This week, American Express is opening its largest Centurion Lounge to date—fittingly located at the world's busiest airport.
The new location, measuring nearly 26,000 square feet, debuts Wednesday at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. And rest assured, every inch has been put to good use: the lounge will feature one-of-a-kind amenities not found in any other Centurion location, including several outdoor terraces and a high-end whiskey bar.
“The new Centurion Lounge at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will serve travelers in one of the airports our Card Members visit most,” Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel, said in a release. “It features amenities we know travelers enjoy, like outdoor terraces, and plenty of space to relax, along with local touches infused throughout the menus and design, that guests will remember long after their trip.”
With 14 US locations and 11 international hubs, Centurion Lounges are beloved by travelers for their upmarket atmosphere and air of exclusivity: Each location is spacious, featuring intricate interior design, gourmet dining options, and craft cocktails.
The new Atlanta lounge is no exception, offering plenty of spaces to unwind away from the busy terminals. At the first-ever Centurion whiskey bar, travelers can sample 20 classic and new American whiskeys, in addition to mixed drinks from a whiskey-based cocktail menu designed by famed mixologist Jim Meehan. The space was designed to have a moody, nostalgic feel to it (think dark wood and leather seats).
Taking advantage of Atlanta's mild climate, the lounge opens up to an outdoor seating area with (yet another) bar stocked with wines and additional liquors. It's just one of the lounge's multiple outdoor terraces, each equipped with heaters and fans for year-round usage.
Back inside the lounge, the space’s interiors were designed with natural elements inspired by the “city in the forest"—a nickname given to Atlanta due to its extensive tree canopy covering many of the metropolis’s neighborhoods. To mimic the local environment, Amex has designed a 3,850-square-foot custom light sculpture; sitting beneath its calming “shade,” travelers can relax before heading back out to the busy terminals to board their flights. The lounge's decor also includes a 50-year-old olive tree, a 60-foot abstract mural of leaves painted by local artist Evan Blackwell Helgeson, and a sweeping multimedia installation designed by Atlanta-based Michi Meko that will evoke Georgia’s landscape.
When it comes to dining, visitors to the lounge will have plenty of options to choose from. Local Atlanta chef Deborah VanTrece, a James Beard Award semifinalist with two restaurants in Atlanta, designed the lounge’s main menu consisting of gourmet soul food. Dishes include black eyed pea biryani, za'atar grilled chicken thighs with green tomato chimichurri, and “Twisted Soul” salad with strawberry peppercorn vinaigrette. There will also be dedicated areas for gluten-free and vegan options, where travelers can grab items like salads, smoothies, protein bites, and juice shots.
Beyond these updated amenities, the Atlanta lounge will of course also offer signature Centurion features that travelers have come to expect of the brand, like shower suites, multiple seating areas, and free Wi-Fi.
The new Centurion Lounge Atlanta location opens to the public on February 14 and is located in Concourse E near gate E11. Travelers with The Platinum Card from American Express, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card (as well as both cards business options), and the Centurion Card—better known as The Black Card—can access the Centurion Lounge network. Following the launch of the Atlanta lounge, Amex plans to open a new Centurion Lounge at Washington, DC’s Reagan National airport later this year, as well as a forthcoming location at New Jersey’s Newark airport in 2026.
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