Superb: Cathay The Pier Business Lounge

Continuing my round up of Cathay Pacific’s Hong Hong lounge network, this review looks at the flagship, The Pier Business Lounge. This is perhaps the biggest business class lounge Cathay has in its home airport and has everything you can expect from a top tier Business lounge and more..

Location & Opening Hours

The Pier Business is located near gate 64 in Terminal one of HKIA. It can be easy to just walk past it if you are not paying attention to where you are.

Just like the Pier First Class, there is an escalator that takes you down into the lounge.

The lounge is officially open from 5.30am and generally closes around 12.30am.

Though there is no hard closing time, the lounge remains open past that time if there are any flight delays affecting passengers. I experienced this first hand when a London bound flight was delayed and thus the lounge was open till almost 2am!

Access

First & Business Class passengers flying Cathay or a Oneworld airline can use this lounge as well as Cathay/Oneworld Sapphire status holders and above. Cathay Lounge pass holders are also eligible for entry.

As usual, status holders may also bring a guest along, but business class passengers can not.

Cathay The Pier Business Lounge

This lounge is substantially bigger than any of the other Business lounges in Hong Kong, and therefore you can perhaps call it the flagship. Cathay does not refer to it as such!

Just like the First Class Pier lounge, you have an expansive open reception area where you are checked in through..

then you enter a smaller corridor where the lounge splits off into the main rooms on the right hand side. You have some restrooms and lockers on the left had side closer to the entrance too.

The classic dark wood panelling has the signature Cathay Lounge aesthetic that is emulated across all of Cathay’s lounges across the globe..

And this goes even for the lockers!

Once you turn into the main room you are greeted by a beautifully set up space.

Boasting high end furniture arranged in various zones.

Should you be travelling in groups, you have the option to be closer to each other and hang out in your own little living area essentially..

There are off course many options for solo travellers or couples to find their own little cocoon somewhere..

The main lounge is essentially one huge rectangular area where you have this open space here overlooking the aprons, with a bar right behind this image

I love how elegant some of the seating options are! And they are not just stylish but comfortable too! Right down to the well padded footrests!

Depending on where you sit, there are some cleverly hidden power sockets around such as this hidden under a side table that just conveniently slides out

There are some high stool type seating in this area as well for those that want to work or eat more comfortably without going into the other dedicated spaces..

As you walk further into the right from the main open space, you go through all the other spaces of the lounge..

Here you find more individually laid out seating spaces with the rich green sofa chairs you find in all Cathay lounges..

The Pier Business Lounge Catering

I entered the lounge very late in the evening. If I had gone straight into the food hall, I would have been able to enjoy a late dinner from either the buffet type selection of the food hall or noodle bar.

Unfortunately, I had already eaten dinner in the city as I was catching up with a friend.

By the time I made it into this area, they were already wrapping up the food…

The Noodle Bar here is huge, as you can see, much bigger than The Deck lounge. The food selection here is also the most extensive of all lounges.

Here you can enjoy all the classic dim sums and dumplings we all know and love. Then you have deli range of selections from tapas, meat & fish platters, salads and choice of desserts to satisfy any kind of food cravings you might have!

Immediately opposite the noodle bar, the whole other side of the room is dedicated to seating for diners here..

There are also several refreshments stations also scattered throughout the lounge spaces..

Cathay Pacific The Pier Teahouse

Unique amongst all Cathay lounges: this lounge contains a dedicated Tea room just past the main dining hall !

Just like Brits, evidently the Hong Kongers take their tea seriously.  Tea here is a fine art where various seasonal and artisanal teas are served in fancy China ware. Cathay itself describes this as a sensory experience.

Unfortunately this closes even earlier by 10pm.

The Pier Business Lounge Rest Areas

Way back at the other end of the lounge past all the dining areas and further restrooms, you will find a more relaxing darker space where you can snooze or go for a proper nap

There is a further area out with what looks like 15 different sleeper beds. The other spaces were pretty full and I did not want to take pictures of anyone napping.

Unfortunately, unlike the Pier First  you do not have individual rooms, it is rather exposed. This is a shame as I believe this can easily be fixed with some better privacy screens here in this space.

Overall Thoughts

This is a fantastic business class lounge that is amongst the the top lounges worldwide. The elegance and deco is not far off the Pier First Class lounge itself. This is how any good lounges should be, relaxing, serene and an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the main airport.

The main area affords sweeping views out into the airport, flooded with natural light in daytime. I imagine when travel is fully back to normal in Hong Kong it will get busier than what I experienced on this occasion.

Overall, this is amongst my favourite Business lounges and I cannot wait to return back soon!