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)
Manchester (MAN)
London Stansted (STN)
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!
