I began my trip back home from Hong Kong with a visit to the many oneworld lounges in Hong Kong, but one stood out in particular: Cathay Pacific’s The Pier Business Class Lounge is a stunning lounge with excellent amenities. This lounge could be the best business class lounge in the world.
Best Business Class Lounge In The World? Cathay Pacific’s The Pier Is A Strong Contender
I visited The Wing, The Deck, and the Qatans Lounge first and all are excellent…solid lounges with great amenities. But I saved most of my time for The Pier, having only been to the adjacent first class before (I’ve now lost my oneworld emerald status).
First, this is a huge lounge…it kept going back further and further! There were many people in the lounge, but it never felt crowded because there was just so much space (35,500 square feet).
As you enter the lounge, there’s an Italian deli on the left…what a lovely feature…with all sorts of Italian food including pizza cooked in a wood-fried oven. I had some lasagna and pizza (when in Rome, or HKG…) and it was delicious.
A full-service bar had complimentary adult beverages, including a wide cocktail assortment, and the bartenders were excellent.
Further inside, there was a noodle bar with many made-to-order dishes.
Dim sum too and another bar dedicated only to tea.
There were showers and a quiet area as well.
And my favorite part of the lounge? A coffee station with a beautiful La Marzocco machine and espresso drinks made to order.
Internet was fast, plugs were plentiful, and the chairs were comfortable.
This lounge is so great.
Once I publish the official trip report, there’s so much more to share about this lounge (and hundreds of pictures I must whittle down). But my takeaway here is that while not quite on The Pier First Class level, this is a very good lounge with superb food and drink, immense room to spread out, and excellent staff. Could it be the best business class lounge in the world? I think a strong argument could be made…
Haven’t been there in a while now, but would have to agree that it’s one of the best out there for J. Personally, would prefer The Pier over the Al Mourjan lounges as it feels a bit more cozy and feels like there are less people.
OWE is a bright spot for the alliance, but it would mean for me to fly AA for my domestic itineraries, which I’ve never had a great experience with unfortunately.
I am puzzled whenever people compares this lounge with SQs SilverKris Business Lounge in SIN. They are not even in the same league.
CX put so much thought into both the design and concept of this lounge, I’m with you on ranking this among the best business class lounges in world if not the best. Only thing that comes close are Delta One, United Polaris and Al Mourjan Doha, and these are business class only lounges not even for elite members.
Dang it Matthew, stop bringing back all of my good memories of traveling the world pre-kids! It’s been 7 years now but I still have such fond memories of an 8 hour layover at HKG after Cathay F en route to Malaysia and lounge hopping to check out all of Cathay’s lounges.
Definitely one of the best lounges. My top lounge contenders also include: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LHR, Both Al Mourjan Lounges DOH (especially the Garden), and Turkish Lounge IST.
Those are all on my list. Delta One lounges too.
I’ve done The Wing a number of times but never The Pier. Nice to see that Cathay has high quality all around. Does Cathay release a couple of business class seats on their program on many flights to the USA?
For me it’s the best in the world for sure. Argue what you will, it is certainly the most stylish and tasteful business lounge in the world, by a country mile.
There is an (albeit small) gym in Doha Garden lounge. Good to kill 30 mins on a running machine and use the gym-dedicated shower lounge (and then splurge at the sushi bar…). On top of that there are more options through QR from Europe to North Asia compared to CX, and it always seems cheaper in C/D.
Love the CX J lounges, and I’m spoiled by travelling them 20-30 times a year, but that QF HKG lounge space is so beautiful. Some of the best food (especially if you miss European/Aussie staples). Excellent coffee, and often empty. Such a nice team, too, who remembered me visit to visit and struck up a conversation. QF J lounge in LHR T3 also has exceptional dining. Really impressed to see QF maintaining such a good quality product.
Agreed that QF lounge is great – I had a great lamb dinner here plus cocktail to start and flat white to finish and the lounge was empty after the SYD flight departed. And it’s a business lounge!
How do you mean, business lounge? Business class?
Correct (versus the F lounges in SIN and LAX that are wonderful, but only for first class passengers)
Question – what’s your experience, if any, on how guesting is handled if you have access through OW status? I managed to earn OWE for the next year (almost entirely done through CC spending – what a joke). I know technically the rule is OWE status holder + 1 guest, but how does this work in practice if your second companion is a minor child? Will they count the child as a “free” guest or are you out of luck?
Will probably be passing through HKG with the family later this summer and would be nice to visit The Pier F lounge, though also not interested in being “that” guy and demanding an exception if it isn’t allowed.
@MeanMeosh: Sorry to say that you likely won’t have luck and I would not even bother to ask. Tried something similar with BA in LHR + QF in LAX and was quickly turned away.
Every time I hear a travel reporter claim that something, someplace etc is “greatest” or the “best” I have to sigh! I hear it so much.
I don’t make that claim lightly and unlike some travel bloggers, I really do travel quite a bit and have visited just about every major lounge.