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In June 2025, Capital One unveiled its extremely anticipated airport lounge at John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK), marking a daring new chapter within the model’s increasing portfolio of proprietary lounges and “landings” (smaller hybrid lounge-cafés). With current lounges in Dallas–Fort Value (DFW), Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), and Washington D.C. (IAD and DCA), this newest addition in JFK’s Terminal 4 doesn’t simply be part of the membership—it units the tone.
Tucked simply previous safety on the decrease degree of T4’s retail corridor, the 13,500-square-foot lounge is a sensory tribute to New York, from the stacks of hand-rolled Ess-a-Bagels and the Bean & Bean espresso bar to the full-service cheesemonger and design particulars that nod to the town’s artistic grit. In different phrases, it’s “I Love NY” reimagined—with out the kitsch, and with much more seating.
Open 24 hours a day—a unicorn standing in lounge land—the sprawling, midcentury-meets-modern house is bathed in pure gentle (or the twinkle of stars and metropolis lights) due to large floor-to-ceiling home windows overlooking the tarmac. Day or evening, it’s made for plane-gazing, daydreaming, or decompressing.
Whereas Capital One has made its mark within the lounge recreation with contemporary aesthetics and elevated food-and-beverage choices, this JFK outpost looks as if its most formidable but, each in design and in idea. It’s the primary to be labeled a world flagship, and it wears the title nicely.
I had the possibility to discover the lounge final week—and truthfully, I didn’t wish to depart. Right here’s what to anticipate and why it’s value attending to JFK additional early.
A flagship with soul
Step inside, and the frenzy of JFK slips away. A wood-paneled welcome desk, sculptural glass lighting by Brooklyn-based design agency Shakúff, and a grab-and-go wall of snacks welcome you. Across the nook? A full-on NYC-style bodega counter, full with cabinets of bagels and hand-lettered indicators—playful, sure, but additionally purposeful, with a deep bench of made-to-order breakfast gadgets and all-day bites.
The lounge is split into distinct zones which can be cohesive but various: cozy seating clusters with energy ports at each seat, eating areas lined with unique works by New York artists (together with photographer Amanda Pratt and fiber-multimedia artist Marilyn Henrion), and tarmac-facing loungers subsequent to a sprawling bar. There’s even a full-service cheese counter by the enduring Murray’s Cheese store in Manhattan’s West Village—and sure, that’s as nice because it sounds.
“We needed our flagship lounge to offer vacationers a spot to chill out and be impressed by the town’s creativity and vitality with out having to depart the airport,” says Jenn Scheurich, head of Capital One journey and retail expertise. “It was vital to us to construct an area that works for the numerous several types of vacationers passing by way of JFK—enterprise, leisure, households, and associates.”
A style of NYC (with out the crowds or the invoice)
New York is in all places on the menu: You may pattern black-and-white cookies or a traditional smoked salmon bagel. I began my day on the bodega with an iced latte and the Catsmo smoked salmon sandwich (toasted all the things bagel, cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, crimson onion, and capers—chef’s kiss). Later, I ordered the mascarpone challah French toast (with blueberry maple syrup) through a QR code at my desk. Did I would like it? No. Did I remorse it? Additionally no.
Capital One continues to keep away from the dreaded communal buffet trough. As a substitute, you’ll discover fantastically plated single-serve dishes made contemporary within the lounge kitchen utilizing domestically sourced substances. You may seize choose dishes from devoted meals shows, or sure sizzling dishes are delivered to your desk by ordering through QR code. Favorites? The everything-spiced deviled eggs and the arugula panzanella salad with red-wine French dressing. My companions raved in regards to the braised Berkshire pork shank over pea risotto and the hen paillard, which I respectfully skipped (I lead a pescatarian life).
The true gem, although? The Murray’s Cheese counter. It’s first come, first served, and nicely value stalking a seat close by. You may construct your personal board from greater than a dozen picks (assume Hudson Valley sharp cheddar and Vermont blue) served on customized ceramics by NYC-based Franca.
Drinks with a narrative
The illustrated cocktail menu is a journey in itself, introduced like a mini storybook by way of larger New York Metropolis. A number of neighborhoods loosely encourage considerate craft cocktails—all intelligent, advanced, and complimentary. One spotlight is the Jack’s Guide (made with domestically distilled Fort Hamilton double barrel rye, dry vermouth, china-china, and Luxardo), a Brooklyn-favored riff on the Manhattan discovered within the “Williamsburg” chapter. Within the Staten Island part, the Alice Austen (Rey Campero mezcal, orange, pineapple, lime, tiki bitters with toasted coconut) honors the turn-of-the-century documentary photographer whose title graces the Staten Island Ferry and whose house is now a public museum. And, in fact, there’s an Idlewild part, named after JFK airport’s unique moniker; right here you’ll discover modernized classics like a Bloody Caesar (Culch vodka made in New York State, Bloody Mary combine, and clam juice with a chili-lime salt rim).
On the beer entrance, standouts embody Skyscraper IPA, a sessionable brew created by Brooklyn’s Grimm Artisanal Ales only for the lounge, plus choices from native favourite Talea Beer Co. The wine checklist covers a large spectrum, with a robust exhibiting of bubbles, whites, reds, and a single however strong rosé. There are even varietals from New York’s Finger Lakes area.
And for those who’re feeling additional? Ask in regards to the Uncommon Bottle Membership, a rotating number of classic and limited-run spirits obtainable by the two-ounce pour—assume Prohibition-era gins, Nineteen Fifties bourbons, and hard-to-find cognacs. Costs range however are usually extra approachable than you’d assume. Choices change steadily, so ask your bartender what’s obtainable in the mean time.
Mocktails, juices, a self-serve soda station, specialty coffees, and filtered water stations spherical out the choices.
Perks, energy, and play
Past the foods and drinks, the lounge options seven all-gender restrooms, a non-public bathe suite, two reservable rooms, a mother or father’s room, and quick, free Wi-Fi. Each seat has an influence outlet and USB-C port. Workstations can be found, and loads of nooks make it straightforward to take a name or decompress.
One other ingredient that units this lounge aside is the roaming activations. The Morning Caffè Shakerato—a cell espresso bar serving Italian-style iced espresso—is successful, with dairy-free and boozy upgrades obtainable. After darkish, there’s a Midnight Snack cart delivering heat, comfort-food bites to weary red-eye vacationers (as a result of New York by no means sleeps, and neither do airport folks).
The right way to get in
As a result of JFK’s Terminal 4 isn’t related airside to different terminals, you’ll have to be flying out of (or connecting by way of) T4 to entry the lounge. Just a few dozen airways function out of T4, together with Delta, Singapore Airways, KLM, LATAM, Avianca, Hawaiian Airways, and Aeromexico. (Observe: It might be doable to enter Terminal 4 to make use of the lounge when flying from one other terminal, however that is as much as the discretion of TSA brokers.)
In case you’re flying from or passing by way of Terminal 4, all vacationers with a boarding go for a departing or connecting same-day flight can enter the Capital One Lounge at JFK as much as three hours earlier than their departure time, no matter airline or class flown. The lounge is open 24/7.
Right here’s how entry breaks down:
These phrases stay in impact till February 1, 2026, at which level Capital One will replace its insurance policies relating to visitors and extra customers to deal with problems with overcrowding.
As a reminder, the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card and Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card have headlined our lists of Greatest Journey Credit score Playing cards for 2 years and counting. They proceed to take action with their strong journey advantages and beneficiant sign-up bonuses—75,000 miles after spending $4,000 inside your first three months apiece—making them high contenders for playing cards with both larger or decrease annual charges.
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