The only problem with indulging in the chocolate chip cookie skillet at United Polaris Lounge dining room at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is that you know the best part of your trip is already behind you before you even take off. Topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate drizzle, the dessert is served warm out of the oven in a cookie-sized skillet, a perfect portion for one while relaxing pre-flight with a front-row seat to the taxing planes backdropped by the New York City skyline.
Having lived in Hoboken, New Jersey, for more than two decades, I’ve become a diehard loyalist to my neighborhood airport EWR, as well as its largest carrier, United Airlines, which accounts for nearly 70% of the hub’s flights. While the skillet cookie is top of mind, I’ve spent collective hours enjoying all of its lounges, most of which have been refreshed in the last four years.
All told, they hit that perfect mix of the comfort of your local coffee shop, the suaveness of boutique hotel design, and delectable fresh-made food options that fuel you instead of weighing you down. Each is conveniently open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, with the exception of the location near Gate C123, which is open until 10:30 p.m.
If you’re trying to decide which lounge to spend time in before boarding, here’s what to expect at each United Club and lounge at Newark.
The United Club near gate C123 features a full-service coffee bar, premium bar, wellness room, and spa-like shower suites.
Nathan Kirkman/United AirlinesUnited Club Near Gate C123 (Terminal C)
United first started its transformation of its Newark lounges when it opened the doors to this 30,000 square-foot space with 480 seats in May 2022. And with it, it made a statement. These were no longer just utilitarian lounges for a quick refresh and refuel before flights. These are design-forward spaces that meld that pre-flight care and comfort with boutique hotel-style decor rooted in its New York City and New Jersey culture.
This particular club remains my longtime favorite. Whenever I pass the self-scan entrance into the welcome lounge, I’ve made a habit of stopping for a glass of fruit-infused water in and admiring the eclectic decor of the wooden shelves. If United sold United Club workspace membership, I’d be in this lounge every day. One of the first things travelers will notice is the wall art: United collaborated with the The Newark Museum of Art and Newark-based Gallery Aferro on murals by local artists including Gilbert Hsiao and Dahlia Elsayed, capturing the area’s musical and historical pasts.
Each part of the lounge, which features a full-service coffee bar, premium bar, wellness room, and spa-like shower suites, has a distinct feel. With chefs and servers stationed behind the buffet, the food—which includes a salad bar and entrees served in cast-iron skillets—tastes fresher than standard lounge offerings. Business travelers will relish in the sleek recessed workstation booths and plush couches—and the firm sense of place delivered by New York subway-style wall tiles and signage. As you take a breather from the chaos of the airport, be sure to peek out of the vast windows for views of Manhattan's skyline rising in the distance.
United's newest airport lounge at Newark feels proportionally less spacious than its slightly older counterpart near Gate C123.
United AirlinesUnited Club Near Gate C74 (Terminal C)
The second United Club in Terminal C debuted in October 2023 near Gate C74, elevated above the busyness of the terminal below. Its circular design attempts to give an infinite loop, but there’s no hiding from the fact that at 18,000-square-feet for more than 400 seats, it’s a bit more cramped.
Overall, the style reads more utilitarian, which makes sense since the look was inspired by midtown Manhattan, and even includes ceiling art that’s an ode to Grand Central Station. The buffet is broken up into a few sections (the gummy bears lured me straight to the snack bar), and I love catching the breakfast-to-lunch switchover when fresh chocolate chip cookies are brought out (I may have stashed away a few for the flight). While it also has a self-scan entrance, bar, and wellness room, my favorite part is sitting at the counter along the windows, looking down at the humming terminal below. A few times, I’ve been lucky enough to be staring down right at my gate, so I could milk every lounge moment.
The United Club near Gate A27 has an airy loft-like feel that matches the high-tech vibe of the airport's recently renovated Terminal A.
Andrew Glatt/United AirlinesUnited Club Near Gate A27 (Terminal A)
Newark officially transformed its reputation when its Terminal A, which opened in January 2023, won Skytrak’s World’s Best New Terminal the following year. It exudes high-tech vibes, offers some quality local food (I still can't believe my Jersey City favorite Bang Cookies has a shop here!), and there's the bonus perk of two calming sensory rooms. And the United Club near Gate A27 is more immersive than the others, as it’s an open-air space hovering above the terminal. At 15,000 square feet, it’s technically the smallest of the lounges, with about 300 seats—yet, without walls, has an airy loft-like feel. It comes with a buffet, bar, and wellness room, and the art is all locally sourced, including a striking mixed media mural by Newark-artist Antoinnette Ellis-Williams. During a visit in August, I was charmed to find that the fresh Jersey peaches infused into the water were cut in the shape of hearts.
The most luxurious of the bunch, the United Polaris Lounge, is reserved for select cabin categories on long-haul flights.
Wayne Slezak/United AirlinesUnited Polaris Lounge (Terminal C)
Originally making its debut in May 2018, the United Polaris Lounge already got a major refresh in June 2025, growing the space to 30,000 square feet. Undoubtedly the most luxurious of the airlines’ Newark lounges, it’s now the largest in the Polaris network, and is reserved for those flying on the same day in the Polaris class on long-haul international flights, as well as first and business passengers on Star Alliance international flights.
The highlight is the lounge's full-service restaurant, included with entry. A reservation is required during busy periods, which can only be made in person by checking in with the host. Despite being quoted longer times, I usually end up getting a text that my table is ready about 15 to 30 minutes later. My favorite seats are the solo tables facing the tarmac, although I will say the space is tight if I need to use my laptop.
Among the meals I’ve enjoyed there are the small plates of lump crab cake and fish tacos, as well as the wild mushroom bisque. For mains, I’ve been tempted by the Polaris signature burger, but I tend to go for the seared scallops. Cocktail options include a classic Bloody Mary, as well as the airline’s own Polaris Star with gin, ginger honey, and lemon, but I can’t help but go into vacation mode with an Aperol spritz. And of course, the skillet cookie is always a requirement.
Utilizing the space that was formerly used by the speakeasy Classified, the Polaris Lounge expansion allows for broader views of the New York City skyline. The seating area features a mix of table sizes, ranging from those designed for solo travelers up to two-tops that can be pushed together for groups of eight (the former dining area is now part of the buffet seating). The rest of the lounge also received some light refreshes, most notably extra seating near the front entry under two United Airlines NYC Half Marathon art pieces. Other amenities on offer include private phone booths, showers, nap rooms, and a dedicated United help desk. Simply put, if you can get in, this is the place to be.
This story has been updated with new information since its original publication date.