Review: Cathay Pacific The Pier First Class Lounge Hong Kong Airport (HKG)

Great review! It absolutely matches my experience I had in September. It was my first visit and made it my favorite airport lounge.

Ironically, I had the best food in this lounge and not in the Hong Kong restaurants I tried.

An incredible lounge and one of the best in the world. Was there in November 2018 and again in November 2023 for the first time since. It was great to see all of its key elements remained in place.

I lived in HK for a few years, and that was my usual hangout place!
Was back there early Dec for the first time since Covid...memories

hey ben - when making notes re: showers, would it be possible to detail if the rooms have vents/fans? one of my biggest gripes about airport showers is that the rooms are often unventilated, so you step out of the shower into a steamy room and have to get changed into muggy, humid clothing.

thanks!

That is the real problem in the world right now. I mean, nothing else. OMG what can we all do to make sure you change clothes on a dry environement?

Ben, we're good flying CX F for the first time in a few months. Our lounge access will be for right when these lounges open, at 5:30ish in the morning. Which would you recommend, Pier or Wing?

What's the best/easiest way to get OneWorld Emerald these days? Any status match opportunities out there?

Having used both they are equally as good but the one Ben reviewed is always quieter.

On my last trip through here in November, Victor was tending bar. Victor was very friendly and personable and helped make the experience enjoyable. He was mixing up tasty cocktails, but also starting conversations between everyone at the bar. It turned into quite a nice Friday evening with quality drinks! I then got a bit of shuteye on one of the daybeds before a late night flight to Narita.

This is my favourite lounge in the world. I love the warm residential feel to the decor, and the restaurant is absolutely on a par with what you'd expect from a real fine dining restaurant.

This lounge is the reason I chase OW Emerald status.

I fully concur, great Lounge, one key reason is the very professional, yet personable staff. Everyone I have ver encountered in the may 30-40 times in this Lounge, has always been the utmost care and courteousness

Was in the old times super. The wines are less . No people nearly last visit. No newspapers and magazines . Ice cold. Bartender looks 23 years . The ambience and touch could complete not find . It could me the number 1. But you see saving and saving money . This should be the flagship. The furniture had his time . No team feeling. The menu paper was old and dirty . Wiffi slow. Bad music . Another person said . It looks like that they will close this lounge. That was his feeling

you are reading a blog about luxury travel reviews and you want to whine about someone bringing up a first world problem? completely bizarre take

Where’s the special menu you ordered from?

@ Fred Marconi -- The picture should appear immediately underneath where I wrote the following:
"The Pier is currently collaborating with the Rosewood Hong Kong on a special Italian-inspired menu, which you can find below."

Hopefully you can see it there?

@ CXP -- Unfortunately there aren't many easy status match opportunities, at least not ones that are widely available. Alaska does offer status matches to MVP Gold 75K (which is oneworld Emerald), but there are some restrictions there.

I'm not saying it's the cheapest, but I think the easiest path to oneworld Emerald is to spend $125K on an AA credit card, which gets you Platinum Pro, and that equates to oneworld Emerald as well.

@ pstm91 -- If I could only visit one, I'd definitely select The Pier over The Wing. Enjoy your trip!

@ Cam -- That's a great idea, and absolutely! I included my thoughts on shower room ventilation in this post, and will try to do so in other lounge review posts as well. Thanks for reading!

I was at this lounge a couple of weeks ago. My flight departed from gate 44 which was closer to this lounge than The Wing. However, The Wing is right after security so I stopped there for a breakfast snack which was quite good. I then took the train to The Pier which is at least a 20-minute walk from The Wing. The Pier has always been my favorite lounge for their warm and welcoming ambiance but I must admit I was disappointed with the food and beverage department and service. I was seated for 10 minutes before the server came to take my order and the restaurant was not busy, I counted 8 tables in total. Cost cutting has caused the champagne to be downgraded and the food selection and quality went downhill as well. I heard that The Peninsula no longer does their catering which might have something to do with it. At the time of my visit there was an offering of a tasting menu with a very bland chickpea soup, an OK braised beef and a mascarpone mousse all of which was forgettable, my breakfast snack at The Wing was much better. I managed to get a neck massage at The Pier despite having to wait an hour even though the lounge was practically empty. Next time, I will dine at The Wing and then come to The Pier to relax and have a massage.

Cathay doesn’t have a signature cocktail in any of its lounge is a small missed opportunity imo. Although the nice bartender created a hard orange dream for me, which is appreciated.

Thanks for the "very quiet" day room tip; I’ll load some ocean sounds for my ear buds. (I’m glad they don’t have a uniform sound-scape playing for everyone).

The soup had n'duja (pork sausage) in it, maybe don't order this next time it is listed on a menu if you truly have an issue with eating pork!

Absolutely my favorite first class lounge! There is a room that I think you have to feature on a future update to this post… and that is the cabana showers. The room was bigger and more luxurious than a Manhattan studio apartment! Same rules 90 minute stay— comes with a shower and a giant tub and a living room space that includes a chaise lounge! Divine!