Capital One Lounge Dulles Overview: Fashionable Vibe with Seize-and-Go Meals

The Capital One Lounge at Washington Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD) supplies a contemporary, nice environment to loosen up or work away from the primary terminal, along with what I think about to be one of the best food-and-beverage facilities of any lounge at Dulles.

• A novel number of small, sizzling plates on the buffet.

• A full-service espresso bar, together with craft tea and (superior) baked items.

• Complimentary cocktails, wine and beer.

• Seize-and-go meals to take out of the lounge, together with sandwiches, salads, fruit, baked items, espresso and sodas. 

• Two semi-private work areas.

• A nursing/mother and father room. 

I used my new Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card to entry the Capital One Lounge Dulles throughout an eight-hour layover and was totally impressed with the meals, drinks and employees. At 8,000 sq. ft, the lounge was massive sufficient to accommodate peak visitors durations with out feeling overly crowded. It lacks among the facilities of higher-end lounges, like showers and sleeping areas. However the choice to pack a bag with snacks and drinks earlier than leaving for my connecting flight was amongst my favourite options of any lounge I’ve visited.

The place is the Capital One Lounge Dulles?

The Capital One Lounge at IAD is positioned on the ticketing stage in the primary terminal proper after the TSA PreCheck checkpoint. Observe indicators in the direction of Gate D, H and Z, go up the escalator, then make a left in the direction of the elevators marked “Capital One Lounge” positioned adjoining to the Z Gates.

For those who’re on a connecting flight, take the practice to the primary terminal, go up the primary set of escalators, head in the direction of the TSA PreCheck safety checkpoint, then observe the directions above.

The open-seating areas are accomplished with trendy furnishings and decor that’s easy and nice. The perimeter of the lounge is roofed in glass, with loads of pure daylight to make the house really feel brilliant and ethereal.

There are additionally two semi-private lounge areas to loosen up or get some work performed. That is the place I spent the vast majority of my layover.

Loos and nursing rooms

The lounge has two bogs, which was greater than sufficient in periods of decrease visitors, however as soon as crowds elevated there was a brief wait. There’s additionally a non-public nursing room for folks in a cushty and quiet space.

Meals and beverage choices

The espresso bar is amongst my favourite options of the lounge. Visitors have entry to a number of types of drip espresso, a full-service espresso bar and a number of tea choices. There are even draft handles for self-service lattes and chilly brew. All drinks can be found in a mug or a to-go cup.

The baked items on the espresso bar had been additionally superb and included banana date cake, croissants and, my favourite, strawberry pop-tarts. In addition they have paper baggage so you’ll be able to seize a snack to go, which I did with a second pop-tart.

The recent meals choices are plentiful and are served as small plates on the buffet. Throughout my prolonged keep within the lounge, the employees did a wonderful job at preserving the buffet stocked with:

• Lebanese-inspired deviled eggs.

• Chef Morris’s mac and cheese.

• Roasted butternut squash with pepitas.

• Buttermilk biscuit and pimento cheese.

• Grilled lamb in a inexperienced sauce.

• Deserts, together with chocolate chip cookies, s’mores bars and coconut parfait.

I attempted practically the whole lot the buffet needed to provide. My favorites had been the tomato salad, antipasti, roasted butternut squash with pumpkin seeds, and mac and cheese. The cookies seemed scrumptious, however I opted for a s’mores bar, which was gooey and decadent.

The bar serves each alcoholic drinks and mocktails. Wine, beer and cocktails are complimentary, or you should buy a bottle of champagne or small-batch spirits as a part of the lounge’s “Uncommon Bottle Membership.”

The cocktails had been improbable, second solely to the standard of the bartenders, who had been laughing and interacting with patrons whereas typically making the bar space a vigorous place to hang around. The lounge’s signature cocktail, the “Bee’s Knees,” is a gin drink with lemon and honey that was refreshing with out being overly candy. I’m not usually one for gin, however after seeing it was offered in a bee-shaped cocktail glass, I needed to attempt it.

There are many non-alcoholic beverage choices within the lounge, together with eight draft handles serving water, sodas, tea and lemonade. Moreover, the espresso bar serves a wide range of teas and espresso drinks, and the bar serves mocktails. You too can seize a wide range of glowing or nonetheless water from the grab-and-go part.

That is the place the Capital One Lounges actually set themselves aside. Whether or not you solely have a couple of minutes to pop into the lounge earlier than your flight otherwise you desire a snack for the aircraft after devouring all the opposite meals choices (hand raised), everybody is inspired to take meals to go, with choices together with:

• Rooster, turkey, or Italian sandwiches.

• Watermelon and pineapple fruit salad.

• Native grilled peach salad.

• Flavored bubbly glowing waters.

I took an acai bowl and pop-tart from the espresso bar for my flight. Each had been scrumptious.

The lounge by no means appeared overly crowded throughout my prolonged go to. There have been two rushes of folks that led to a crowded bar, however the employees stored up nicely with preserving the buffet stocked and there was at all times seating obtainable. If the lounge does hit capability, guests must be a part of a waitlist earlier than getting into.

For those who’re a Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card or Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise cardholder, you’ll be able to be a part of the waitlist for the Dulles Capital One Lounge (and different Capital One lounges) on the Capital One app. Go to the Rewards & Advantages tile, then faucet the airplane icon.

From there, you’ll be able to choose a lounge from the Capital One lounge areas and consider the capability. You’ll obtain a textual content notification when it’s your flip to enter. To reduce ready time, you may need to be a part of the waitlist earlier than you arrive.

For those who don’t have the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card or Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise card, you’ll have to attend within the bodily line.

Tips on how to get into the Capital One Lounge

The lounge is open on daily basis from 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM. You’ll want a same-day boarding cross and may enter the lounge a most of three hours max earlier than your flight. If in case you have a connecting flight, there is no such thing as a time restriction for getting into the lounge earlier than your flight.

Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card (together with licensed customers) and Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise major cardholders (excluding licensed customers) obtain limitless complimentary entry to any Capital One Lounge with as much as two friends per go to. Further friends price $45 every, and youngsters beneath two years outdated can enter without spending a dime with a mum or dad or guardian.

Cardholders should current their eligible card to enter the lounge, and digital card numbers should not accepted.

Non-cardholders and non-customers can enter the lounge for a charge of $90 per go to.

Is it value visiting the Capital One Lounge at IAD?