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

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• 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 - Product Name Only and Capital One Venture X Business Card† - Product Name Only credit cardholders get unlimited complimentary access and can bring up to two guests for free.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only and Capital One Spark Miles for Business† - Product Name Only cardholders get two complimentary passes per year.
• 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.

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 - Product Name Only and Capital One Venture X Business Card† - Product Name Only cardholders enjoy unlimited complimentary access to all Capital One Lounges.

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 allows visitors who have a valid boarding pass for a departing or connecting same-day flight. but 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 a 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How to Visit the Capital One Lounge in Denver

Travelers with either the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only or the Capital One Venture X Business Card† - Product Name Only 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.

Travelers with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only or Capital One Spark Miles for Business† - Product Name Only receive two complimentary visits to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges annually. Additional visits can be purchased at a discounted rate of $45.

Anyone can 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.