Cathay Pacific The Pier Business Class Hong Hong lounge reopens

Cathay Pacific is re-opening its flagship The Pier Business Class lounge at Hong Kong next week. The lounge is a delight after a year long renovation, with a home away from home style. It has bar, noodle restaurant, showers and a business centre for travellers stopping over in Hong Kong.

The brand new Cathay Pacific the Pier Business Class lounge at Hong Kong is located right at the end of the long 'arm' of the terminal at Hong Kong. It is worth making the trek, to Gate 63 in the northwest concourse of the Hong Kong airport and descending to the basement, to check out the lounge, as it is very definitely one of the best Business Class lounges in Asia.

With seating for a huge number of passengers - 550 travellers in total - the Pier's footprint occupies some 3,300 square meters, 1,000 square metres larger than the old business class lounge.

That means the new Cathay Pacific Pier Lounge takes the crown as the largest in the worldwide Cathay Pacific network.

As part of the new wave of lounge designs that are being rolled out across the network over the past 16 months, The Pier Business Class Lounge follows the design template crafted by London-based StudioIlse which elegantly sports its own unique identity, with residential touches such as plant pots, arm chairs, rich textiles and artworks much in abundance in the new space.

The long thin space of The Pier Business Class Lounge is modelled on a 'street', according the Cathay Pacific, and divided into separate zones, which goes from funky to homely as you wheel your wheelybag through the lounge.

StudioIlse have obviously studied how passengers pass through a lounge, as the lounge's runway, or high street starts at a dining area dubbed the Food Hall. There is a decent spread of hot and cold dishes, plus a range of European tapas, bakery, salads and hot and cold dishes. In the morning don't miss the croissant truck and the coffee cart for that Hong Kong staple, a quick latte.

There is also a classic Cathay marble bench, with power sockets (both USB and UK style Hong Kong plugs.)

Next up is The Noodle Bar, which has become a feature of many Cathay Pacific lounges. Then, there is the real bar. Cathay Pacific are moving away from 'pour your own' drinks to all their lounges having a fully tended bar serving spirits, cocktails and wines.

If you're on an early morning flight, or not in the mood for booze, keep travelling as further along is The Tea House. A 'first' for Cathay Pacific, created in conjunction with UK-based tea specialist Jing, it is right at the very end of The Pier Business Class Lounge.

Beside it is The Relaxation Room: a calm, quiet zone with 14 low upholstered daybeds and footstools for catching up with jetlag. Next to this are fourteen shower suites stocked with Aesop products.

Back in the reception area, and there is the smaller hallway running in the other direction, up to The Bureau. A working space, it has 10 iMacs and printers, running both Windows and iOS, plus the new Solo chairs. These famous chars, a staple of many a Cathay lounge, are high-walled where travellers can work or relax, and includes a side table, reading lamp and a coat hook.

In total, the new The Pier Cathay Pacific Business Class Hong Hong lounge is a worthy flagship. It is certainly in step with it's famous sybling -Read the exclusive Loungeindex review of The Pier First Class lounge next door.

Although some of the custom pieces of furniture may look familiar, that's no surprise, as some are already in other new lounges around the network. All the finishes all are of the highest standard, with plenty of Cherry wood, limestone, bronze and leather. The overall feel is authentic and similar to what passengers might find in a contemporary Asian home.

The Pier Business Class Lounge welcomes business class passengers, Marco Polo Gold and Silver card-holders and their Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald equivalents, including the British Airways Silver Executive Club card.