toward the end of the hallway. And if you’re looking for something roomier, there are reservable work rooms and even a small conference room that’s perfect for colleagues traveling together.
The Family Room is at the back of the lounge, an packed with a variety of seating. Here you’ll find couches, chairs and tables to hold everyone in your brood. Coffee and snacks are available on both sides of the room.
Finally, there’s a large dining area connected to the bar and buffet on the right-hand side of the lounge. Take your pick from standard tables and chairs, half-booths or a spot at the large bar. Again, power outlets and USB ports are plentiful.
This is a good amount of seating given the lounge’s size, but time will tell how well it holds up to peak travel times like spring break, summer vacation and holiday travel.
Food and drink at the Denver Capital One Lounge
Food and beverage is the highlight of all Capital One Lounges, and Denver is no exception. Capital One makes an effort to support local Denver businesses with its offerings by using local ingredients and partnering with local businesses.
Like all Capital One Lounges, there’s a large grab-and-go food cooler at the front of the lounge, right after you enter. This has things like sandwiches, nonalcoholic beverages and fruit available for you to take with you on your journey. Coffee and pastries are available nearby, too.
You’ll also find a buffet with hot food next to the bar on the left-hand side of the lounge. This is stocked with everything from breakfast sandwiches to sloppy joes, with healthier options available as well.
All the food I sampled was delicious, and I especially enjoyed the teriyaki chicken bowl and meat-and-cheese skewers.
The bar, however, is the star of the show. Capital One worked with Unfiltered Hospitality to curate a list of cocktails for the lounge, some of which were inspired by Denver’s critically acclaimed Yacht Club cocktail bar.
Drinks are free, though there is an upgraded menu available with premium wines and spirits available for purchase. Think Champagne and even rare whiskeys that you can only find at the lounge.
Continuing on the local trend, Capital One partnered with Denver-area pottery company — Fenway Clayworks — to design beautiful cocktail cups.
Cerveceria Colorado supplies much of the beer, including the Sky High P.A., which is exclusive to the lounge. It’s a delicious mix between an East Coast and West Coast IPA, and something beer-lovers should make a point of trying.
There’s also a soda machine next to the buffet where you’ll find an array of interesting flavors, like pineapple cream, agave vanilla cream and lemon berry açai.
In terms of coffee, there are two espresso machines behind the bar and drip coffee from Denver’s Unravel Coffee Merchants is available throughout the lounge. Plus, there are self-serve La Colombe draft lattes, chai lattes and cold brew available near the front of the lounge.
Bottom line
The Capital One Lounge at Denver International Airport (DEN) opens today, November 3, 2023. It’s an excellent addition to Capital One’s relatively new lounge network, and will be much appreciated by those flying through Denver’s Concourse A.
Fly through Denver frequently? Consider opening a Venture X or Venture X Business for unlimited access to the new lounge. Plus, you’ll be eligible for a hefty welcome offer, a $300 travel credit and a slew of other great travel perks.
Looking to earn travel rewards? Check our CNN Underscored’s list of the best travel credit cards currently available.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
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