rewrite this title First Look at the New Dallas Chase Sapphire Lounge – NerdWallet

Spanning more than 18,000 square feet, it’s one of Chase’s largest spaces of this kind, featuring expansive floor space and towering ceilings. Still, with DFW’s crowds, a waitlist is never entirely out of the question.

The Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club is located near gate D25 in Terminal D, which serves mostly international airlines, as well as a few international American Airlines flights. But even if you aren’t flying one of those airlines, it’s relatively easy to access the lounge as all the gates at DFW are connected post-security.

A free light-rail train called Skylink connects all five terminals, so you can zip between your gate and the lounge without exiting and re-entering security. Trains are supposed to arrive every two minutes, and the longest distance between the two farthest points is just nine minutes.

The lounge leans into the Sapphire brand’s familiar, high-end signature aesthetic, with a rich blue-and-gold color palette. There’s also the network’s trademark water vapor fireplace, which uses illuminated steam to mimic real flames.

The design also incorporates classic Texan elements, incorporating earthy tones that evoke the Texas plains, natural wood paneling and deep leather couches.

The absolute showstopper in this lounge is a space you might entirely miss if you don’t know it’s there. Tucked behind a discreet entrance sits the network’s first-ever dedicated whiskey lounge.

Featuring a moody, premium club atmosphere, this space allows guests to sample an all-Texas lineup of bourbons and ryes from a dedicated bartender. You can also opt for a guided whiskey pairing, where you taste a flight alongside curated snacks like chocolate and cheese.

The seating here is broken down into intimate, living room-style clusters with communal leather couches. Each section features a hidden smart TV for watching sports that, when turned off, doubles as a decorative wall mirror.

I appreciated the contained, dedicated space for watching TV. The sports bro in me loves the idea of catching the game with a high-end bourbon before boarding a flight.

Because the lounge is split-level and sprawling, you can wander down wide hallways and constantly stumble upon secluded alcoves filled with deep armchairs and tables with charging outlets. Whether you want to work at a dining table near the buffet, join a group in the whiskey room or tuck yourself away with a book, you have plenty of options to choose from.

I’ve been known to load up my plate with a good pound of chicken thighs at DFW’s nearby Centurion lounge; I’m a competitive weightlifter and I like my protein! But in terms of flavor and variety, the food at the DFW Chase Sapphire Lounge is the best I’ve had at any airport lounge in Dallas.

The featured dishes come from Encina, a popular American restaurant in Dallas’ Bishop Arts District that focuses on seasonal ingredients. The food was neatly plated and flavorful.

The pistachio pesto eggplant Parmesan reminded me of a pizza without the crust, and the pesto added a nice flavorful touch.

The bacon and cheddar grits was topped with thick, juicy bacon that wasn’t greasy at all. I’m normally not a bacon person, but I loved this dish.

And best of all were the blue corn butterscotch pancakes, which had a thick texture and almost savory flavor, perfectly sweetened with a caramel drizzle. Those are only served during breakfast, so consider this your reason to book a morning flight.

Some food is served buffet-style by way of small plates. Other items are only available for order off an a la carte menu. To order those, you scan a QR code at your seat and submit your order by phone, and a waiter will bring the food to your table.

The lounge’s coffee comes from Cherry Coffee, a women-owned business located in Fort Worth.

As far as boozy drinks go, there’s a lot to choose from outside of the whiskey lounge, including a curated wine list from Parcelle, Texas-made beers and even some nonalcoholic beers.

The bartenders can also whip up fancy cocktails, which include signature drinks found across all Chase lounge menus, such as the signature Sapphire cocktail, which is made with muddled blueberries and goldenberries and a local gin or vodka. There are also some regionally inspired cocktails that use spirits made in Texas such as the Blueberry Fields, which uses Western Son blueberry vodka, made in Pilot Point (just north of Dallas).

Then there’s a grab-and-go area that includes packaged sandwiches, salads, fruit, parfaits, and hummus trays.

Chase says it’s still testing this feature for now, which means it’ll only be open for limited hours. Capital One’s lounge network popularized the concept of offering to-go food, so it’ll be interesting to see whether Chase’s version sticks.

The highlight of my lounge day was getting a facial by L.A.-based Face Haus. Yes, this lounge (alongside a few others in Chase’s network) has two treatment rooms where you can book a complimentary 30-minute facial.

Believe it or not, this was the first facial I’ve ever gotten in my life, so I don’t have much to compare it to. But as a complete non-expert in the skincare department, I found it to be a pretty divine experience.

You also leave with a small skincare set after your session.

There are also two wellness rooms with armchairs. These spaces offer a bit more privacy if you need some quiet time.

You can also reserve a shower time. There are two shower rooms, each offering extra amenities, like a shaving kit.

The lounge has dedicated family spaces, including a family room and private nursing room.

Even as a childless adult, I appreciate this setup. Allowing kids to burn off energy behind closed doors rather than in the main bar area is a win for everyone. The decor is charming, right down to a pint-sized Texan cowhide seat.

NerdWallet rating

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

Chase cards that provide the cardholder with unlimited Sapphire lounge visits include:

Eligible cardholders each get two free guests per visit. Additional guests are $27 each.

If you don’t have the cards above but are a Priority Pass member, you can receive one visit to a Chase Sapphire Lounge once per calendar year, with a $75 fee for subsequent visits.

Top cards with Priority Pass

American Express Platinum Card®

NerdWallet rating

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

on American Express’ website

Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

NerdWallet rating

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

NerdWallet rating

NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card’s rates, fees, rewards and other features.

on American Express’ website

Rates & Fees

Priority Pass Select membership. No restaurants. Enrollment required.

Terms apply.

Full Priority Pass Select membership. No restaurants.

Priority Pass Select membership. No restaurants. Enrollment required.

Terms apply.

Yes, especially if you’re flying out of Dallas frequently.

The competition continues to improve, though. American Express recently announced major expansion plans for its DFW Centurion Lounge, including a walk-up custom ice cream window. And Capital One’s permanent grab-and-go food section gives it an advantage. Still, neither one offers anything close to free facials or a whiskey lounge.

The information related to the J.P. Morgan Reserve and The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.

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About the author

Sally French is co-host of the Smart Travel podcast and a writer on NerdWallet’s travel team. Before joining NerdWallet as a travel rewards expert in 2020, she wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its sibling site, Wirecutter.

Outside of work, she loves fitness, and she competes in both powerlifting and weightlifting (she can deadlift more than triple bodyweight). Naturally, her travels always involve a fitness component, including a week of cycling up the coastline of Vietnam and a camping trip to the Arctic Circle, where she biked over the sea ice. Other adventures have included hiking 25 miles in one day through Italy’s Cinque Terre and climbing the 1,260 steps to Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi, Thailand.

She lives in San Francisco.