Plaza Premium opens swanky new lounges at DFW Airport
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Plaza Premium First, seen here at DFW Airport's Terminal D, will expand to JFK Airport and Orlando International Airport next. Photo: Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi/Axios
This hot new restaurant in North Texas has green velvet banquettes, a coffee machine worth tens of thousands of dollars and an all-inclusive menu.
- Yes, but: Prepare to walk a little to get to it — because it's inside DFW Airport.
Why it matters: Plaza Premium, which already has a lounge in Terminal E, recently opened a dual-concept lounge in Terminal D with one side for premium dining and one side for regular dining.
- The premium dining side, called Plaza Premium First, is the company's first such lounge in the U.S.
Vibe check: Plaza Premium wants visitors to experience Texas culture from the decor to the food.
- The entrance has shelves of books about Texas. Cowboy hats line the dividers between the banquettes.
- Art by Laura Wilson, Owen and Luke Wilson's mom, depicts the American West.
How it works: The Plaza Premium First side features an à la carte menu, buffet and full bar — all covered in the $115 fee to get in.
- "The other day we had an Emirates passenger come through and she was like, 'This is the best airport lounge I've been at,'" chef Ryan Kuebler, who oversees Plaza Premium's menus at DFW Airport, tells Axios.
- The Plaza Premium Lounge side, free for Priority Pass holders and $75 for everyone else, has less sophisticated buffet options and drinks. Visitors can pay extra for à la carte items and fancier drinks.
Pro tip: Prepare for a waitlist, and access is restricted to within two hours of your departure time.
- Priority Pass holders can get into the Plaza Premium First side by paying $45. That lounge also has an arrangement with some airlines to let in their first-class passengers without a fee.
Fun fact: Plaza Premium also operates the Capital One Lounge nearby.
The bottom line: "Airports can be first class and high end — and Southern foods can be high end as well," Kuebler says.
💭 Naheed's thought bubble: I wouldn't shell out $115 for the Plaza Premium First lounge, but I can see the allure for wealthier people looking for an escape from gate announcements and fast food.
- But the adjacent Plaza Premium Lounge seems like a worthwhile stop for Priority Pass holders.