LaGuardia's Terminal C upgrades: Where to eat and relax

Long Islanders flying Delta out of LaGuardia (LGA) in Queens can now spend their preflight time exploring the latest upgrades at the airport. Terminal C is now a single, sleek facility with concourses connected by a central "Skyway" spine.

If your flight is delayed, don't sit at the gate. You can lap the entire terminal in about 32 minutes, turning extra time into a food crawl or prime time for rest and relaxation, all while you wait. 

Getting there

Driving from Nassau or Suffolk is the standard, but how you arrive has changed.

The Uber curbside drop-off: In the Uber app, select "Express Drop-Off, Checked-In." This takes you to the outer curb of Terminal C. You skip the main traffic mess, get greeted with curbside hospitality and have a direct, dedicated path to security.

The parking hack: Always pre-book the Terminal C garage for lower rates online at laguardiaairport.com, where you can also check which lots are full. Online rates start at $60 per day as opposed to the $89 drive-up price. If you have the Delta App and are just dropping a bag, look for the "App Bag Drop" lanes to skip the kiosk lines entirely.

Touchless ID: If you have TSA PreCheck and a SkyMiles account, opt-in for Touchless ID in the Delta app. You can clear security in about 10 seconds using just a facial scan, no ID or boarding pass required.

The food crawl: A guide to all four concourses

This isn’t your typical airport dining. Each concourse has its own personality, from grab-and-go pizza and bagels to sit-down steakhouses and Greek tavernas. Use the interactive map and follow the guide below.

Price guide: $ = $10-20 | $$ = $20-50 | $$$ = $50-100

Gates 60-69: Food Hall hub

This is your "quick hit before boarding” zone.

This concourse centers on the Food Hall, designed for quick grab-and-go service. Options include Artichoke Basille's Pizza ($), Brooklyn’s Best Bagels ($$), Jersey Mike’s ($), King David's Tacos ($), Middle Eastern-inspired concept Taim ($), Starbucks ($), Trinity Burgers ($) and Japanese spot Kombu ($$). The Grille ($$$) offers American fare and seating for a longer meal if you have more time, plus nearby shops selling snacks, drinks and travel essentials.

Across from the Food Hall near Gate 60 is Cotto ($$), chef Michael White’s Italian concept serving a breakfast pizza among other varieties, salads and burgers with an attached market selling fresh goods. For something sweet, Magnolia Bakery ($$) stocks its signature banana pudding and red velvet cake. You’ll also find Jamba Juice ($) and Auntie Anne’s ($) nearby.

Gates 70-79: Brunch and comfort food

This stretch highlights local favorites and Brooklyn-born comfort food. The headliner is Bubby’s ($$), a popular Manhattan broozy brunch spot known for its pancakes, crispy fried chicken and pies. Near Gate 76, Chuko Ramen ($$) serves deeply flavored bowls ideal for a long delay. Sunday Supper Trattoria ($$) serves full Italian American plates, from chicken parm to branzino.

The morning crowd can flock to Poppy’s Bagels ($) and Eggy Weggy ($) for fresh bagels, breakfast sandwiches and build-your-own omelets. Breakfast runs until 11 a.m., when both spots flip to their lunch and dinner identities — casual spots The Line Sports Grill ($$) and Essex Burger ($$). Upstairs, Potbelly ($) and Canadian chain Freshii ($) cater to travelers seeking toasted pulled pork sandwiches and lighter bowls.

Gates 81-89B: Mediterranean and upscale casual

The upper level is where you'll find the strongest concentration of upscale dine-in options that make you forget you're in an airport.

Prime Tavern ($$$) serves hearty breakfasts, savory lunches and decadent dinners with cuts like filet, NY strip, and rib-eye in a moody setting, while Soleil Brasserie ($$$) channels a relaxed French feel with filet mignon, steak frites, truffle pasta and grilled salmon. Calista Taverna ($$$) centers Greek with Mediterranean staples and a true wood-fire grill, transporting wood daily.

For fast-casual, Chopt ($) delivers its signature chopped salads, Dos Toros Taqueria ($) covers burritos and tacos and Protein Bar & Kitchen ($$) caters to travelers looking for high-protein bowls and shakes.

Gates 92-98: Coffee, bagels and other quick classics

Most of this pier clusters near Gate 92, making it easy to sample multiple spots quickly.

Birch Coffee ($) is a reliable caffeine stop. Juice Press ($) offers soups, açaí bowls and bottled juices.

Inside Cibo Express Gourmet Market, Flatiron Tavern & Provisions ($$) serves straightforward American fare — chops, burgers and fresh fish — developed with the culinary touch of King’s acclaimed NYC chefs Jess Shadbolt and Clare de Boer. Rossi Pizzeria’s ($$) Neapolitan pies were developed with famed pizzaiolo Mark Iacono of Lucali. H & H Bagels ($$) rounds it out with classic New York bagels.

Relaxation spots

If you have a long delay, head to Level 3 for rest and relaxation at these spots you might otherwise miss.

Outdoor terrace: Located between the 60s and 70s concourses, this open-air space with benches is open to everyone, plus it’s the only place to get fresh air and watch the planes moving on the tarmac.

Sensory room: A 1,400-square-foot sanctuary with an "underwater" theme designed to calm neurodivergent or anxious flyers. It includes a mock aircraft cabin where you can practice sitting in seats and buckling up. Ask any Delta "red coat" agent in the terminal for access or let them know at check-in.

The Delta Sky Club

Located just left of the security clearance, the Delta Sky Club in Terminal C is the largest in Delta’s system at 34,000 square feet, with two bars, two food buffets, two hydration stations and seasonal chef-curated dishes. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer views of planes landing and taking off against the NYC skyline, making it feel more like a boutique hotel lobby than airport lounge.

The dining provides a variety of diet-conscious options. In the morning, expect a continental breakfast spread, with a selection of hot dishes added around 11 a.m. for lunchtime. A nacho bar allows travelers to build their own dip, and two self-serve drink stations with coffee, soda and tea make refills easy. There’s a full-service bar with complimentary drinks, including wine, cocktails and local beer, though premium cocktails and top-shelf spirits come at an extra charge. At the back of the lounge is a heated, year-round outdoor deck with a retractable roof and its own bar, perfect for relaxing, working or watching planes.

For those who need to work, there are soundproof phone booths, large conference tables, single semiprivate seating and a business center with a printer along with complimentary Wi-Fi. There are two sets of restrooms in the lounge, but no showers.

Access is reserved for same-day passengers flying DeltaOne or premium, Sky Club members and Delta SkyMiles Reserve or American Express Platinum cardholders. Members typically get one to two complimentary guests. Single-visit passes are not available for purchase.