Capital One’s new airport lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington Nationwide Airport (DCA), which opened on Nov. 19, 2024, options meals curated by Michelin-starred chef José Andrés. Known as the Capital One Touchdown, it seems extra like a restaurant than a conventional lounge.
You will not discover loungey work stations, buffet meals, cozy corners to loosen up in on an extended layover, and — it hopes — crowds of individuals milling round and ready to get in.
As an alternative, guests might be seated within the heat, inviting eating room by a bunch and may get pleasure from made-to-order tapas delivered from a QR code-placed order. Or, passerbyers should buy contemporary seize and go bites from the short service counter. However to suit this primarily short-haul airport, the celeb chef-crafted expertise is designed to be extra transient than different lounges.
The Touchdown is a sublime and alluring area, positioned proper previous safety in Terminal 2. Guests are seated within the heat, inviting eating room by a bunch and may get pleasure from made-to-order tapas. The eating room seats about 90 friends. Or, passersby should buy contemporary grab-and-go bites from the short service counter. However the two elements are utterly separate — every can solely be accessed from the terminal. One draw back: Not like with different Capital One lounges, the to-go choices on this lounge include an additional value.
I visited the Capital One Touchdown at DCA throughout a press preview earlier than its opening day. Right here’s what it was like.
Capital One Touchdown at Washington Nationwide. (Photograph by Erin Hurd)
Meals and drinks
Meals is the main focus on the Capital One Touchdown DCA, and it delivers quite a lot of scrumptious, elevated choices. In partnership with José Andrés, the Touchdown options Spanish-style tapas. Visitors can order scorching tapas objects and drinks from a QR code on their desk with just a few straightforward faucets.
Capital One Touchdown menu. (Photograph by Erin Hurd)
When you wait for decent tapas to reach, head as much as the counter service chilly tapas bar and seize just a few starters. You’ll discover elegantly ready commonplace fare like Caesar salad and veggies with hummus, and likewise Spanish favorites like made-to-order pan con tomate (tomato bread), contemporary anchovy picks and jamon (ham) immediately from Spain.
Our scorching tapas took about 10 minutes to reach, which was comparatively fast. To make sure, I used to be attending a small, closed occasion. However Capital One says the menu and your entire kitchen have been designed with effectivity and velocity in thoughts.
The carne asada con mojo verde (grilled hanger steak with inexperienced sauce) was a desk favourite.
The chilly tapas bar gives starters. (Photograph by Erin Hurd)
For dessert, I liked the Spanish flan, the burnt Basque cheesecake and the comfortable serve with a drizzle of olive oil topped with chocolate shavings.
When you eat, you too can get different small bites and drinks from carts circulating all through the eating room. A trolley of caviar meticulously ready into labneh (comfortable cheese) cones strolled by on our go to, adopted by a cart with gin and tonics. Look ahead to a cheesecake cart to make its rounds within the afternoons and a mimosa cart within the mornings, full with orange, pineapple and pomegranate juices.
Caviar is meticulously ready into labneh cones. (Photograph by Erin Hurd)
You gained’t simply discover pre-flight drinks on specialty carts. The Capital One Touchdown has a full bar menu designed to ship cocktails and different drinks rapidly. The bar gives wines and beers originating from Spain and D.C. and options foosball-inspired faucets. An espresso martini machine whips up chilled drinks rapidly.
Full bar with foosball-inspired faucets. (Photograph by Erin Hurd)
Who can entry Capital One Touchdown and the way it works
The Capital One Touchdown DCA works otherwise than different lounges, beginning with what’s included for which cardholders – and what isn’t.
For the seated eating expertise:
Not like most lounges, you’ll be capable of make advance reservations for a desk on the Capital One Touchdown between six months and 24 hours upfront. Use the Capital One Cellular app to order a spot, monitor real-time availability and be part of a digital waitlist.
It’s effectively designed with traveler creature-comforts in thoughts like energy retailers at each desk, baggage cubbies to stow your carry-on and in-lounge loos. Foodies will enjoyment of each the meals and beverage choices, although kids in all probability gained’t be as thrilled.
For grab-and-go meals and drinks at ‘On the Fly’:
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Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card and Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise cardholders can get 50% off the a la carte meals and beverage choices.
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Everybody else (together with non-Capital One cardholders) should buy the choices at full worth.
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Open each day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Not like different Capital One lounges like Denver, which inspires eligible guests to take meals to go at no further value, nothing within the ‘On the Fly’ choices is free.
Seize-and-go choices at Capital One Touchdown. (Photograph by Erin Hurd)
The idea of a connoisseur sit-down lounge expertise with out an extra invoice (for Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Cardholders) and with out having to circle across the crowd to snag an empty seat and the final little bit of the buffet tray is very interesting.
Whereas Capital One is betting that small plates in a host-seated atmosphere will ease crowded lounge complaints, the truth stays to be seen.