AMEX unveils Platinum at Basque Kitchen, its new members-only club

Since 2018, American Express has operated a members-only club for its Platinum Charge and Centurion cardholders, which provides a private space to relax and enjoy a free glass of wine. 

The first such club was Platinum VIBES, located on Keppel Bay Island. It wasn’t the most accessible of locations, but I think that was part of the appeal. Having a drink and watching the yachts parked outside the window gave it a bit of a holiday feel. 

The second iteration was NOOK. Nestled at the back of 15 Stamford in the Capitol Kempinski, this was a smaller space (just 30 seats) that saw a decent amount of traffic during the work-from-home period. I often popped by whenever I was in the area and had time to kill between appointments. 

NOOK’s lease ended on 31 December 2020, and since then, cardholders have been waiting for news on the next location. 

That’s been announced today, with the unveiling of Platinum at Basque Kitchen.

Platinum at Basque Kitchen

AMEX Platinum Charge and Centurion cardholders will soon be able to access Platinum at Basque Kitchen. As per the description on the landing page: 

Basque Kitchen by Aitor is a fine dining restaurant that showcases contemporary Basque cuisine reinterpreted by Chef-Patron Aitor Jeronimo Orive. Housed within the historical building of The Fullerton Waterboat House, it comprises a pinxto bar and lounge and a dining room with private rooms. Basque Kitchen by Aitor is open for both lunch and dinner, offering an exclusive tasting menu for each of the sessions. Platinum and Centurion Members can look forward to a dedicated space in Basque Kitchen by Aitor with best views of the Fullerton waterfront and dedicated seats at the Pintxos Bar.

Basque Kitchen occupies a space in The Fullerton Waterboat House which was vacated by 1919 back in September 2020. The interior has been renovated, and while no publicity photos have been sent out yet, I’ll be sure to take some at the media event next week. 

Centurion members will get first dibs on bookings, with access from 20 April. Platinum Charge members can also make bookings now, but can only visit from 27 April onwards. For what it’s worth, NOOK technically required bookings too but I never encountered any difficulty showing up on a weekday afternoon. Let’s hope that remains the case here. 

Platinum at Basque Kitchen will operate from Tuesday to Saturday, during the following hours:

• Lunch service: 12 p.m to 2.30 p.m
• Dinner service: 6.30 p.m to 8.30 p.m
• Pintxos Bar: 4 p.m to 9 p.m

The lease runs till 19 April 2023, which is noteworthy because the initial leases for VIBES and NOOK were less than 6 months. I suppose the proof of concept has now been established, and it’s now worth securing a longer arrangement from the get go. 

The other nice change is that Platinum at Basque Kitchen will be offering champagne as its complimentary welcome drink, instead of wine. I’m sure there are some who will fight me on this, but give me a glass of bubbles any day of the week. 

Centurion members will receive a glass of 2012 Boërl & Kroff Blanc de Noirs, while Platinum Charge members receive a glass of 2006 Piper-Heidsieck “Cuvée Rare” Brut Champagne. 

As a reminder, the complimentary drink is available to both principal and supplementary cardholders. You just need to bring your card along for verification. And since it’s asked so often, no, overseas-issued Platinum Charge and Centurion cards are not eligible. 

A complimentary valet service is available (I assume parking charges are separate) for cardholders who are dining in at Basque Kitchen. Redeeming your free drink and lounging the whole afternoon won’t count. 

Conclusion

Nook had a great location and VIBES had a very reasonably-priced wine list, so I’m hoping Platinum at Basque Kitchen will combine the two. 

We should know more details on the menus and interiors next week, so stay tuned.