SLC Amex Lounge

SLC Amex Lounge review: Definitive proof that the best airport lounges are in Utah?

ByScott Leazenby Updated on

I recently visited the Amex Lounge at the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) for the very first time. Perhaps it was because I let my expectations fall lower than they should’ve been, but I was shocked by how nice it was. 

As a matter of fact, I think that it may be my favorite Centurion Lounge that I have visited so far. 

It’s very well lit, quiet as a library, beautifully designed, and the food was excellent. And the lemonade? OMG. 

Overall Size of Lounge:4 star rating
Variety of Food:4 star rating
Quality of Food:4 star rating
Selection of Alcohol:4-star rating
Quietness / Privacy:4.5 star rating
Overall Rating:4 star rating

Location

You’ll find this American Express Centurion Lounge adjacent to gate 31 in Concourse B at SLC. Yeah, it’s a bit of a trek from the security checkpoint. But it’s totally worth the walk! 

Main entrance to the American Express Centurion Lounge Salt Lake City International Airport
I’m gonna be miffed if the person who designed the main entrance of this lounge didn’t at least get a celebratory high-five from the top brass at the Utah Tourism Office. This looks nice. Welcoming even!
Staircase leading up to the main entrance of the SLC Amex Lounge
The person who designed this labyrinth of a staircase can go straight to hell however. I should’ve used the elevator.

How to get in

The most common and convenient way to access this lounge is to be an American Express card holder. Both personal and business versions will work:

  • American Express Platinum Card
  • Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card
  • American Express Centurion Card

Guest access depends on which card you have. Things change from time to time, so I highly recommend checking the latest official entry requirements before you go.

Layout

Despite how the overall floor plan is sectioned off into many individual rooms, this lounge felt large, bright, and spacious. The decor is rustic, the windows are large, and I like the multi level aspect of it. There is only one level to this lounge, but some rooms are elevated several feet above others. It’s a neat space.

Central fireplace with seating around it in the SLC Amex Lounge
Where do I even begin? At the fireplace of course (as one does when reviewing a posh airport lounge in the mountain west).
Central hallway with Blue Roast snack bar in the SLC Amex Lounge
Perhaps the thing that I like the most about this lounge is the fact that there were walkways and stairwells all over the place (leading to other interesting rooms). As you can see, they are very (very) serious about keeping the stairs clean in here.
Private seating areas in the SLC Amex Lounge
Here’s the view from what it looks like at the top of the (very clean) stairs from the previous pic. Those private little cubbies in the wall back there? Probably the best seats in the house IMHO.

Compared to the IAH Amex Lounge I recently visited, the textures and materials used in this one seemed very high-end. It felt like a completely different experience. 

Stairwells and walkways with seating areas inside the SLC Amex Lounge
Walkways and ramps and stairwells and seating areas, oh my! I think Dorothy would agree when I say that the Land of Oz would’ve been a better place to hang out if it was like this.
Semiprivate seating area with overhead lighting in the SLC Amex Lounge
Open seating area with high ceilings and natural light in the SLC Amex Lounge
Bar and Terrace at the SLC Amex Lounge
Good news: This lounge does have a terrace. Even better news: it features a fully stocked bar. Bad news: it’s not an open air terrace. Question: if it’s fully enclosed, can it still be called a terrace? Answer: Sure, if there’s alcohol involved, why not?
The bar in the terrace at the SLC Amex Lounge
The bar portion of the terrace. Pay no attention to the fact that the bartender (the second most important element of a good bar) seems to be missing in action.
Tables and chairs next to large windows in the terrace at the SLC Amex Lounge
A missing bartender. Unaccompanied luggage. What are they not telling us about this terrace?
View from the terrace at the SLC Amex Lounge
They certainly didn’t tell us that there would be views like this. In their defense, better views of the airplanes can be had from either end of the terrace (not the central area, as I’m showing here, like a total a**hole).
Large windows letting in natural light at the SLC Amex Lounge
Enclosed relaxation room in the SLC Amex Lounge

This is a fully featured lounge with showers, a business center, and really strong Wi-Fi. All of that (combined with the really great food) makes this one of the best domestic US airport lounges I have ever visited. 

