- Introduction: Four Seasons Yacht Via Turkmenistan & Saudi Arabia
- Review: Lufthansa Allegris Business Class Boeing 787 (AUS-FRA)
- Review: Lufthansa Welcome Lounge Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
- Review: Priority Lounge Frankfurt Airport Terminal 3 (FRA)
- Review: Turkmenistan Airlines Business Class Boeing 777 (FRA-ASB)
- Review: Business Lounge Ashgabat Airport, Turkmenistan (ASB)
- Review: Turkmenistan Airlines Business Class Boeing 737 (ASB-DEL)
- Review: Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi Airport (DEL)
- Review: Air India Maharaja Business Lounge Delhi Airport (DEL)
- Review: Air India Maharaja First Lounge Delhi Airport (DEL)
- Review: Air India First Class Boeing 777 (DEL-FRA)
- Review: Airelles Palladio Venice, Italy (What A Gorgeous City Resort!)
- Four Seasons Yachts Cruise Review: Suites, Dining, Amenities, Service, And More
During my Four Seasons Yacht via Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia adventure, I had a very long layover at Delhi Airport (DEL), prior to my Air India 777 first class flight. This allowed me to check out several lounges.
While I spent most of my time in the Air India First Lounge and Air India Business Lounge, I also had the chance to check out the Encalm Xenia Lounge, which opened in late 2025, and which I had heard a lot about.
Encalm runs some contract lounges at the airport, and the Encalm Xenia Lounge is the most premium lounge in the collection, and it’s essentially intended to be a first class contract lounge. I must say, this is an absolutely spectacular facility, and it’s perhaps the best lounge I’ve been to that’s not run by an airline.
This lounge has top notch a la carte dining, great cocktails, tea, and coffee, and impressive amenities, ranging from a bedroom to complimentary massages. If you have access to this lounge, you’re in for a treat. Even if you don’t have complimentary access, it could be worth paying, if you’re looking to splurge, and want a great experience.
In this post:
Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi location
The Encalm Xenia Lounge is located in Delhi Airport Terminal 3, which is the terminal for all international departures and arrivals at the airport. When you clear security and find yourself in the main retail and dining area of the terminal (before going toward the gates), you’ll see signage for lounges.
You’ll then see the entrance for both the Encalm Xenia Lounge (first class equivalent) and Encalm Prive Lounge (business class equivalent).
That leads down a hall with a bunch of golf carts. Side note — guests in the Encalm Xenia Lounge receive complimentary transport to their gate, if that’s of interest.
At the end of the hall you’ll find the elevators, with the Encalm Prive Lounge being on level three, the Encalm Xenia Lounge being on level four, and the Holiday Inn Express being on level five.
When you get out on level four, you’ll immediately find yourself at the reception desk for the Encalm Xenia Lounge. It feels more like the lobby of a five-star hotel than an airport lounge, and that sets the tone for the experience.
Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi hours & crowding
The Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi is open 24/7, as is common for lounges at the airport, given the round-the-clock operations at the airport.
Rush hour at the airport tends to be very late at night and early in the morning, since that’s when a majority of long haul flights depart. Meanwhile midday (from late morning until late afternoon) this lounge tends to stay really quiet, given how few flights there are. For example, I visited the lounge around 4PM, and for the two hours that I was there, I was the only guest.
Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi entry requirements
The Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi isn’t run by any airline, so you can access it either by directly buying access, or with an invitation from an airline.
Select airlines use the Encalm Xenia Lounge as their contract lounge for first class passengers, including carriers like Emirates. So if you’re entitled to access to this lounge because of your ticket, you’ll receive an invitation at check-in. Note that my Air India first class ticket didn’t get me access to this lounge, given that Air India has its own lounge facilities.
You can also outright purchase access to the Encalm Xenia Lounge, at the cost of 12,000 INR (~125 USD) for two hours. Meanwhile if you have access to the Encalm Prive Lounge (a contract lounge used by a lot of airlines), you can upgrade to the Encalm Xenia Lounge at a cost of 7,000 INR (~73 USD) for two hours.
Obviously this is quite a bit to spend on lounge access, but the lounge experience really is excellent, and I have no regrets about what I spent on this. Admittedly I primarily visited with the intent to review, and I probably wouldn’t otherwise pay if I already had access to the Air India First Lounge, as I did here, because that’s also excellent.
I’d say my one complaint is that I wish access were for more than two hours, since that’s a really limited amount of time to actually enjoy everything.
Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi seating & layout
The Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi is an intimate facility, which can officially accommodate a little over 50 guests at a time (though I can’t imagine it ever gets that full — as I mentioned, I was the only guest during my entire time here).
Below are two pictures of the entirety of the main part of the lounge, with one picture being taken from each end.
As you enter the main part of the lounge, on both the left and the right you’ll find a couple of pretty open seating areas, with chairs, sofas, etc.
Past that and on the left is the bar area, which is gorgeous, I must say. It really feels more like a high-end hotel bar than an airport lounge. There’s even a cute bar cart and tea trolley service.
Meanwhile across from the bar and on the right side of the lounge you’ll find several semi-private little seating areas.
There are a couple intended for solo travelers, and then one intended for pairs or small groups, and the idea is that each person has a reclining chair, a dining table with a chair, and a Nespresso machine (which just strikes me as silly, given how well staffed this lounge is).
Then in the back of the lounge there’s another open seating area.
There’s also a spa area with complimentary treatments, which I’ll talk more about in a bit.
Then there’s a private dining room, which looks more like a conference room. It’s funny, I was invited to dine here, but I declined, since it seems unnecessary to dine in a space like this when you’re alone.
There’s also a smoking room in the back of the lounge.
Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi bedroom
When it comes to unique amenities, the Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi has a proper bedroom, which is available on a first come, first served basis. This really feels like a proper hotel room, and it has a TV, along with a private bathroom with shower. It’s among the best bedrooms you’ll find in any lounge.
This is super nice, though with most guests being limited to using the lounge for just two hours, it’s hard to imagine using this other than to just pose for social media, or whatever, since there’s not time to get any sleep.
Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi massage
Guests to the Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi receive a complimentary massage, and there are two massage chairs in a private space. Guests can choose to either have a foot massage or a head and shoulder massage. I believe officially the massage lasts 10 minutes, though mine lasted for closer to 20 minutes (again, I was the only guest in the lounge). What a treat!
Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi food & drinks
The Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi has a really strong food & beverage game, and it’s intended to be a restaurant style experience. There’s a huge menu, and it’s presented on a tablet that’s in a nice branded binder.
The idea is that most of the food options are small plates, and the selection was massive, and you can find all the options below.
You can find the drink list below.
I figured I’d start with a glass of champagne, with Moet being the house offering. After they poured me the first glass, they even set up the bottle in a little ice bucket in the zone I was sitting in.
I then decided to order some food. I had asked the server for recommendations, and he ended up suggesting mostly non-Indian dishes. For the record, I love Indian food, and that worked out, since I gorged myself on Indian food in the Air India First Lounge, onboard my Air India flight in first class, etc.
At the start of the meal, I was offered some bread, olives, and an amuse bouche consisting of a grape with goat cheese and pistachio.
At the server’s recommendation, I first ordered the prawn croquette, infused with truffle essence.
Then I had the “black gold,” as it was described, which was a prawn and chive dim sum with “activated charcoal and finished with edible gold dust.”
Next up, I had the Chilean sea bass with leek fondue, edamame beans, and grilled asparagus.
With the main course, at the server’s suggestion, I decided to have the signature gin & greens cocktail, with gin, basil, spinach, and brine water solution.
Lastly, I had the pistachio fudge dessert.
I accompanied that with a cup of tea, served off the trolley… what nice presentation!
All the food and drinks were phenomenal — I was really impressed. Admittedly I totally went overboard here, and between this and what I ate at the Air India First Lounge, I don’t want to know how much I consumed over the course of my long layover. But it was all delicious, so we’ll just mark it as a win.
Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi bathrooms & showers
The Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi bathrooms and showers are located in the very back of the lounge, down a hallway.
The lounge has a total of four private bathrooms, all of which were spotlessly clean, and also super elegant.
There were also a couple of shower suites, so guests can freshen up prior to departure.
Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi service
As you’d expect, service in the Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi is extremely personalized and attentive. There were at least six staff in the lounge constantly checking on me, so if I needed something, there was someone there within a second.
I have to acknowledge that as an introvert, I generally find high end service in India to be a bit overbearing. There never seems to be such a thing as subtlety or having space, as clearly standards are just different than what I’m otherwise used to. But I also get that’s part of the culture, so I’m not suggesting that’s an issue, or anything.
