American Express is known to create exclusive cardmember only events, particularly for Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders. For example, Amex has a pop-up every year at Miami’s Art Basel and there has been a Centurion Lounge each fall at the U.S. Open tennis tournament. I’ve attended both and there’s free drinks, snacks, and a swag item or two.
Now, Amex is taking that concept to New York City. The American Express Platinum House is now open for the first time in New York through Sunday, 12/1 to promote Amex’s Small Business Saturday event.
The Amex Platinum House Event Details
Billed as a respite from the busy shopping season, the Platinum House is featuring tastings from three NYC Global Dining Collection restaurants including Cote, Wayan and Legacy Records.
Platinum Card and Centurion Members can also drink up on specialty cocktails created by Undercote, select wines curated by Parcelle and coffee. Other curated offerings include:
- Made Of protein beverages by Kirsty Godso
- Specialty cocktail using Gotham Greens by Viraj Puri
- Custom gift wrapping curated by Sarah Andelman (up to two gifts per person)
- Signed copies of More Than Enough and Meet & Greet with Elaine Welteroth
- A local NYC shopping guide curated by Elaine Welteroth, Kirsty Godso, and Zanna Roberts Rassi
To top it all off, Amex is giving away Small Business Saturday totes and educating us all about the benefits of shopping small.
Who Can Get Into The Amex Platinum House In NYC?
The Platinum House will be exclusively for Platinum Card and Centurion Members and up to three guests each. This includes both the personal Amex Platinum card as well as the Business Platinum Card.
Where Is The Amex Platinum House?
The Platinum House is located at 5 East 17th Street in Manhattan. There’s lots of signage (and likely a line) so you won’t miss it.
When Is The Amex Platinum House Taking Place?
The Platinum House is open from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, November 30 and Sunday, December 1.
First Impressions
The line at noon at opening was long, but moved fairly quickly. Once inside, I was checked in and given a wrist band to come and go as I pleased throughout the weekend.
The space is massive and occupies the former Union Fare restaurant right off of Union Square. The decor was modern yet felt very homey, like someone’s living room.
The pop-up was basically split into two large rooms with separate areas for coat check, a gift wrapping station, a concierge desk, a bar and a cafe, and the main attraction (at least for me) — multiple food stations.
Seating was plentiful with a variety of high chairs, couches, and more traditional tables. The space definitely is going to be crowded all weekend, so be prepared that this won’t exactly be a quiet respite from shopping that Amex is billing this as.
I was really impressed with the decor and how “permanent” the space feels even though it’s just a two-day pop-up. However, Amex could really have cut down on the crowds by not allowing so many guests in. Still, some free nibbles, a drink, and a chill vibe sounds lovely if you happen to be in the area. (And yes, the food that I sampled was delicious.)
The Upshot
Amex is making the holidays a touch more festive with complimentary bites and drinks in New York for Platinum and Centurion cardmembers. The Amex Platinum House NYC comes to the Big Apple for the first time, and will be a nice little pit stop during an afternoon of shopping (or just walking around to recover from Thanksgiving dinner). Just don’t expect peace and quiet and no lines — this is New York City during the holidays after all.
The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
