Priority Pass is the world’s largest network of independent airport lounges, with over 1,200 locations around the world. The number of Priority Pass members has increased greatly the past couple of years, since now there are quite a few credit cards with lounge access.
Priority Pass has gotten creative when it comes to the “lounges” they’ve added to their network. For terminals in which they struggle to reach a deal with a traditional lounge, Priority Pass has in some cases come to agreements with restaurants.
The idea is that Priority Pass typically pays a lounge a fixed amount for each guest who enters, so instead Priority Pass pays restaurants a fixed amount, in exchange for giving their members a dollar credit that they can spend towards food and drinks. At this point Priority Pass has about two dozen restaurant locations at US airports, including the following:
- House Spirits Distillery Portland Airport
- Capers Cafe Le Bar Portland Airport
- Capers Market Portland Airport
- Timberline Steaks & Grille Denver Airport
- Corona Beach House Miami Airport
- Viena Miami Airport
- Air Margaritaville Miami Airport
- The Pasta House St. Louis Airport
- Kentucky Ale Taproom Lexington Airport
- Bobby Van’s Steakhouse New York JFK Airport
- Bar Symon at Cleveland Airport
- Johnny Rockets at Syracuse Airport
- Barney’s Beanery at Los Angeles Airport
- Bracket Room at Washington Reagan Airport
- The Fan Zone Indianapolis Airport
- RJ Rockers Flight Room Greenville-Spartanburg Airport
- Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill Boston Airport
- Stephanie’s Boston Airport
- San Francisco Giant’s Clubhouse San Francisco Airport
- Yankee Pier San Francisco Airport
- American Tap Room at Washington Reagan Airport
- Landry’s Seafood at Houston Airport
- Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar Houston Airport
- P.F. Chang’s Los Angeles Airport
- Chef Geoff’s Washington Dulles Airport
- The Cafe by Mise en Place Tampa Airport
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport Priority Pass details
Miami Airport actually has three Priority Pass restaurants, one of which was added last year, and two of which were added this year. Two of these are landside (before security), while one of them is airside (after security).
Over time I hope to review all of them, but today I wanted to share my recent experience at Viena Restaurant, which looked to me like the most appetizing of the three options, and which I visited with Tiffany. Priority Pass members receive $28 of food and drinks per guest.
Priority Pass members can bring as many guests as their particular membership type allows (for most credit cards this includes two guests). You do need a same day boarding pass to get the credit here, though there’s no rule that it needs to be an outbound boarding pass (so you could use this upon arrival, if you wanted to).
Viena Restaurant is open daily from 11AM until midnight, so it’s useful for everything except breakfast.
As a reminder, here are some of the popular credit cards that come with a Priority Pass™ membership:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
American Express Platinum Card®
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Viena MIA review
Viena Restaurant describes itself as being “farm-to-table, made from scratch with the freshest available ingredients.” While perhaps a stretch, itsounded more appealing to me than Corona Beach House or Air Margaritaville.
The downside to Viena Restaurant is that it’s located landside, before security. Miami Airport has some of the worst security lines, so obviously this is ideal if you’re originating in Miami and arriving early, rather than if you’re connecting (unless you’re coming off an international connection, in which case you’ll be landside anyway after clearing immigration).
Viena Restaurant is located inside the Miami International Airport Hotel. I didn’t realize Miami Airport had a hotel connected directly to the terminal until I visited this restaurant.
The hotel and restaurant are located near the Concourse E check-in area, by the Iberia and Qatar Airways check-in counters. If you’re dropped off at the American Airlines check-in counter, just turn left when looking at security and walk about five minutes.
The entrance to the hotel is just behind the entrance to Air Margaritaville, should you want to visit multiple Priority Pass restaurants. 😉
Air Margaritaville Miami Airport
Immediately behind that you’ll see the reception for Miami International Airport Hotel.
Miami International Airport Hotel reception
To the right of that you’ll see two elevators — these lead to hotel guest rooms, as well as to the restaurant, located on the seventh floor.
Elevator to Viena Restaurant Miami Airport
Miami International Airport Hotel branding
There’s no key or anything required to get into the elevator.
Viena Restaurant is on the seventh floor
Just outside the elevator is the entrance to the restaurant. The restaurant was really not busy, and there was a sign saying to seat yourself.
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport reception
The restaurant was quite large and almost completely empty, so I loved that. By contrast, I’ve found that most Priority Pass restaurants have become way overcrowded due to the number of people who have access. I suspect this is because the restaurant being landside limits the number of Priority Pass members wanting to use it.
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport seating
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport seating
In addition to a main dining room area, the restaurant also had some seating that almost looks like it was part of an airline lounge, as well as a bar.
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport seating
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport bar
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport bar
Probably my favorite part of the restaurant was that it had awesome views of the apron and runways in the distance. This is even the “exotic” side of the airport, so most of the planes were from Eastern, Swift Air, Cayman Airways, etc.
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport view
Within a minute of settling in we were greeted by a nice server who presented us with the menu, which read as follows:
The wine list read as follows:
I know this is minor, but I was impressed they had cloth napkins, which you don’t often see at airport restaurants.
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport cloth napkins
I decided to order the Asian salad with chicken, while Tiffany had the spinach salad with shrimp. Both of the salads were very good, especially for an airport.
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport — Asian salad with chicken
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport — spinach salad with shrimp
After the meal we ordered some drinks — I had a cappuccino, while Tiffany had a coffee.
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport — cappuccino & coffee
At the conclusion of the meal we were presented with a check. The total came out to $51.23. I presented the server with our Priority Pass card, and tipped her in cash (I always recommend tipping at Priority Pass restaurants in the US, because your Priority Pass™ membership works no differently than a gift card here, and servers on the US rely on tips to make a living).
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport check
Viena Restaurant Miami Airport bottom line
This might just be my favorite Priority Pass restaurant I’ve visited yet. The restaurant was almost empty, had incredible views of the apron, the food and cappuccino were excellent, and the service friendly. The hotel Wi-Fi was also free to connect to and fast.
Of course the major “catch” is that this restaurant is landside. Given how bad Miami Airport security lines often are, I wouldn’t recommend leaving security just to visit the restaurant, unless you have a really long connection.
However, I was really impressed, and will definitely be returning the next time my travel originates in Miami, or I’m connecting off an international flight. This might just be the most peaceful place I’ve been in Miami Airport, which is otherwise pretty chaotic.
I’ll be reviewing Corona Beach House and Air Margaritaville soon, though something tells me they won’t be quite as good.
The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: The Business Platinum® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), and American Express Platinum Card® (Rates & Fees).
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