Capital One just opened a new airport lounge in Denver, and some credit cardholders can bring guests

JUMP TO Section Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options.
  • Inside the Capital One Lounge in Denver
  • How to Access the Capital One Lounge in Denver
  • Redeem now

    Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.

    The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Capital One Venture X Business Card†. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.

    • Capital One's third airport lounge is a 10,800 square-foot "glass fishbowl" in Denver International Airport (DEN).
    • Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business Card† credit cardholders get unlimited complimentary access, and can bring up to two guests for free.
    • Learn about other credit cards that offer free airport lounge access.

    Denver's newest airport retreat is now open — and it just may be the nicest lounge in the Mile High City.

    The expansive, 10,800-square-foot space is Capital One's third lounge, following openings at Washington-Dulles (IAD) in September and Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) in 2021. A fourth location at Las Vegas (LAS) is underway.

    Travelers who have visited Capital One's other lounge outposts will feel at home in this Denver location, which shares a similar design aesthetic with a variety of local art, unique textures, and eye-catching effects like curved surfaces.

    Capital One works with local artists and designers to bring unique flair to each lounge location. Chris Dong

    On the food and drink front, Capital One continues its commitment to local purveyors, craft cocktails and beer, and elevated tapas-style dining, alongside a robust grab-and-go selection.

    At a media preview before the official opening, I toured the space and came away impressed by the amenities, ambiance, and attention to detail apparent at this new Denver lounge.

    Here's what else you should know about Capital One's latest airport space.

    Inside the Capital One Lounge in Denver

    The Capital One Lounge at Denver International Airport is located in Concourse A, near Gate 34 on the mezzanine level. The lounge's official hours are 5:00 a.m. MT to 9:00 p.m. MT, covering the majority of departing flight times. (Note that a soft opening schedule of 9:00 a.m. MT to 7:00 p.m. MT is in effect through Nov. 12, 2023.)

    Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Business Card† cardholders enjoy unlimited complimentary access to all Capital One Lounges.

    Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Capital One Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Insider’s Rating Info icon Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals. A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.85/5 Icon of check mark inside a promo stamp It indicates a confirmed selection. Perks

    Earn unlimited 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2 miles on all other purchases.

    Annual Fee

    $395

    Intro APR

    N/A

    Regular APR

    19.99% - 29.99% variable

    Intro Offer Info icon 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

    Earn 75,000 bonus miles

    Recommended Credit

    Excellent

    Pros
    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Excellent welcome bonus and miles earning
    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Premium perks including airport lounge access and credits for certain purchases
    • Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Visa Infinite benefits including travel and shopping protections
    Cons
    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High annual fee
    • con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Annual travel credits only apply to Capital One Travel purchases
    Insider’s Take

    The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for frequent travelers, with top-notch benefits and a wide range of built-in protections. It comes with a generous welcome bonus and credits that can help offset the annual fee — which is much lower than similar premium cards.

    Capital One Venture X Rewards Card review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user." Show Pros, Cons, and More chevron down icon An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.

    At nearly 11,000 square feet of space, Denver is Capital One's largest lounge out of the three open so far. Similar to the Dulles and Dallas locations, the Denver lounge is divided into distinct zones for travelers to relax, work, dine, or imbibe.

    The Capital One Lounge admits visitors who hold a valid boarding pass for a departing or connecting same-day flight. However, you can't enter the lounge until three hours or less before your departure time. This rule doesn't apply for connecting flights. Once up the escalator and checked in, guests can enter the lounge by bearing right or left.

    The lounge's wraparound-style design offers views of the tarmac and the Rockies from the exterior windows as well as an interior perspective of the terminal below. The glass windows surrounding the lounge create a fishbowl-like effect that's ideal for people watching, as well as planespotting for aviation enthusiasts.

    Low seats surround a worktable for guests at the Capital One Lounge in Denver. Chris Dong

    A variety of two-top and four-top tables can be used for either dining or working, and all seats have power outlets.

    Food and drink

    The food selection is impressive and it's certainly restaurant-quality, although it skews more comfort versus high-end. I sampled a variety of items from the all-day menu including the Colorado ground bison sloppy Joe, corned beef hash, mac and cheese coquettes, and too many desserts to count. Each item is individually plated and beautifully presented.