Bottom line
The Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi is a phenomenal lounge, and I’d say it’s the best contract lounge that I’ve been to anywhere in the world. The lounge is calm, luxurious, has excellent food and drinks, and has great amenities, ranging from a bedroom to spa services.
If you have access to this lounge, you’re in for a treat. Meanwhile I’d argue this is the best value lounge I’ve been to that you can buy access to. Obviously $125 is a lot to spend on lounge access, but I’d rather pay that here than spending half as much for a day pass to a mediocre lounge in the United States, where you get cubed cheese and dive bar drinks.
What’s your take on the Encalm Xenia Lounge Delhi?
"[The private bedroom] is super nice, though with most guests being limited to using the lounge for just two hours, it’s hard to imagine using this other than to just pose for social media, or whatever, since there’s not time to get any sleep."
Um... Ben. Maybe the room is meant for *other* things that are done in a bedroom.
Favourite non-airline lounge in the world? I think you don’t need to step outside the US for that — the Chase Sapphire Lounge LGA ought to win that one.
That said, it’s incredible that India, of all places, has managed to come up with such an outstanding First Class Lounge.
I can definitely see myself trying this lounge next time i am passing through this airport. The food itself looks like worth the price of admission and the peace and the quite add to the experience.
Totally agree, this looks fantastic.
p2 just experienced this lounge a couple of days ago on our layover in DEL. i was planning to do so as well but wanted to hit the gym in the prive lounge, after which i was informed that the access rules allow only 2 hours, so she had just under 1hr left and i didn't feel that it was worth it for me to buy up at that point.
she absolutely loved it...
p2 just experienced this lounge a couple of days ago on our layover in DEL. i was planning to do so as well but wanted to hit the gym in the prive lounge, after which i was informed that the access rules allow only 2 hours, so she had just under 1hr left and i didn't feel that it was worth it for me to buy up at that point.
she absolutely loved it and was the only guest for much of her stay over the midnight layover, while the other lounges were slammed. she didn't drink anything which seems like a missed opportunity to me but hey she enjoyed it the way she wanted haha. i'd buy up if i had an opportunity to spend the whole allotted time, though i do think the strict 2hr limit is obnoxious given the price point. for what it's worth, there was no proactive offer of the cart transfer to the gate, which may have been because her session ended a little before boarding on our flight. would recommend that anyone in a similar situation take initiative to ask about the transfer even if it's a bit after the xenia access expires.
oh i should also note that she had the same experience as @Ben where the 10 minute massage was 20 minutes
Could you buy more than two hours? So if you wanted to stay there 6 hours it would be $375 (or $225 if you are flying business on a non-star alliance airline that contracts with Prive - like @KCT / Cathay)? Might be better than dealing with the holiday inn to grab a nap for a few hours (more expensive perhaps...)
@ Peter_ -- Yeah, I don't think there's any proportional discount for staying longer, but you can absolutely buy multiple sessions. This space feels WAY more luxurious than the Holiday Inn Express, so if you wanted a combination of a nap and a great meal, this would be an excellent (but pricey) choice.
I first went to this lounge about a year ago, and after dealing with security being rude (to everyone not just me), it was a real breath of fresh air. I got in through paid access on top of encalm prive lounge access being a oneworld sapphire at the time flying on cathay, but I wonder now if oneworld emeralds would get encalm xenia access by default?
They also had some very cool indian whiskeys that I had never seen.
@Kct
‘Meanwhile if you have access to the Encalm Prive Lounge (a contract lounge used by a lot of airlines), you can upgrade to the Encalm Xenia Lounge at a cost of 7,000 INR (~73 USD) for two hours’
Based on what Ben wrote I think besides paying outright for access to the Xenia Lounge, you must pay for the upgrade regardless if you are flying first class or the highest elite tier airline member/One World Emerald member.
good to know, though $73 isn't outrageous, it is still a lot, the encalm prive lounge is perfectly nice too and also has decent food, just more crowded. Let's see next time I fly oneworld through there! Though for what its worth, Aeroplan redemptions for Air India First Class are decent and the lounge was amazing, I think Ben's review is coming soon.
@ Kct_photo -- Yeah, unfortunately oneworld Emerald members don't get access here, so they'd still have to buy up.
@Ben You need to try the Air India domestic lounge in BLR. Easily the best domestic airline lounge in the world. It has almost the same set up as this encalm Xenia lounge in terms of service with the food being small plates, prepared to order. The furnishing is also very unique with beautiful artworks everywhere. There is also a very nice snack buffet to go along