Yet Another Reason To Avoid TWA Hotel…
I may not be a frequent overnight guest, but I am a frequent visitor to the TWA Hotel at New York JFK Airport for one primary reason. Sadly, that reason has now vanished like a good cup of coffee on a cold day…
Intelligentsia Coffee Closes At TWA Hotel In New York JFK
In many ways, I love the TWA Hotel…it’s one of the coolest hotels in the world in terms of its design and the history… designed by Eero Saarinen, it was the home of TWA from 1962 to 2001 and now is a very nostalgic hotel that seeks to honor the legacy of this temple of aviation.
While I have not spent a night in this hotel, I’ve unfortunately heard from multiple readers about how this property has declined: prices are up, amenities are down, check-in and check-out policies tend to be inflexible, and the hotel has not maintained its rooms as it should.
That’s not something I can personally speak to, but I can speak to the hotel’s coffee…at least could. In the lobby, directly across the check-in desks, was an Intelligentsia Coffee branch. That’s great coffee and it was always my go-to spot for coffee at JFK, especially after a redeye flight.
> Read More: Why My First Stop At JFK After A Redeye Is The TWA Hotel
But without fanfare or explanation, Intelligentsia has shuttered its New York JFK location. There was no announcement from TWA or Intelligentsia (though its Google listing now shows it as “permanently closed” and Live And Let’s Fly verified this).
The Intelligentsia website also now only lists one location in New York state:
With two trips to New York coming up, where am I going to get my coffee?
I’m told there is still coffee available in the “Food Hall” on the adjacent side of the lobby, but it will be hard to measure up to Intelligentsia. While the Delta One Lounge in Terminal 4 has excellent coffee, as does the Alaska Airlines Lounge in Terminal 7, I’m not sure where else to get coffee at JFK and would welcome your suggestions!
CONCLUSION
It’s sad to see the TWA Hotel lose Intelligentsia, and I count it as another strike against the hotel. I still love that magical terminal, but my visits there will be fewer and farther between going forward unless the coffee alternative is somehow able to deliver.