LoungeBuddy

The Escape Lounge At MSP: An Inside Look

The Escape Lounge, which officially opened in early 2016, is the only independently operated airport lounge in Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. With approximately 5,000 square feet of space and an official capacity limit of 131 guests, the Escape Lounge is the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the noisy, crowded airport terminal before you take off on your journey. Whether you’re looking for a place to relax a bit, take a nap, enjoy a proper meal, or finish up some work in a quiet environment, the Escape Lounge is truly the perfect oasis for you.

How To Access

Purchase access to this exclusive oasis through our web portal here. Alternatively, access is available through the LoungeBuddy mobile App for iOS and Android. The cost of a day pass is USD 45.

In addition, access is available if you have a DragonPass, Diners Club, Priority Pass, or Lounge Club membership, provided that capacity is available.

Lounge Summary

Location: Terminal 1, Concourse E, after security, north end of the Airport Mall. At the entrance to Concourse E, take stairs or elevator on the left to mezzanine level.

Operating Hours: 4 AM to 9 PM

Amenities: Spirits/Liquor (free), Printers/Copiers (free), Complimentary Snacks (free), Wi-Fi (free), Beer/Wine (free), Newspapers/Magazines, Premium Food (paid), Non-Smoking, Internet Terminals, Flight Monitors, TVs

Increase Your Productivity

With ubiquitous power ports covering every nook and cranny, this lounge is custom made for the modern business traveler looking to get some work done.

To hit this point home, the Escape Lounge includes a spacious designated business area that’s quiet, tranquil, and perfectly geared towards productivity. Laptop, tablet, and cellphone charging points are all available, along with complimentary tablet computers to work on should you need one. Other services include complimentary high-speed wireless internet, as well as printing, copying, and scanning facilities. This excellent working atmosphere is an ideal setting for catching up on last minute calls and emails.

Relax Before Your Flight

If you haven’t got a lot of work to finish up, you may decide to relax a bit before your flight. The Escape Lounge is made for just this. Along with the wide selection of food and drinks at the dining area and full bar, respectively, you’ll discover a comfortable range of seats and excellent views of the tarmac outside.

Some of the adjectives most commonly used to describe the lounge are comfy, quiet, stylish, and ambient. You’ll find booth seating, table seats, bar seating, and armchairs arranged in a number of different ways to accommodate groups of all sizes.

Inside the lounge, guests will not be able to help but notice the abundance of colors, ranging from purple to orange to yellow to the Escape Lounge’s signature lime green, which all help to create a brighter atmosphere.

Newspapers and magazines are available for your reading pleasure, and television for your viewing pleasure. Flight monitors ensure that you’ll know exactly when to leave for your flight, and if you ever need help with anything, the warm, helpful staff will be more than happy to assist.

Food And Drinks

According to visitors who have been through many US-based airport lounges, the Escape Lounge at MSP is considered to be a step up compared to the typical lounge, comparable to American Express’ acclaimed Centurion Lounge network.

Perhaps the Escape Lounge’s most significant improvement over the average lounge is the tremendous restaurant-quality food and beverage selection, topped off with personalized table service. Unlike many other lounges, the food and beverage options are designed to maximize palate appeal rather than shelf life. In addition to a large, diverse selection of snacks, fresh fruits, pastries, appetizers, and other lighter meal options, you’ll have the opportunity to try out one of the more filling items on their a la carte menu for a reasonable price.

Please note that the food choices rotate several times a year to feature seasonal items, and is therefore subject to change. The food and alcoholic beverages listed below includes a list of items that have been served in the lounge previously, and will give you an idea of the types of items that you can expect to find during your visit. Coffee, bottled water, tea, and soft drinks are all available free of charge.

Food Menu

Breakfast

Assorted freshly baked pastries - warm butter croissants, fruit scones, fruit and cheese Danish

Yogurt bar - Vanilla yogurt, glazed walnuts, seasonal mixed berries, agave nectar

Seasonal fruit - honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon, oranges, apples, bananas, grapefruit, seasonal mixed berries

Steel cut oats made with milk - served with cinnamon, golden raisins, brown sugar, and local honey on the side

Selection of breakfast proteins - crispy Applewood smoked bacon, chicken and apple breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs with chives

Breakfast burritos - with scrambled eggs, tomato salsa, sauteed peppers and onions, and cheddar jack cheese, wrapped in a warm flour tortilla

House made quiche - freshly prepared meat and vegetarian selections of warm quiche

Breakfast A La Carte Menu Options (For Purchase)

Twin City Sunrise - two eggs any style, choice of bacon or sausage, golden hash browns and choice of toast

Smoked Salmon Sliders - thinly sliced Scottish smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, toasted English muffin with scallions and tomatoes, served with fresh fruit

Corned Beef Hash - crispy corned beef hash, two eggs over easy, choice of toast

Avocado Toast - grilled sourdough bread, freshly prepared guacamole and a single fried egg with a petite mixed greens salad

Lunch and Dinner

Soup of the Day - freshly prepared soups (chicken and wild rice, New England clam chowder, broccoli and cheddar, roasted butternut squash) with assorted artisan breads and rolls

Fresh Salads

Seasonal Baby Mixed Greens - with house made vinaigrette, fresh cucumbers and cherry tomatoes, shaved red onions, and garlic focaccia croutons

Crisp Romaine Caesar Salad - with crisp hearts of romaine lettuce, creamy Caesar dressing, shaved parmesan cheese, garlic focaccia croutons, and fresh cracked black pepper

Chilled Pasta Salad - with herb vinaigrette, flavored rotini pasta, fresh diced vegetables

Dijon Potato Salad - with diced potatoes, celery, and onion in mustard and mayonnaise

Seasonal Fruit Salad - fresh diced melons, honeydew, cantaloupe, pineapple, and watermelon with seasonal berries

Deli Bites

Muffaletta Sandwich - fresh baked focaccia bread, mortadella, salami, and ham with mozzerella cheese and pickled vegetables. Served with extra virgin olive oil and olive tapenade.

