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Capital One Lounge – JFK Terminal 4 Review
I truly don’t know what to say to start off this article and fully convey the reaction I had as I toured the lounge last week at a media preview.
It’s…. full of NYC-local cheese. And beer. And spirits. And bagels.
As of June 19th, 2025 the Capital One lounge is up and running in JFK’s Terminal 4 (home to a massive selection of lounges now including the Delta One lounge, the Centurion Lounge, the Chase Sapphire lounge and the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse).
Access is, as I think you know, complimentary with your Venture X or Venture X Business card. I suggest you take advantage of the free guests you have until February 1st, 2026 because this place rocks.
Let’s put it this way…
When I had my very first Capital One lounge experience just two months ago (yes, really!) at DFW, I was disappointed that there was no made-to-order food ordered by QR codes at your table. I don’t know why I expected it, but I did – and it wasn’t there.
I was reminded that DCA has a Capital One Landing – a lounge concept devoted to made-to-order food.
When Capital One announced their changes to the lounge access policy, specifically that no guests will be included for a cardmember starting Feb 1, 2026 (<– see that article for exceptions), I was bummed.
But I get it much better now. They are investing a TON of money into their lounges, evolving each one that opens with the learnings of past lounges.
And so this lounge, the new flagship lounge spanning a massive 13,500 square feet, now has made-to-order food that you order via QR codes from your table. They still have a varied selection of small plates you grab yourself, but most hot food will be made to order.
Why? Because it tastes better!
I spoke at great length with David Borowik, Head of Airport Experiences for Capital One lounges and realizing how much he gets what makes dining in an airport lounge great gives me tremendous confidence in not just how this lounge will execute, but how future Capital One lounges will as well. He explained to me how he works tirelessly to constantly figure out how to get hot food to guests in the quickest possible manner since hot food becomes less and less tasty the longer it sits between preparation and the guest tasting it. And so, they are constantly working on that.
Have you seen the TV show “The Bear”? The never-ending attempts at flawless dining execution? Imagine that in a lounge that can accommodate 210 patrons….
Have a look at the QR code Made to Order menu that is available for the first few months at least…
The Cheesemonger Experience
With that said, let’s move on to what this lounge has to offer because you’ll probably want to arrive early if you want a seat at the Murray’s Cheese tasting table. Wait, what?!
Yes, you can reserve (at the cheesemonger area) a 45-minute full-on cheese (and cured meats) tasting and it’s run by the good folks at NYC’s legendary cheesemonger Murray’s Cheese.
I had some absolutely amazing cheeses and it felt like something you should have to pay extra for – but you don’t! It’s curated for 6 people at a time and I think demand will be, by far, the biggest issue.
If you ask me, a 20 minute tasting so they could double the number of reservations would be better but hey, this is a brand new concept so they’ll have to see how it works!
Oh, and you’ll finish with a classic NYC style black and white cookie – don’t skip out before that!
I did wonder… are these amazing cheeses only for those lucky enough to score a reservation during there visit? Happily, no… there will be some Murray’s cheese out on the self-serve section as well.
The Bar
Now, the cheesemonger is awesome. It’s unique.
But then you also have a bar at the far other end of the lounge that is as classy as any NYC bar with craft cocktails in a collab including a signature “Death and Co’ cocktail among more than a dozen on the menu or a local beer by Grimm to match.
But I glossed over the entrance!
The Bodega
On your way in, stop by the “Bodega” for a barista-made “Bean & Bean Roaster” brand coffee beverage (or DIY some La Colombe cold brew or iced latte on tap, if you prefer) and get a fresh Ess-a-Bagel or other grab and go items.
Or order one of the two hot breakfast and two hot lunch/dinner sandwiches.
I tried the hot pastrami with Swiss cheese on a sesame bagel and wanted to smack the table with how good it was. They are given to you in a to-go bag with a handle, convenient for eating in the lounge or on the plane.
They had a selection of 6 bagels to choose from. I assumed that the plan would be to make tons of these at a time but no – they will all be made to order.
Crazily, this lounge will be open 24 hours and they are even going to have a special midnight snack that starts being served around 12:30am. I suppose that is fitting for my beloved NYC – a city that never sleeps! Keep in mind you can only enter the lounge on a departing flight, so I suspect there will be a few very slow hours….
The Space
I don’t think I did the food justice, but I have to move on to the space.
There are a slew of individual bathrooms and a even a shower that you can reserve via qR code after you check in.
Another reservation-only treat is two relaxation rooms. They each sit 4 people. One has a couch and two chairs; the other has four chairs. They are each yours to reserve, if available, no matter your party size, for 45 minutes.
If you weren’t able to reserve a cheesemonger session or a private room, don’t worry – the massive lounge has plenty of seating available including this super long stretch of individual comfy seats overlooking the tarmac.
Obviously, there is wifi, along with power outlets and USB-C ports at every seat.
Parent of a super little one? They’ve got you covered, too, with a family room equipped with a bottle warmer and changing table.
Art
Keeping with the local spirit, they have more than 40 original works from New York-based artists. Some very cool stuff.
Bottom Line
I’d hoped to have a video done from all the clips I took by the time this published, but I just didn’t have the time. It’s coming soon, so follow my Instagram for that!
My bottom line is that I think this is definitely a lounge that you want to try and check in to 3 hours before your flight (since that is the maximum allowable!). Maybe after you’ve had a Murray’s Cheese experience once, you can cut that back a bit, but there’s really just a lot going on here.
The vibe is almost a bit more private club than airport lounge.
If this is how they continue to evolve their lounge collection, I’m here for it!
