LaGuardia airport's American Express Lounge is incredibly stylish

Angela Pham/BFAnyc.com

New York's LaGuardia Airport gets a bad rap. It regularly appears on "America's worst airport" lists, and Vice President Joe Biden once claimed it belonged in a "third-world country."

But things are looking up for the beleaguered airport — at least for a certain group of customers. In late 2014, American Express opened its Centurion Lounge, a drastic departure from the often drab domestic lounges that populate most major airports around the country. 

Located inside Terminal B (home to American, United, Southwest, Jet Blue, Air Canada, Spirit, and Frontier Airlines), the Centurion signaled a major upgrade in culinary fare for LaGuardia's domestic rest stops. Visitors are treated to a variety of fine dining options, specially paired wines, and signature cocktails. 

Like most airport lounges, access to the Centurion comes at a price. All American Express card holders may drop in by buying a $50 day pass. If you hold a Platinum or Centurion cards, however, membership is included. 

The Centurion Lounge is on Level 3 of Terminal B. It's located before the security checkpoints, so passengers from other terminals can drop in.

The LaGuardia location was the third Centurion Lounge in the U.S., joining lounges at Las Vegas McCarran International and Dallas/Ft. Worth International.

Instead of over-the-top opulent, the lounge is stylish and comfortable. The design is chic, modern, and tastefully restrained.