A robot bartender, dedicated gaming stations and a new take on the airport lounge experience are part of Portal Lounge, a brand new concept that just opened at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP).
In Terminal 1, near the intersection of Concourses C and D, this 3,800-square-foot space is designed to transform the lounge concept from a place travelers simply pass through to an active part of the journey.
Here are three things travelers should know about the new space.
Related: The best credit cards to access airport VIP lounges
Portal Lounge will offer games and more
Most airport lounges are lounges where travelers can sit quietly, answer emails, have a snack, and wait for boarding.
But Portal Lounge, created by the team behind Gameway, a gaming-focused airport lounge that currently operates in nine US airports, has slightly different goals.
This lounge is designed to make the airport experience more interactive and offers 17 dedicated gaming stations with Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
Travelers can play alone, but multiplayer and competitive play options are also available. And once you’re in, you’re in – all gaming experiences are included as part of the visit.
From the bold entrance and curated music to the social seating arrangement and what the lounge describes as “cinematic lighting,” Portal Lounge aims to feel more active and communal than a traditional airport lounge (where most travelers typically go to great lengths to pretend others don’t exist).
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Enjoy a robot bartender and a buffet included
A major differentiator between Portal Lounge and Gameway is the food and beverage setup.
At Gameway, you can typically purchase (or access with your Priority Pass membership) packaged snacks and bottled beverages.
At Portal Lounge, you can not only play games, but also enjoy the included buffet and even have a cocktail or mocktail from the robot bartender, another aspect that makes the lounge feel different, special and memorable.
On the menu you’ll find build-your-own bowls with chicken, rice, tofu, vegetables, sauces and more. There are also options like sliders, buffalo cauliflower, salads and sweets.
Some included drink options are also available, as well as “premium cocktails and elevated deals.”
Signature drinks on the menu include “Lag Free,” a Minnesota-inspired margarita layered with Honeycrisp apple, maple and citrus, and “Prince’s Lemonade,” a vibrant, zero-proof cocktail inspired by Minnesota native music icon Prince.
Avoid the $70 fee by using Priority Pass
Walk-up access to the new Portal Lounge is said to cost around $70, but if a card with Priority Pass Membership It’s in your wallet, then you’re in luck.
Depending on the Priority Pass access included with your credit card, you may be able to enter the lounge at no additional cost, regardless of which airline you fly with.
here they are 10 popular cards that give you access to Priority Pass.
In a nutshell
At TPG, we not only love a new salon, but we especially love it when a new salon concept appears on the scene. Traveler expectations around lounges are clearly evolving, especially as younger travelers increasingly influence what airport spaces are expected to offer. Portal Lounge is trying to hit that mark by creating a space that hopefully feels like a destination within the airport, rather than just a place to stop by.
This isn’t the only new lounge concept coming to the terminal recently; In recent months, we have seen several new concepts emerge.
Examples include Amex Speakeasy-Style Sidecar Loungedesigned for travelers looking for a faster premium dining experience, and the first US-based Plaza Premium First Lounge at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) with elevated food and beverage offerings.