    The Capital One lounge in Denver offers a variety of casual comfort food. Chris Dong

    Drip coffee comes from a local roaster, Unravel Coffee Merchants, while draft lattes, draft chai — exclusive to this lounge — and cold brew from La Colombe is on tap.

    The Denver lounge has the largest bar in the Capital One Lounge network, and it's perhaps the main attraction here. The U-shaped space is designed to celebrate the city's vibrant brewery scene and a local pottery artisan, Fenway Clayworks, created custom ceramic barware.

    In keeping with Capital One's tradition of partnering with local drinkmakers, Downtown Denver brewery Cervecería Colorado developed a custom airport brew for the Denver lounge called "Sky High P.A.," a refreshing I.P.A. that's available on draft.

    Capital One partnered with local drinkmakers to create the cocktail selection for the Denver airport lounge. Chris Dong

    Artisanal cocktails and mocktails from a local cocktail lounge, Yacht Club, are also on offer for lounge guests. There's even a custom lounge aperitif, called "The Spirit of Denver," featuring a rather exotic combination of dried sour cherries, yarrow root, and spruce tip.

    While the majority of beverages are complimentary, there is a collection of rare bottles and champagne for purchase. 

    Capital One is particularly generous with its grab-and-go offerings, an amenity that's typically unavailable at competitor lounges. There are jarred salads, fresh juices, and chia bowls, among other items — all in sustainable packaging and located at the entrance of the lounge for easy access.

    Rest and relaxation

    The lounge offers relaxation rooms that can be reserved in advance as well as three private workspaces, including conference space for up to four individuals. Two additional phone rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

    A reclining nap pod in a private nook gives travelers some peace and quiet. Chris Dong

    Similar to the Dallas lounge, there's a state-of-the-art nap pod in one of the quiet rooms with a ceiling that mimics stars in the sky.

    A single hall towards the rear of the lounge houses the six private restrooms, all of which are ADA-compliant. Two shower suites are stocked with Dyson hair dryers and biodegradable shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Capital One partnered with a company called Sunrise Sessions to reduce waste by using water-soluble toiletry containers that dissolve within seconds.

    The Denver lounge utilizes biodegradable toiletry packages that dissolve in seconds. Chris Dong

    Along that same hall is a parents' room with seating for caregivers and a changing table stocked with wipes, disposable diapers, and a bottle warmer.

    The parents' room in Capital One's Denver airport lounge offers a quiet space for rest, diaper changes, and feedings. Chris Dong

    How to Visit the Capital One Lounge in Denver

    Travelers with either the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Business Card† enjoy unlimited complimentary access to all Capital One Lounges. They can also bring two guests for free and pay $45 per additional guest per visit.

    Finally, travelers without any of these cards can simply purchase access to the lounge for $65 per visit. 

    The network of Amex-owned and operated Centurion Lounges dominated the credit card-operated airport lounge space for years. That's changing, with both Chase and Capital One deep in the lounge business. This new Denver location for Capital One is perhaps one of the most impressive yet, but we'll have to see if there's enough capacity to meet traveler demand.

    Chris Dong is a freelance travel reporter, writing stories ranging from in-depth features and personal essays to travel news as it relates to loyalty and credit cards.  Chris has been tapped as an expert in his field by The Washington Post, NPR, and TIME. Previously, he was a reporter and newsletter lead at The Points Guy, where he covered the intersection of loyalty and travel, while also managing the site's daily newsletter to over 500,000 subscribers.  You can follow Chris on Twitter and Instagram, or send him an email at hello@thechrisflyer.com Read more Read less

    † The information related to the Capital One Venture X Business Card has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

    † The information related to the Capital One Spark Miles for Business has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

    ***Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details. Travel Accident Insurance is not guaranteed, it depends on the level of benefits you get at application.

    For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply

    ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyxsdGspqeZnGKzqrrAp5qeZ5OWvarAwKVkqKaVYrGmutWeqWaZmae9sL7TZqOorZ6csm5%2Bj2tqZmlh