A Sneak Peek Inside JFK’s New Delta One Lounge

Airport elegance is soaring to whole new heights this week with the unveiling of the Delta One Lounge at JFK in New York City. The 39,000-square-foot parlor with a seating capacity of 515, just past the security gates at Terminal 4, isn’t merely the biggest club in the carrier’s vast international arsenal — it is most assuredly its best: a first-of-its-kind concept reserved exclusively for the airline’s business class fliers. 

With a brasserie featuring menus conceived by Danny Meyer and an Art Deco-inspired bar echoing the design elements of Radio City Music Hall, the new digs promise to position the airport itself into its own sort of attraction. And we’ve got your first look inside.  

Upon entering, it’s impossible not to be drawn to the 140-seat restaurant which forms the primary footprint of the space. Marble tables, leather banquettes, and copper-clad lighting make you feel as though you’ve been transported into a stylish Manhattan supper club. The food arriving fresh from the kitchen reinforces that notion. Dishes such as hamachi crudo, steak tartare, and lasagna Bolognese will play prominently on a three-course menu that includes sommelier-approved wine pairings.

The adjoining bar is meant to be on par with any of the city’s celebrated watering holes. It holds a wide array of fancy bottlings that can be spun into an adventurous cocktail of your choosing by in-house mixologists. Given the gold-gilded, ‘Roaring ’20s’ aesthetic, however, you’ll likely be tempted to steer towards classic tipples from that bygone era. And you’ll certainly be flying high after a Manhattan or Martini served up here — even if it’s hours before your scheduled time of departure. All of it is complimentary to guests, though there are purchasable options available for top-shelf upgrades.

And you needn’t be seated at the bar in order to enjoy the experience. Stylish, oval-shaped beverage carts (not the sad stacks of steel you see in the sky) are continually rolling through the lounge, delivering special pours right to your seat. Or on the outdoor terrace — with a retractable roof — which affords alfresco opportunities for up to 40 guests year-round. The N/A crowd aren’t overlooked, either. They can sip fruit and herb-infused water and juices at the Rejuvenation Bar, located within a designated wellness area. 

The new lounge’s glitz and glamor are owed, in part, to a partnership with Missoni. The renowned Italian fashion house dialed in the details of design with accent pillows, vases, and other assorted flourishes. 

“We wanted to offer guests fine dining like you would experience in any of New York City’s top restaurants. I’m confident that the Delta One Lounge has the best food options of any lounge in the country and certainly one of the top lounges worldwide,” said Claude Roussel, the vice president of Delta Sky Clubs and lounge experience. “Our brasserie will be serving a chocolate souffle, which is something very unique for any airport lounge. Our varied menu offers selections such as hamachi crudo, steamed Pei mussels, and rotisserie chicken with creamy Parmesan polenta, among many other wonderful dishes. But if you’re short on time, visit our market for a wide selection of plated dishes served by our team of chefs, along with service at your individual seat.”   

The only problem is getting through said door: Unlike other Delta Sky Clubs, this one is open solely to customers flying same-day on a business class ticket, in Delta One, or a select Delta international partner. Members of Delta’s elite, invite-only 360 program are also granted entrance, but only if they’re flying first class. There’s no ultra-luxe, quasi-secretive credit card that’ll give you access here. And this uncompromising exclusivity helps make it so darn special for those privileged enough to find themselves on the inside. 

This is the New York City, after all. If you can make it in this lounge, you can make it in any lounge.