Slider Sandwiches - roasted turkey or roast beef served on warm slider rolls with aged local cheddar and herb aioli

Ready Eggs - fresh cooked and chilled hard boiled eggs

Sweets - selection of petit fours and macaroons

Lunch and Dinner A La Carte Menu Options (For Purchase)

The Club Charcuterie - local Wisconsin cheese, sliced cured meats, grain mustard, fruit preserves and grilled crostini

Cuban Cakes - house made vegetarian black bean cakes, spiced sour cream and fresh kettle chips

Sweet and Spicy Escape Burger - fresh half pound burger, lettuce, roasted tomatoes, local aged Wisconsin cheddar and fig mostarda

Pasta of the Day - fresh pomodoro sauce, olive oil, basil and pecorino cheese

Potato Crusted Cod - baked cod fillet, charred tomato fondue and roasted seasonal vegetables

Shrimp and Grits - blackened jumbo shrimp, local aged Wisconsin cheddar grits, and arugula & tomato salad

Farmhouse Salad - crisp mixed greens, cucumbers, tomato, shaved red onion, crumbled feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette. Extra to add grilled chicken or salmon.

Small Bites/Kids’ Menu (For Purchase)

Mac and Cheese - elbow pasta with house made cheese sauce

Chicken Bites - grilled chicken strips with dipping sauces

Grilled Cheese - grilled sourdough bread with cheddar cheese

Beverages Menu (Complimentary)

Wine

Chateau Ste. Michelle, “Michelle” Brut, Columbia Valley, Washington

Snoqualmie Vineyards Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Washington

Snolqualmie Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, Washington

Liquor

Smirnoff Vodka, Beefeater Gin, Bacardi Rum, Dewars “White Label” Scotch, Hennessy, VS Cognac, Jose Cuervo Especial Silver Tequila, Bailey’s Irish Crea, Kahlua

Beer

Budweiser, Bud Light, Sam Adams Boston Lager

Beverages A La Carte Menu (For Purchase)

Premium Wines - Sparkling

Villa Sandi “Il Fresco” Prosecco, Treviso, Italy

Gruet Brut, New Mexico

Gerard Bertrand, “Cremant de Limoux” Rose, Languedoc, France

Heidsieck & Co Monopole “Blue Top” Brut, Champagne, France (375 ml)

Premium Wines - Whites/Rose

Pierre Sparr, Riesling, Alsace, France

Pighin & Figli, Pinot Grigio, Friuli Grave, Italy

Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand

Chateau D Aqueria, Rose, Tavel, France

Darcie Kent, “West Pinnacles” Chardonnay, Central Coast, California

Premium Wines - Reds

Bibi Graetz, Le Cicale di Vincigliata, Chianti, Chianti, Italy

PortLandia, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon

Robert Hall, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, California

Benmarco, Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

Brassfield Estate, “Eruption” Red Blend, North Coast, California

Gold Liquor

Kettle One, Titos, Absolut, Tanqueray, Jack Daniels, Bulleit, Jameson, Johnnie Walker Black, Chambord, Disaronno

Platinum Liquor

Grey Goose, Hendricks, Woodford Reserve, Knob Creek Rye, Glenfidditch, Balvenie, Patron Silver, Maestro Dobel Diamante, Remy Martin VSOP

Beer

Indeed Brewery - Let It Roll IPA, Day Tripper Pale Ale

Summit Brewery - Great Northern Porter, HopVale Organic Ale

Surly Brewery - CynicAle, Belgium Style Saison, Hell, German Style Helles Lager

Draught - Stella Artois 14 oz

Manchester Airport Group

The Escape Lounge’s operator is Manchester Airport Group (MAG), which, as suggested by the name, is based on Manchester, United Kingdom. Manchester Airport Group actually owns and operates four airports in the UK, including Bournemouth (BOH), East Midlands (EMA), London Stansted (STN), and of course, Manchester (MAN). Out of these four airports, MAG operates Escape Lounge locations in three of these airports as follows:

East Midlands (EMA)

Main Terminal

Manchester (MAN)

Terminal 1

Terminal 2

Terminal 3

London Stansted (STN)

Main Terminal

The next step of Manchester Airport Group’s airport lounge expansion is in the United States. Their first location in the US is the Escape Lounge in Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), the subject of this post. As of today, the next two locations have been confirmed: Hartford, Connecticut (BDL) and America’s most exciting city, Oakland, California (OAK). Be sure to stay tuned!

Are you traveling through Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport soon? If so, be sure to make your Escape Lounge booking today!

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