Emirates’ new lounge design closes the ground-to-inflight gap

Over the past few years, Emirates has been steadily upgrading its seats, suites and cabins to new standards of elegance.

The overwhelming bling has given way to a subtle aesthetic that’s more restrained, more polished.

The iconic Emirates A380 bar features on every one of the Gulf airline's superjumbos.

We’ve seen it on the second-generation Airbus A380 cocktail bar, in the premium economy recliners, and to a lesser extent, the new A380 and A350 ‘S Lounge’ business class seats.

This decidedly softer approach is also shaping Emirates’ new 777X business class suites.

Emirates' new 777X business class.

But this has led to a stark disconnect on the ground: the airline’s lounges have remained largely frozen in an earlier, dowdier era which has come to feel increasingly out of step with the airline’s evolving identity.

Emirates’ new signature lounge concept makes a decent effort at closing that gap.

Already on show at Frankfurt and Munich, with Manchester, Mauritius and Istanbul to follow later this year, every future Emirates lounge opening or refurbishment worldwide will adopt the same chic standard.

Travellers arrive into an environment scented with a blend of bergamot, citrus, jasmine and soft wood.

All lounges will be divided into distinct zones for work, dining, socialising and rest, with wireless charging and USB power promised to be at every seat.

Live cooking stations offer dishes prepared to order, a dedicated bread oven turns out handcrafted pizzas, flatbreads and manakeesh inspired by Dubai street food, while also spotlighting local cuisine at each outpost.

A barista bar is paired with an in-house mixologist serving locally inspired cocktails, mocktails and speciality coffee.

The Quiet Zone – plush seating, blankets, eye masks and earplugs – is designed for a layover nap, while shower suites have been upgraded with spa-inspired finishes and Voya amenities.

Also read: Will Emirates 777X business class be worth the wait?