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American Express adds chef-driven menus to U.S. Centurion Lounges

By Mark Reif Jul 19, 2025 11:00 AM

American Express Culinary Collective — rom left: Chefs Sarah Grueneberg, Kwame Onwuachi, Mike Solomonov and Mashama Bailey, and Bar Director Harrison Ginsberg American Express / American Express

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This week, American Express announced a collaboration with James Beard Award-winning Resy chefs Mashama Bailey, Sarah Grueneberg, Kwame Onwuachi, and Mike Solomonov, joined by noted Bar Director Harrison Ginsburg. Together, the group will create The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge, with recipes and cocktails inspired by each member’s restaurant. The creative menu items will be available at every Centurion lounge by July 29, 2025. American Express also shared news of its Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge, a small, curated space set to open in 2026 at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas.

Diverse menus and a speakeasy-inspired space

“We know how much Card Members love the food and drinks at the Centurion Lounges and look forward to seeing what’s new. With help from our Resy chef partners, we’ve brought together a group of some of the most exciting culinary minds in America to create incredible menus, available all in one place for the first time ever,” said Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel. “You’d be lucky to make it to each of their celebrated restaurants across the country, but now visitors to our Centurion Lounges will be able sample dishes created by these chefs.”

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Member chefs of The Culinary Collective by The Centurion Lounge offer diverse recipes to satisfy the most discerning palates. Each chef uses unique influences for new and exciting flavors. Examples include Kwame Onwuachi (Afro-Caribbean), Mashama Bailey (Southern U.S.), Mike Solomonov (Israeli), and Sarah Grueneberg (Italian). Master mixologist, Harrison Ginsburg, leads the beverage programs for the restaurant and bar concepts of the Kent Hospitality Group in New York, and will bring “The Centurion” cocktail, which combines vodka, lime, yuzu, and soda.

In addition, the Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge is tailored for travelers on the go, with a cozy design and drinks and plates curated by The Culinary Collective. “Many of our visitors spend less than an hour in our Lounges, and we’ve created Sidecar specifically for them,” said Hendley. “The first Centurion Lounge opened in Las Vegas in 2013, so it’s fitting that we’re launching this new lounge concept at LAS as we continue to innovate to meet our Card Members’ needs.”

Mark Reif is a storyteller focused on the intersection of outdoor culture, travel, and design. From the peaks of Banff to the… Read Full Bio

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