You know that feeling when you discover something so unexpectedly delightul that it completely shifts your perspective? That's exactly what happened when my wife Dio and I stumbled upon what might be Atlanta's best-kept wine and food pairing secret – and it happens to be located at the world's busiest airport.

We were heading to the UK for our tenth wedding anniversary in November 2024, with plans for museum and private wine club visits in London, Michelin rated wine pairing dinners, a trip to the Cotswolds, and a countryside stay at Cliveden House. I was already excited about the blog-worthy wine and food experiences awaiting us across the pond. What I never expected was to be writing about what turned out to be one of the most remarkable meals we'd have during the entire trip – and it happened before we even left Atlanta.

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson is the world's busiest airport, and many travelers actively despise this place. My stepdad, who was born and raised in Savannah and travelled a good bit, had a quote that perfectly captures most people's relationship with this airport: "When I die, I don't know if I'm going to heaven or hell, but I know that I'm connecting through Atlanta to get there!"

Good friends that live in LA had raved about PS Los Angeles, so we decided to give PS Atlanta a try. I'll be honest – I was intrigued by the idea of escaping Hartsfield-Jackson's notorious chaos, but skeptical about the reality. After decades of mediocre airport food worldwide, plus my general wariness of all-inclusive dining where "free" or “included” usually means forgettable, I wasn't expecting much beyond convenient.

Boy, was I wrong.

DISCOVERING ATLANTA'S HIDDEN LOUNGE

The moment our car pulled up to PS (which stands for “Private Suites”), everything changed. This wasn't just avoiding airport hassles – this was stepping into a world-class hospitality experience that rivals anything you'd find in areas like Buckhead, Chastain, etc..

The facility itself stopped us in our tracks. Modern, spacious, and designed with the kind of attention to detail you'd expect from a luxury hotel, not an airport service. They had created an atmosphere that immediately put us at ease, and looking at our photos from that day, you can see the genuine surprise and delight on our faces.

What really caught my attention was learning that James Beard Award winner Linton Hopkins was behind the cuisine. Suddenly, the exceptional quality made perfect sense. Hopkins isn't just creating "airport food that doesn't suck" – he's crafting cuisine that would hold its own against many of Atlanta's finest dining establishments.

WHEN ALL-INCLUSIVE ACTUALLY MEANS ALL-EXCEPTIONAL

Here's the kicker – all of this exceptional food and wine is included in the PS experience, not an additional cost. We settled into the comfortable couches in The Salon, the main lounge area where guests wait for their flights, and started with the NV Lanson Champagne Père et Fils Brut, which I scored 90 points. Medium gold with nutty characteristics and good bubbles, though with a slightly bitter finish. Dio paired hers with caviar – because why not start an anniversary celebration properly?

After finishing our champagne in the lounge, we moved to the inviting bar area for our made-to-order main courses.

The jerk chicken I ordered was revelatory. Perfectly spiced with just enough heat to excite without overwhelming, paired beautifully with the 2022 Bodegas Forjas del Salnes Rías Baixas Leirana that earned 91 points from me. This Spanish white showed lovely balance and proved that PS takes their wine pairings seriously.

Dio's steak frites entree was equally impressive – the kind of execution you'd expect from a serious kitchen, not a pre-flight lounge meal. When she offered me a bite, I was struck by how this completely defied every airport dining experience I'd ever had.

We finished at the bar with our final selection, the 2022 Domaine Damien Martin Pinot Noir Bourgogne, which earned an impressive 93 points. Because this wine was young, it being previously opened likely improved the wine – again, something you're not finding in a typical airport lounge experience. This Burgundy demonstrated exactly the caliber of wine program that sets PS apart from other airport lounges I've ever experienced before.

Go to my Tasting Notes

THE MOMENT EVERYTHING CLICKED

Sitting there in the lounge, savoring exceptional food and wine while watching private jets taxi outside the window, it hit me: our anniversary trip had already begun! This wasn't just a convenient pit stop – this was luxury travel starting the moment we walked through those doors.

The staff treated us like valued guests, not rushed passengers. They took time to explain dishes, make wine recommendations, and create an atmosphere where lingering was encouraged rather than discouraged. When they offered us a quick tour of one of their Private Suites – exclusive rooms with the same comfortable seating for friends and families (especially those with children) traveling together – I could already envision returning for an even more intimate experience.

Then came the surreal part. Security took 30 seconds – literally. We were the only passengers in their own private TSA screening area. No lines, no stress, no removing shoes or laptops, and without having to even step foot in the airport terminal. After screening, they drove us directly to our plane in a BMW SUV, where we walked up the steps and boarded first with PS-provided gourmet snack boxes in hand.

THE ADDICTION PROBLEM

Here's where I need to share what I'm calling the "curse of knowledge" – that unfortunate phenomenon where learning about something amazing makes everything else seem inadequate by comparison. I'm simultaneously glad we tried PS because it's fantastic, and genuinely sad we discovered it because it's completely ruined normal airport experiences for us. Now we don't want to fly without it. What we thought would be an occasional luxury splurge has transformed into what feels like a travel necessity. Every time we book a flight, we find ourselves automatically checking if PS is available!

Here's the moment that perfectly captures this entire paradigm shift: PS has made me actually hope for flight delays – something I never thought I'd write! When you're delayed at a typical airport, you're stuck with unhappy people, overpriced, underwhelming food and uncomfortable seating. When you're delayed at PS, you get to continue enjoying exceptional cuisine and wine in a luxurious lounge setting. Of course, this only makes sense when we’re taking a direct flight without connections, but the psychological shift is remarkable.

We've returned to PS since this first visit and did experience a flight delay – instead of frustration, I felt grateful for extra time in what has become one of our favorite Atlanta experiences!

THE NEW TRAVEL RITUAL

PS has completely transformed our travel routine. Instead of grabbing something to eat before heading to the airport and timing our arrival to minimize time dealing with crowds, we now arrive at PS as early as possible to maximize our time there. What was once the most stressful part of traveling has become something we genuinely look forward to!

For Atlanta-based wine enthusiasts and food lovers, PS isn't just avoiding airport hassles – it's discovering that exceptional hospitality can happen anywhere when the right people care enough to make it happen.

THE PS WINE LIST

For those curious about their wine selection, PS maintains a list that genuinely surprised me. They feature respected producers across multiple price points and regions – from accessible favorites like Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc to premium selections like Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne and Château Gigognan Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The geographic diversity is impressive, with strong French representation (Champagne, Burgundy, Loire, Rhône, Provence), solid California presence (Napa, Alexander Valley, Santa Maria Valley), and thoughtful selections from Italy, Spain, Germany, and Australia. What struck me most was finding legitimate quality bottles rather than the typical house wines you'd expect in an all-inclusive setting.

I’ll mention this again. ALL wines are included in the experience!

Why I'm Secretly Hoping Our Next Flight Gets Delayed