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Capital One’s new flagship lounge location at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) has so many tasteful—and tasty—touches you’ll likely want to hang around as long as possible. The 13,500 square-foot lounge, located on the lower level of Terminal 4’s retail hall, is the issuer’s largest location yet and is jam-packed with swoon-worthy design details and local flair.
Who Can Get In?
When the growing Capital One airport lounge network entered the chat, the locations quickly garnered attention for their upscale design and gourmet fare while incorporating regional touches meant to evoke their specific locales. This may sound familiar, as that’s what Amex’s Centurion Lounges are known for.
Also similar to the Centurion Lounge network is the exclusivity: Only primary cardholders of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) and the Capital One Venture X Business (rates & fees) will be able to access the location after February 1, 2026.
Currently, Venture X and Venture X Business cardholders can each bring up to two complimentary guests, and Venture X authorized users can have their own complimentary lounge access membership. Complimentary guest access for primary cardholders will end with the February 1, 2026 update. Venture and Spark Miles cardholders can access Capital One Lounge locations for a discounted rate of $45 per visit. All other visitors can enter Capital One Lounge locations for $90 per visit.
What Does the Lounge Look Like?
The lounge setup is reminiscent of an upscale food hall. Local art adorns the walls, and there’s plenty of seating in various layouts, from banquettes to chairs to tables. There are multiple food and beverage options for every seating area. Each section has its own look and design meant to evoke a certain nostalgia for the various New York communities, according to David Borowik, Capital One Travel’s head of airport experiences, programs and partnerships.
For example, the dining area has a live tree surrounded by a green banquette in a nod to Central Park’s trees. And over the lounge bar is a dazzling light fixture that extends the length of the counter, whose shape echoes the branches and flora of the city.
All artwork was made by artists local to New York City and has the cityscape top-of-mind when chosen for the lounge.
In addition to the main seating areas, the lounge also offers two small rooms where the door to each can be slid shut for privacy. These rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis with a time limit of 45 minutes and include two club-style chairs, a couch and shelving. If you can access one of these spaces, it could be ideal for holding a small meeting or video conference call with some privacy.
The lounge also offers a shower, which you can reserve once. Guests can spend up to 30 minutes using the amenities, which include premium toiletries, Dyson hair dryers and plush towels.
Decor Is Cool and All, but What About the Food?
The food is where the JFK Capital One lounge really shines. As you enter the lounge, the first food option you’ll find is at the “bodega” counter, which is stocked with six different kinds of fresh bagels from New York City’s Ess-A-Bagel. Dough is delivered daily to the lounge kitchen so the bagels can be baked fresh on the premises.
There’s more on tap here than just a mere schmear. Takeaway options include custom-made egg and cheese or Schaller and Weber pastrami sandwiches on the bagel of your choice. A barista pours your choice of beverage using locally roasted beans from Bean and Bean Coffee Roaster. Lighter fare includes takeaway salad cups and wraps.
These alone are fantastic options, but the shining edible star of the lounge is the Murray’s Cheese counter, complete with a cheesemonger who orchestrates tastings at the lounge’s cheese bar. You’ll have to request the cheese tasting when you arrive at the lounge, but it’s well worth any wait. Once seated, you’ll be presented with a tasting of up to ten different cheeses, paired with charcuterie meats, and, if desired, the waitstaff will provide various drinks to complement the tasting that can’t be found at the main bar.
In addition to the bodega counter and cheese tastings, there’s also an array of small bites, cafeteria-style, in the main dining, as well as a QR code menu on each lounge table where you can order a selection of other small plates—which will rotate throughout the day and night. Plus, bar carts will periodically circulate the lounge with different food and drinks based on the time of day.
If you’re a nervous flyer or just appreciate a good drink, the beverage options will not disappoint. A craft cocktail menu was developed that includes both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. In addition to the standard top-shelf options you’d expect to find at a premium airport lounge, the bar stocks several custom spirits, including an Apple Brandy from Laird and Company and a Skyscraper IPA created by Grimm Artisanal Ales, both served exclusively at the Capital One Lounge at JFK.
Bottom Line
If you typically travel out of JFK or often have a layover there, this lounge is a highly appealing alternative to the other options in this terminal, which include two Delta Sky Club Lounges, a Delta One Lounge, a Centurion Lounge and a Chase Sapphire Lounge by the Club with Etihad Airways. If you’re seeking a New York state of mind, the latest entrant to the lounge scene delivers, just make sure you show up early enough to take it all in.