Amex Unveils “Sidecar” Lounges to Elevate Airport Dining for Platinum Cardholders
Hey everyone, exciting news just dropped for all you American Express Platinum cardholders and frequent travelers out there. Amex is completely reimagining its lounge experience—and this time, it’s putting food and comfort front and center.
So here’s what’s happening. American Express has just announced an all-new concept called "Sidecar by the Centurion Lounge." This isn’t a replacement for the traditional Centurion Lounges we already know and love. Instead, it’s a whole new boutique-style experience designed specifically around dining. Think of it like a premium speakeasy-style pit stop that focuses more on fast, elevated food and drinks, but with the comfort and polish you'd expect from Amex.
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The first Sidecar location is opening in Las Vegas next year, which makes sense—Vegas was the home of the very first Centurion Lounge over a decade ago. Now, twelve years later, Amex is taking things even further. These new Sidecar lounges won’t be about amenities or luxury long-haul lounging; instead, they’re all about efficiency and quality, tailored for those of us who just want to grab a great bite and a drink before hopping on a flight. You’ll only be allowed access within 90 minutes of departure, keeping the space quieter and less crowded.
Amex is also overhauling the dining experience in all of its domestic lounges, not just the new Sidecar spots. Starting July 29, they’re launching something called the Culinary Collective . Instead of rotating local chefs for each location, they’re introducing a powerhouse team of four celebrity chefs—Kwame Onwuachi, Mashama Bailey, Mike Solomonov, and Sarah Grueneberg—who will be creating consistent, top-tier dishes across the lounge network. They’re also bringing in renowned bar director Harrison Ginsberg, best known for helming NYC’s famed Overstory cocktail bar. So yes, even the drinks are about to get an upgrade.
Now, even though consistency is the goal, Amex will still keep a few local favorites on the menu—so your favorite lounge soup or salad may not be going anywhere. But overall, this Culinary Collective should bring a new level of quality and predictability, which is huge for travelers who want to know what to expect wherever they land.
One thing that might surprise some people is that Amex isn’t introducing a la carte dining yet, even though Chase and Capital One already offer it in their lounges. Instead, Amex is sticking to the buffet-style experience—but with much more culinary prestige behind the offerings.
So yeah, it’s clear that Amex is stepping up its game as the lounge wars heat up. If you’re a Platinum cardholder, this could mean a much better pre-flight experience with less crowding, better food, and a more polished atmosphere. Honestly, I’m pretty excited to see how Sidecar evolves and whether more of these pop up across major U.S. airports soon.
Keep an eye out—your airport layover might be getting a serious upgrade soon.
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