Portal Lounge opens at MSP, gaming meets Priority Pass

A brand-new Portal Lounge has opened at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), bringing 17 gaming stations, a robot bartender, and an included buffet to a 3,800-square-foot space in Terminal 1. Walk-in access is said to cost about $70, but Priorit

The first thing you notice about Portal Lounge at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport isn’t the seating—it’s the game stations.

The brand-new concept, created by the team behind Gameway, has opened in MSP’s Terminal 1 near the intersection of Concourses C and D. Spanning 3,800 square feet, Portal Lounge is built to turn the usual “wait-and-pretend” airport lounge stop into something travelers do, not just endure.

Portal Lounge is all about play. Inside, there are 17 dedicated gaming stations featuring Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles. Visitors can play solo. but multiplayer and competitive gaming options are also available—and the lounge describes all gaming experiences as included as part of the visit.

The room is designed to feel like an event. Between the bold entrance, curated music, social seating arrangements, and what Portal Lounge calls “cinematic lighting,” it’s clearly aiming for a more communal vibe than a traditional lounge where everyone keeps their head down.

Then there’s the robot bartender. which helps explain why Portal Lounge feels less like a quiet corner and more like a destination. Where lounges often rely on pre-packaged snacks and bottled drinks. Portal Lounge pairs gaming with an included food and beverage setup. including an included buffet and cocktail or mocktail service from the robot bartender.

The buffet menu includes build-your-own bowls with chicken. rice. tofu. veggies. and sauces. along with options such as sliders. buffalo cauliflower. salads. and sweet treats. For drinks. the menu lists some included beverage choices. as well as “premium cocktails and elevated offerings.” Signature picks include the “Lag Free. ” a Minnesota-inspired margarita layered with Honeycrisp apple. maple. and citrus. and “Prince’s Lemonade. ” a vibrant zero-proof cocktail inspired by music icon Prince. who hails from Minnesota.

Portal Lounge’s access model is likely to matter just as much to travelers as the gadgets. Walk-in access is said to cost around $70. but Priority Pass membership may reduce or eliminate the charge depending on the Priority Pass access included with a traveler’s credit card—and potentially regardless of which airline they’re flying.

The opening lands at a moment when lounge expectations are shifting, especially as younger travelers increasingly influence what airport spaces are supposed to offer. Portal Lounge is betting that people don’t want just comfort while they wait—they want an experience that feels worth stepping into.

It’s also part of a broader wave of new lounge concepts appearing in terminals in recent months. Examples mentioned include Amex’s speakeasy-style Sidecar lounge. built for travelers looking for a faster premium dining experience. and the first U.S.-based Plaza Premium First Lounge at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). featuring elevated food and beverage offerings.

Portal Lounge MSP Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport airport lounge Priority Pass gaming stations Nintendo Switch Xbox PlayStation robot bartender included buffet