American Express is opening an exclusive club in midtown Manhattan for its its biggest spenders

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American Express has rapidly grown its network of Centurion Lounges to 24 airport locations, bringing luxury to even the most hectic environments. The card issuer's upcoming offshoot of its lounge experience won't be in an airport, but someplace that also features large crowds, commotion and the unmistakable smell of Auntie Anne's pretzels — midtown Manhattan.

The details are sparse, but Centurion New York will offer a more bespoke experience with different entry requirements than Amex's airport Centurion Lounge locations. Those lounges remain accessible to certain Amex card holders, such as those with The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and the ultra-exclusive Centurion® Card from American Express.

Centurion New York will open in March and will be located on the 55th floor of the 93-story One Vanderbilt building, located next to Grand Central Terminal. It will take up the entire floor and span over 26,000 square feet.

While American Express has been fairly tight-lipped about the space, it teased casual and fine-dining experiences curated by Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud, as well as a bar with signature cocktails and a tastefully appointed salon for guests to unwind in.

In addition, Amex will offer private rooms and host special events exclusively for invite-only Centurion cardholders. In other words, Centurion New York is expected to be more akin to a private members club or speakeasy, if you will, than a transient space.

This isn't the card issuer's first foray into Centurion experiences located outside of airports. In September 2022, Amex opened the Centurion Haus Singapore — a secret lounge hidden within the iconic Raffles Hotel Singapore — which is only open to Centurion cardholders. It also offers a designated Centurion Lounge at the historic 1881 House in Hong Kong. Again, Amex hasn't publicly announced who will have access to Centurion New York once it's open, but if the Singapore and Hong Kong lounges are any indications, access may also be geared toward Centurion cardholders.

While Amex also offers Platinum House, a series of pop-up lounges open to members with The Platinum Card® from American Express, those are only temporary activations tied to various upscale cultural events.

The Centurion® Card from American Express, colloquially known as the "black card," is an invitation-only card for high-net-worth individuals (think: those who spend over six figures per year). Amex allows existing customers who are interested in Centurion membership to request consideration by filling out a short online form, but there are still no published qualifications.

Experts estimate that there are around 100,000 Amex Centurion cardholders in the world, with only about 20,000 of those being in the United States.

The card's annual fee is in a different stratosphere from other top-tier premium credit cards on the market. An invitation to open an Amex Centurion Card comes with a hefty $10,000 initiation fee, plus a $5,000 annual fee (see rates and fees). In turn, you'll receive benefits such as a high spending limit; access to Amex Centurion Lounges; automatic elite status with Delta, Marriott and Hilton; an Equinox Destination Access gym membership; Saks Fifth Avenue shopping credits; invitations to exclusive entertainment events; access to a personal concierge and much more.

If you want a luxury card but don't want to shell out thousands of dollars in annual fees (or didn't get an invite for the Centurion Card), consider The Platinum Card® from American Express. It offers some similar perks, including widespread airport lounge access, hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton, credits toward an Equinox gym membership and more. Terms apply.

American Express is opening a Centurion-branded experience in the heart of New York City in March. Although access rules are still unknown, this is expected to be an exclusive space with luxurious amenities, resembling a high-end social club.

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For rates and fees of Centurion® Card from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

Information about the Centurion® Card from American Express. has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.