Review: Art & Lounge Newark Airport

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/02/senate-tax-foreign-airlines/911079001/

New foreign carrier tax approved by Congress.

Wow looks like you had the best possible experience with this lounge at an especially quiet hour. I'm at this lounge about once a month, always between 5p and 8p and the lounge is a disaster at that hour. It is swamped with people, there are no seats or outlets available, and the "dinner" spread is abysmal. Always the same super greasy pasta, and maybe frozen pizza if you get lucky. The kosher cooler is always empty too - therefore I think the lounge must step their game up for the el al fights, but reverts to being no good later in the day.

Ben - You really are lucky, no pun. The last time I was there they had cookies and machine coffee. That was it. And the employees that worked (haahahaha) or should I say sat around there didn't seem to worry about it. I would be really peeved if I had paid the $27 for that.

@Chris

Your link says exactly the opposite.

I agree with Michael Morris. The one time I was at this lounge, it was early evening and it was mobbed.

I bought access to this place on Loungebuddy one day when on a long layover in EWR between status lapsing and new one kicking in.

You got lucky...Lucky.

When I was in there the place was damn near full. Most seats were occupied, there's plugs around but none of them were terribly convenient. There was no hot food as I recall, mid-day, the snacks were ok, but nothing to write home about. There was a really small bar (I can't tell by your picture) that was tended by 2-3 staff.

That Kosher Korner thing was there pre-El Al, however it wasn't Kosher, it was just a big open fridge with some cold snacks and drinks in it.

Overall the lounge is fine, but it's quite small, the ceilings are also low so it has a bit of a bunker feel to it. The varied seats are nice, but look odd I feel. There was also a large projector screen IIRC that was showing CNN or something equivalent. Worth the paid entry for 3-4 hours just because EWR is intolerable.

Yeah, I was here in the evening a month back and it was nowhere near this nice. The dinner spread was far more sparse, the lounge was filthy (every table was sticky and hadn’t been cleaned up) , and there was food/crumbs over the floor everywhere.

This is the old Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at EWR.... doesn't look like they've changed anything (except the name).

@Chris - I think that article should have been renamed "Delta tied to Screw Emirates Yet Again and Failed".

As others have said, in the evening, this place is a zoo.

I agree with Michael - afternoons the lounge is overcrowded and the food spread is abysmal.

Are you sure it is a contract lounge? I have this weird feeling it is affiliated with El Al, and takes on Priority Pass to make more money. But I haven't checked.

Hey Ben, thank you for all of your reviews.

I think I must have sounded a little abrupt when I commented on your post regarding the former Trump Hotel in Toronto.

I actually find the information you provide incredibly useful and insightful. Even if I’m a few days late, I make a point of reading all of your daily e-mails.

You provide a fantastic service, please know that you are appreciated by many of us.