Resources for your visit to Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge inside the Las Vegas Airport:

• Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge menu
• Amex Platinum referral link
• Las Vegas airport transfer/transportation, experiences, activities
• Hotels we love in Las Vegas: The Venetian, The Flamingo, Caesars Palace
• Thrifty Traveler Premium — use code TSP for $20 off your first year

If you’ve never experienced an airport lounge before, you have to change that! It makes the airport experiences 1,000X better. Listen to our episode on how to access airport lounges and what you’ll get inside.

A Different Kind of Airport Lounge

Airport lounges can be great when you have plenty of time before a flight, but sometimes you just want somewhere comfortable to sit down, grab something good to eat, and relax for a little while before boarding. That is the idea behind Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport.

We stopped by Sidecar in Terminal D to see what the experience was actually like, and it is noticeably different from a traditional airport lounge. Instead of a large open space with rows of seating and a buffet, Sidecar is small, quiet, intimate, and built around made-to-order food and table service.

The biggest thing to know is that Sidecar is designed specifically for shorter airport visits. You can only enter if your departing flight is within 90 minutes, so this isn’t a lounge where you’re going to settle in for several hours.

Sidecar is located near Gate D1, and finding it was incredibly easy. When you come up the escalators in Terminal D, it’s on the left. It is also in the same terminal as the regular Centurion Lounge, so you have another option if Sidecar isn’t the right fit for your visit.

What Makes Sidecar Different?

Sidecar is much smaller than a traditional Centurion Lounge, with only 33 seats in about 1,500 square feet.

The design is one of the first things you’ll notice. The space has a desert oasis theme with lush greenery, natural stone, neutral desert colors, antique mirrors, brass accents, and warm lighting. There are also vintage Las Vegas photographs throughout the space, giving it a connection to its surroundings without feeling overly themed.

It feels more like a small restaurant or cocktail lounge than an airport lounge.

The seating is a mix of bar seats, small tables, and comfortable sofas, which works well with the intimate size of the space. That smaller footprint also means the experience feels much less overwhelming than walking into a packed traditional airport lounge.

And that’s really the point. Sidecar isn’t trying to compete with a huge lounge when it comes to amenities or space. Instead, it focuses on giving travelers a more personalized experience when they only have a short amount of time.

Our Breakfast at Sidecar

We were seated right away, and ordering was straightforward. There are QR codes available for ordering, but our server also came over and took our order. Once the food was ready, everything was delivered directly to our table.

That’s one of the biggest differences between Sidecar and a traditional airport lounge. Instead of walking up to a buffet and filling a plate, you’re ordering food that is prepared for you.

For breakfast, we tried several different items, including the shrimp and grits, chia seed pudding with passionfruit, beet and goat cheese toast, and a frittata. We also tried the Mojave cocktail, made with tequila, jalapeño, peach, and lime.

The shrimp and grits was one dish where timing really mattered. We recommend eating it as soon as it arrives while it’s hot.

The menu rotates, so what we had during our visit may not be what’s available on your next trip. We visited shortly after a new menu was introduced in April, and there were plenty of options that made us curious about coming back at another time of day.

For lunch and dinner, the menu includes things like mini charcuterie plates, mini lobster rolls, Caesar salad, Parmesan truffle fries, olive cake, and coffee-braised chicken with red slaw.

There are also nonalcoholic drinks, wine, beer, and liquor available.

The food was substantially better than what we typically expect from an airport lounge. Sidecar’s focus on made-to-order food is a big part of that difference. You’re getting curated small plates rather than food sitting out on a buffet.

Who Is Sidecar Best For?

The 90-minute access rule really determines who this lounge is for. If you’re flying out of Terminal D and have less than an hour before boarding, Sidecar makes a lot of sense. You can get in, sit down, order food, have a drink, and relax without needing to spend a significant amount of time in the lounge.

It’s particularly well suited for solo travelers, couples, and business travelers. Because there are only 33 seats, it isn’t really designed for large groups. It could also be difficult for a bigger travel party if everyone doesn’t have a card that provides Centurion Lounge access.

To enter, you need an eligible American Express card that provides Centurion Lounge access, such as the American Express Platinum Card. Brittanie has the Amex Platinum, and Jamal is an authorized user, so we can both access the lounge even when traveling separately.

If you’re interested in the Amex Platinum, you can use our referral link.

Sidecar vs. the Traditional Centurion Lounge

The biggest difference between Sidecar and the traditional Centurion Lounge is the size and style of the experience.

A traditional Centurion Lounge gives you more space, more seating, and typically more amenities. You can also spend more time there because you’re not restricted by the 90-minute departure window. Sidecar is much more focused. The food is made to order, service is at your table, and the atmosphere is quieter and more intimate. It feels less like an airport waiting room and more like a small restaurant tucked inside the airport.

That also comes with some tradeoffs. There are fewer seats, fewer amenities, and less room to spread out. If you have a long layover and want to spend several hours relaxing, the traditional Centurion Lounge may make more sense. But if you have just enough time for a meal and a drink before your flight, Sidecar’s format works really well.

Would We Go Back?

We would definitely return to Sidecar, especially to try the lunch or dinner menu. For us, the best part was the combination of the atmosphere, service, and food. It was nice to sit down, order breakfast, and have everything brought directly to the table instead of navigating a busy buffet.

We also like that Sidecar fills a specific niche. It isn’t trying to replace the traditional Centurion Lounge. It’s designed for travelers who don’t have much time and want a more relaxed experience during that short window. And apparently, Las Vegas won’t be the only place you’ll be able to try it. American Express has announced plans for another Sidecar location at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2027, which we’re excited to see.

So, if you have an eligible American Express card and your flight is leaving from Terminal D with 90 minutes or less to go, Sidecar is worth adding to your airport routine. Just keep in mind that its small size and limited access window are both intentional parts of the experience.