Lounge Review: Cathay Pacific’s The Pier Business Lounge Hong Kong
One of two main dining areas at The Pier, HKIA.
Lounge Availability and General Access Information
For those of you that have had to good fortune to travel through Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and have access one way or another to business class lounges, you’ll probably be well ware of the immense amount of options at HKIA, and the high standard set.
Being Cathay’s home airport, the airline offers no less than three business class lounges at HKIA, The Wing, The Pier and and The Deck. Additionally, there are two first class lounges, also named The Pier and The Wing.
Business class flyers will have access to the former, however should you be flying in economy or premium economy and be a Oneworld Sapphire member, you and one guest be granted access as well.
Cathay Pacific gold and diamond members also can enter the lounges (diamond can enter first class lounges too) regardless of travel class, as can silver members however silver may not be accompanied by any guests.
You can find The Pier business lounge entrance at terminal 1, level 6 near gate 65 and operates from 5:30am through 12:30am.
You’ll be informed which lounge to attend during check-in, which is typically based on proximity to your departure gate.
Back to The Pier business lounge specifically, which is what this review is about!, The entrance is shown below:
Overall Lounge Atmosphere and Layout
The Pier is a large lounge and features floor to ceiling windows that overlook the tarmac, wonderful for plane watchers. Despite its large scale, it is divided up into multiple sections to help maintain a feel of personalisation, and also to keep guests that may be keen for a chat with their meal or drinks away from those preferring a quiet space to work or relax.
The entire lounge features darker tones of timber contrasted with cooler mid-grey tiled walls and bar features. Warm lighting and leather lounges throughout combines to provide a very calm, understated and contemporary feel.
There are two main dining areas, one offering Western food, the other being the famous Cathay Pacific noodle bar. The lounge also features a bar, traditional tea room, relaxation room and of course, restrooms with showers. The lounge is typically busiest in the areas you first enter the lounge, being the main dining zones, the further you walk into the lounge, the quieter it gets which is certainly clever design.
For those needing to get a bit of work done, the lounge also features multiple iMac computers, printers, and of course, free high speed wi-fi for all guests.
Entrance after descending the elevator/escalator
Food and Drink Offering at The Pier
Well, what can I say about the variety and quality of the food and beverage on offer at this lounge, it is truly tremendous. I will discuss the wonderful noodle bar first, where chefs prepare made-to-order meals for you, and serve dishes such as the spicy, flavourful Dan dan mien Shanghainese noodles, which I could eat again and again! (and kind of did).
Dan Dan Mien noodles - I wish I could get this dish made so well locally!.
Handmade pork and prawn wontons with egg noodles in chicken broth is also available, along with a vegetarian tom yum noodle soup and the mouth-watering Hong Kong style barbecued or roasted pork served with rice along with complimentary dishes of spinach, enoki mushrooms with sesame dressing, smashed cucumber and fried salted peanuts - this is just the made-to-order menu!.
From the adjacent small buffet section there are steamed fresh BBQ pork buns, amongst the best I’ve had anywhere, with a small variety of other dumplings such as Chicken shu mai.
From the second kitchen featuring more Western style food, there are options including freshly fired pizza in varieties such as four cheese, margherita, parma ham with burratini, and calabrese. Fresh salad options are also here with leafy greens and tomato served to you, along with a small section of desserts which featured baked cheesecake pudding, and cannoli at the time I was there.
Drinks
The beverages on offer at The Pier is similarly exhaustive and impressive, with guests able to choose from Ayala Brut Majeur Champagne, three varietals of white wine including an Australian Xanadu 77 Chardonnay, three red wine choices with French, Australian and Californian Pinot Noir, along with a Taylor’s port to finish.
Barista made coffee is available from the bar, as well as machine made at multiple areas in the lounge. Self service fridges are located in the dining areas with beers, soft drinks and water free to take as you wish.
You may also request a classic cocktail such as a dry martini or aperol spritz, beer, spirits and a wide range of teas and non-alcoholic options as shown on the beverage menu:
Wonderful tended bar at The Pier lounge.
The Teahouse
Further in the lounge, away from the sometimes lively, in a good way, dining and bar areas comes the tearoom which is certianly more subdued and aimed at those wanting to wind down a bit with a vast range of traditional Chinese teas and some more modern types.
Guests may choose from green, white and black teas as well as some infused with honey or various spices. The tea of choice is presented to you to smell before it’s brewed should you wish, a lovely touch. Possibly one of the best parts?, the famous Hong Kong egg tarts on the dining trolley waiting for you!
Relaxation Room
Right at the end of The Pier is a very quiet, comfortable space travellers can use to really wind down. The space features some very comfortable, large couches in the centre space, along with some day beds you can use to put your feet up.
I feel as though not enough lounges have a space like this where people that have been on the go for a very long time can really space out, and not be interrupted too much by other guests. To me, this is very clever design from Cathay Pacific, and left me wondering what else could they possibly provide.
Shower Facilities
Though I didn’t use the shower here, the lounge offers multiple private shower suites for guests to freshen up, which all feature high-end products such as Aesop. Shower suites can be booked upon entry to the lounge, and of course if one is free when inquiring you’ll be allowed straight in. There is a quiet waiting area nearby also:
Summary
Well, to sum up this lounge…it is absolutely brilliant. This is definitely one of my all-time favourite lounges worldwide, and quality is everywhere you look. Whether its the food, the service, the layout and design, or the furnishings, everything is so well thought through, and functions superbly.
There is no place better to spend a few hours before boarding than The Pier, and I hope you are as fortunate as me, and experience it yourself if you haven’t already.
Thanks very much for reading!.