Food and drinks

Prior to this visit, I considered the old Amex Lounge at SFO to have the best (and most creative) food of all the Centurion Lounges. This one topped that. Bigly. 

There’s an entire room dedicated just to food and drinks. Almost all of it is presented in one long self serve (buffet style) bar in the center of the room, with non-alcoholic drinks along the far wall.  

Main food bar serving hot and cold items in the SLC Amex Lounge
An entire room dedicated to food and drink is my kind of room.
Self serve food bar inside of the SLC Amex Lounge
Correction: An entire room dedicated to food and drink which features an ice cream stand at the entrance with someone very desperate to load up a bowl for you is *definitely* my kind of room.
Room for food and drink with cafeteria style seating in the SLC Amex Lounge
“This is my kind of room.”

Food quality (and quantity) was excellent. Everything was prepared fresh in the adjoining kitchen, with chefs and lounge attendants constantly topping off and replacing anything that was running low. 

Freshly prepared hot food items in the SLC Amex Lounge
Hot stuff.
Pasta and salad items in the SLC Amex Lounge
Cold stuff.
Freshly prepared dessert items in the SLC Amex Lounge
Naughty stuff.
My lunch featuring chicken and rice and vegetables in the SLC Amex Lounge
My lunch haul. Asparagus cancels out the saturated fat in chicken thigh skin BTW. #themoreyouknow
Scott Leazenby drinking Honeydew Lemon Agua Fresca lemonade in the SLC Amex Lounge
Those of you who read my Haneda Airport JAL Sakura Lounge review will know that I have a slight attraction to lemonade. Those of you who didn’t might be interested to know that I have a slight attraction to lemonade. This “Honeydew Lemon Agua Fresca” did not disappoint.
Gourmet side dishes in the SLC Amex Lounge
Hot soup in the SLC Amex Lounge
Hot tea and coffee in the SLC Amex Lounge
Hot tea and coffee? They got that (but I did not try that).
Fresh juice and iced tea in the SLC Amex Lounge
Honeydew Lemon Agua Fresca and Peach Tea? They got that (and I most certainly tried the sh*t out of that Honeydew Lemon Agua Fresca).
Soda on tap in the SLC Amex Lounge
Fizzy soda on tap. Kinda looks like the scene of a crime with that empty glass in stray fork lying there, doesn’t it? I wonder if the terrace bartender was involved?

To get an alcoholic drink in this lounge, you will need to go to the bar. It’s unlikely you will be disappointed considering how nice (and well stocked) that bar looked. 

Fully staffed bar inside of the SLC Amex Lounge
Speaking of bartenders, you’ll be happy to know that there was one on duty (and eager to serve) here at the main bar.
Seating area inside the bar at the SLC Amex Lounge
Not a bad looking place for anyone needing to get sloshed before their Delta Connection flight to Provo. Cheers!

Pros and cons

Let’s be honest. The annual fee for an American Express Platinum Card is bordering on ridiculous these days. However, this lounge was so good that it kinda (sorta) justifies the cost of that annual fee. Especially if you travel often and access Amex lounges on a regular basis. 

Pros

  • The design and decor is top notch. It just doesn’t get any better than this for a domestic US airport lounge IMHO. 
  • Very high-quality food. And there’s a lot of of it!
  • Large windows and skylights provide a lot of natural light. 
  • The sectioned off floor plan makes it really easy to find a quiet little corner to settle into. 

Cons

  • It’s a long walk from the security checkpoint. RIP to your precious feet if you’re not wearing comfortable walking shoes. 
  • This lounge does get busy sometimes (for a very good reason). There might be a queue to get in. 
  • Those of you who prefer wide open spaces might not like the layout of this lounge. It’s cozy. 

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