Review: Delta One Lounge Seattle (SEA)
Consider the Delta One Lounge in Seattle (SEA) like a fancy restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. I very much enjoyed my time here, enjoying a multi-course lunch and excellent service during a four-hour layover.
Delta One Lounge Seattle Review (SEA)
Delta invited me to the grand opening of this lounge earlier this year and I was unable to attend. I asked for a “rain check” and was thankful for the chance to visit this lounge during a recent layover in Seattle.
Access + Hours + Location
Access to Delta One lounges is reserved for:
- Same-day departing or arriving Delta One ticketed passengers (i.e., seated in the Delta One class of service);
- Delta 360 Members departing or arriving on a same-day ticket in Delta First Class
- Same-day departing or connecting flights operated by the following Delta partners in their respective first and business class cabins specified below:
- Air France La Premiere
- Air France Business Class
- LATAM Premium Business Class
- KLM Business Class
- Korean Air First Class and Prestige Class
- Virgin Atlantic Upper Class
The lounge is open daily from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm.
This lounge is located in Concourse A, near Gate 11, one level above the SkyClub: you can take the elevator up to the fourth level or take the stairs, though it’s quite a climb from the concourse level.
Upon entry, you are given a black card to access the lounge that you surrender upon entry, much like AA does with its Flagship Lounges. That’s to keep folks who only have access to the SkyClub from going upstairs.
Seating
Unlike the New York Delta One Lounge and to some extent, the Los Angeles Delta One Lounge, this lounge is wholly focused on dining. You don’t have to eat, of course, but all seating in this lounge is intended for dining.
Just inside, there’s a brasserie area with booths. Further into the lounge are tables, including seats along an open kitchen concept.
There’s also a bar with seating on three sides.
It’s rather daring for Seattle, but there’s a semi-outdoor terrace as well with seating in comfortable padded chairs or benches. The terrace is covered overhead and there are glass walls, but they have openings between panes to let the fresh air in.
It was a beautiful autumn afternoon—a bit nippy—but I spent my entire stay outside and enjoyed the fresh air (though I did get cold by the time I left).
I do find it strange there are no areas intended simply for seating, but I think that takes into mind the unique real estate of this lounge, which is like the frame of a square: the center looks down on the SkyClub one level below.
Food + Drink
Prepare for a feast…the food is very good here and so is the beverage selection.
The menu includes house-made dumplings, a wide variety of tapas-style starters, several entrees, and a cheese and dessert menu.
The drink menu includes complimentary Champagne (Charles De Cazanove), wine, beer, sake, spirits, and specialty cocktails.
Additionally, there are “Reserve” alcohol available as well for purchase, including higher quality Champagne, wine, and spirits.
I began by ordering a Marillo Spritz (Italian amaro, rosemary-infused vermouth, blueberry, ginger-honey, lemon, and soda water) along with a butter lettuce salad served with shaved asparagus, dill, radish, and green goddess dressing.
The cocktail was a refreshing aperitif, and the salad ingredients were delicious.
For my first course, I chose dungeness crab cannelloni, served with tomato fondue, ricotta, and basil. It was delicious and highly recommended…a must-try menu dish if you dine in this lounge.
For my second course, I probably would have chosen the dry-aged prime hanger steak, but since I had just had beef short ribs on my flight up to Seattle, I chose the roasted free-range chicken instead, served with roasted corn, farro succotash, and blistered tomatoes…another delicious dish.
Next came a Pacific Northwest artisanal cheese plate, featuring Beecher’s flagship handmade cheese, Cascadia creamery sawtooth, and glacier blue.
Finally, I rounded out the meal with a “Marionberry Sundae” served with ginger and lime crumble as well as well as a cappuccino, with superb coffee from Umbria, a local Seattle roaster.
Folks, this was a very solid meal…such a value-add to the Delta One experience and the sort of meal I’d enjoy on the ground so as to skip the onboard meal and maximize my sleep in the air.
My only criticism is that Delta charges for premium liquor here. I suppose its better than not offering it at all, but there’s something to be said for a truly all-inclusive lounge experience…it just seems out of place to ask for pricing on anything.
Service
The star of the lounge was Guiezi, who was just fabulous. From the moment I sat down, he was attentive. First, he introduced himself and explained the menu.
Over the next couple of hours, I enjoyed a leisurely lunch and Guiezi, pronounced Jesse, was always nearby checking how my food was, asking if I needed a beverage refill, and recommending more dishes for me to try
Here’s what really blew me away. He noticed my iPhone battery was low and brought me over a portable charger since this seating area did not have plugs within reach. I was so impressed by that attention to detail.
If you’re in this lounge, ask for Guiezi!
Restrooms + Showers
Like the LAX Delta One Lounge, there are no dedicated showers in this lounge, but shower suites are available (on a priority basis) in the SkyClub one level below…just ask any member of lounge staff for help.
The lounge does have a pair of private restrooms featuring a toilet and sink.
CONCLUSION
I’ve now reviewed three Delta One Lounges (LAX, JFK, and SEA) and found them all excellent, but all unique. This one is odd in the sense there is really no dedicated area just to sit, but I loved the menu and particularly appreciated the warm, attentive service. Delta once again demonstrated that its Delta One lounges are an important value-add to its longhaul business class product.