Capital One Lounge at Denver International Airport: 1st look

There’s more great news for select Capital One cardholders, as the credit card issuer opens its third lounge on Friday.

Located in Concourse A at Denver International Airport (DEN), this move reflects the competition among credit card issuers, such as American Express, Chase and now Capital One, who are vying for top customers by offering premium lounges at major airports.

By opening a new lounge in Denver, Capital One aims to cater to travelers seeking a comfortable space during their journey, bridging a gap in the lounge offerings at the Mountain West hub.

Although the lounge’s official opening is scheduled for Friday, TPG had the opportunity to preview the facility on Thursday afternoon. Here’s a peek inside.

Holders of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business, along with authorized users, can enjoy unlimited access for themselves and up to two guests at Capital One lounges and partner lounges in the Capital One network.

Additionally, holders of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Spark Miles for Business are entitled to two complimentary lounge visits per year. Any additional guests beyond the limit will incur a fee of $45 each.

If you are not a cardholder, you can still visit this lounge by paying a fee of $65.

Related: Capital One Venture X credit card review: Luxury perks for a reasonable annual fee

This Denver lounge is the latest addition to Capital One’s collection, following the successful openings of their first lounge at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) in November 2021 and their second at Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) in September 2023. By establishing a presence in Denver, Capital One strategically caters to the Mile High City and transit passengers.

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Located in Concourse A near Gate 34 on the Mezzanine Level, the new Capital One Lounge is within the Frontier Airlines section of DEN. While this may seem unexpected for a premium lounge, it also serves other major airlines such as Delta Air Lines, most international carriers and select United Airlines flights. Accessing concourses B and C, where United and Southwest Airlines have significant hubs, is an underground train ride away, so passengers flying on these carriers will need to factor in more time.

The lounge’s regular opening hours are 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. However, during the soft opening, through Nov. 12, the hours are more restricted, open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

While the lounge can be accessed through an elevator, most visitors will arrive off the escalator, which conveniently leads you directly to the reception desk nestled within the lounge’s grab-and-go area. Showcasing its support for emerging artists, the lounge exhibits over 50 captivating pieces of original artwork from local talents like Windy Chien, Gary Gomez and Lindsay Anna Jones, adorning the space with creativity and inspiration at every turn.

Just behind the reception desk is an array of convenient grab-and-go options. The options range from hot sandwiches, coffee and draft chai tea lattes to packaged food items like beet and pear salads, sumac citrus cups and apple and almond butter sandwiches.

For those seeking a leisurely sit-down meal, the Capital One Lounge offers a selection of locally sourced small plates. When we visited, the lounge had jarred salads, acai bowls, bison sloppy joes and even a decadent mac and cheese, all portioned for personal consumption instead of the big buffet platters that you’d find in an American Express Centurion Lounge.

Complementing the small plates, the lounge boasts a unique six-tap system offering refreshing beverages. We loved the agave vanilla cream soda and pineapple cream soda. Travelers aged 21 and above can explore a selection of craft cocktails, wines and the lounge’s signature airport beer, the Sky High P.A., brewed by Cerveceria Colorado. Capital One features two cocktails from Yacht Club, a local bar in Denver. The Ground Control to Major Tom features Fever Tree elderflower tonic, club soda, mint and Lee Spirits strawberry ginger gin. Some drinks are served in artisanal cups from Fenway Clayworks, which boasts 15 years of handcraftmanship.

In addition to the enticing food options, the lounge serves drip coffee from Unravel Coffee Merchants and offers baked goods like lavender chocolate chip cookies and herb cheese pinwheels from Good Bread, a local Denver bakery. As with all Capital One lounges, guests can treat themselves to draft lattes and cold brew on tap from La Colombe. This particular lounge also indulges on-tap chai lattes, boasting a smooth, silky taste.

Continuing clockwise in the U-shaped lounge, you’ll find six individual ADA-compliant restrooms. Each restroom showcases local artwork, adding a touch of creativity to the facilities. Due to the positioning of the grab bars, the toilet seats don’t stay up unless you hold them. There are also two fully stocked, ADA-compliant shower suites, equipped with Dyson hair dryers, towels and eco-friendly dissolvable shower products. We found the lighting controls overly complicated, making it difficult to turn on and off the lights.

For parents and caregivers, the lounge offers a dedicated parent’s room. This cozy space provides comfortable seating for feeding or nursing babies, as well as a convenient changing table stocked with wipes, disposable diapers and a bottle warmer. The room also includes kid-sized tables and chairs.

Off the powder room corridor, you’ll find yourself in the lounge’s inviting living room area, adorned with comfortable couches, chairs and tables that offer floor-to-ceiling views of the A concourse. The seating is thoughtfully equipped with AC and USB power outlets, though Capital One left the latest-model smartphone users off the hook without USB-C outlets. We found the lighting intense, which might be especially bothersome for travelers with early-morning or late-night departures. Finally, in this area, you’ll find a well-stocked station offering coffee, tea, still water and sparkling water.

If you need to get some work done, make a reservation at the front desk for one of the two private workrooms or the single conference room. Note the 30-minute reservation maximum. You can also try to secure one of the two phone booths, which are not reservable but have a 20-minute maximum. We’re unsure if or how this will be enforced by staff.

For those seeking a more leisurely experience, the lounge offers two private relaxation rooms designed to provide a serene atmosphere. These rooms feature dim lighting and ceilings that beautifully mimic the tranquil night sky of Colorado. To enjoy these spaces, you can easily reserve them for 30-minute intervals at the reception. One of the relaxation rooms is ADA-compliant.

During our visit, we had the opportunity to recline in the comfortable “EnergyPod” chairs in one of the relaxation rooms. The seats are designed for optimum comfort and even come with a massage function, enhancing the relaxation experience. You can also adjust the soothing music playing through the room’s speaker to further enhance your tranquility.

However, it’s important to note that the room is not completely soundproof and may pick up some noise from the hallway. To ensure a restful nap, it’s recommended to turn up the music volume or bring along your own earplugs. Additionally, the provided eye masks or your personal one can be used to effectively block out the brightness of the Emergency Exit sign, allowing for a more peaceful rest.

Related: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review: A great beginner card with a 75,000-mile bonus

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card turns two years old this month, and Capital One is making a strong statement with its presence in Denver.

The lounge will offer a sophisticated and comfortable environment where passengers can relax before their flight. We’re big fans of the premium features like the shower suites, private restrooms, family-friendly features and locally inspired arts, food and drinks. However, we didn’t love the glary lighting, limited views or the lack of a kid’s area.

Although the lounge is in Concourse A, it’s worth taking a quick trip on the airport’s underground transit system if time allows.

The food and beverage selection in the lounge surpasses that of the United Club Fly in Concourse B, offering a wider array of premium grab-and-go options. While the lounge is spacious, it is slightly smaller than more recent openings. Only time will tell if it can strike the right balance between demand and capacity, ensuring a satisfying visit for all guests.

Related: A complete guide to Capital One’s airport lounges