Review: Cathay Pacific’s The Pier First lounge, Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s best lounge is back in full flight, but past visitors may notice a few changes…
By Staff Writers, July 10 2024
Country
China - Hong Kong
City
Hong Kong
Airport
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)
Alliance
Oneworld
Airline
Cathay Pacific
Cabin-class
First
Notes
The Good
- Still fresh after several years
- Superb showers and private Day Suites
The Bad
- Not the most convenient location for many Cathay and Oneworld flights
X-Factor
- À la carte dining and a must-visit bar
Introduction
Cathay Pacific’s The Pier First is not only Hong Kong’s best airport lounge, it easily stands proud among the world’s best first class lounges – and it does so in a uniquely Cathay way.
A favourite of high flyers from its debut in June 2015, until it was abruptly shuttered in March 2020 in the face of the global pandemic, The Pier First is now thankfully back in its rightful place at the top, and it’s almost as if the closure never happened.
Cathay Pacific's The Pier First Lounge.
That said, while our review shows The Pier First largely as its legion of loyal fans no doubt remember it, there have been some changes, so here’s a rundown:
- the foot therapy at The Wellness Spa no longer involves an indulgent soaking of your plods – it’s been scaled back to a wipe-down and massage using ‘essential oil blends’
- those heavenly Aesop toiletries in the bathrooms and showers have been replaced by lotions and potions from British brand Bamford, which is also an inflight partner for Cathay first and business class
- the Champagne list has been changed to Drappier Carte d’Or and Piper Heidsieck Brut
With that recap done, here is our full and updated review of The Pier First – Cathay Pacific’s flagship first class lounge at Hong Kong.
Cathay Pacific The Pier First lounge: access
The following travellers enjoy a warm welcome at The Pier First, which is open daily from 5.30am to 12.30am:
- First class passengers in Cathay Pacific and its Oneworld and CX codeshare partners (who can also bring in one guest)
- Cathay Diamond, Diamond Plus and Diamond Invitation frequent flyers (who can also bring in two guests)
- Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers – a roster including the Platinums of Finnair, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas and Qatar Airways, along with BA Golds and JAL’s top-tiers (who can also bring in one guest)
- Travellers who arrive in Hong Kong in Cathay Pacific first class but have an onwards connecting flight in Cathay Pacific business class
- Holders of Cathay First Lounge Passes issued as a ‘mid-tier status benefit’ by Cathay Diamonds
Cathay Pacific's The Pier First Lounge.
Note that passengers who receive a complimentary upgrade to Cathay Pacific first class are not entitled to first class lounge access, unless they hold first-worthy status: for example, a Cathay Gold or Oneworld Sapphire member blessed with an upgrade to Cathay first class will have to content themselves with a Cathay business class lounge.
Cathay Pacific The Pier First lounge: location
Having made the door list by dint of travel class or frequent flyer status, it’s time to make your way to The Pier First, which is located at the far end of Terminal 1, near Gate 63.
(And yes, unlike the ‘mezzanine’ location of its The WIng siblings, The Pier First and neighbouring The Pier Business lounges are downstairs, although both make good use of their restricted viewpoints).
The entrance to The Pier.
For most travellers, the journey from checkin at HKG to The Pier lounges involves a short ride on the airport’s Automated People Mover (APM), or a leisurely 20-minute stroll if you’re not in a hurry and walking from the ‘top’ of Terminal 1 – where you pass through immigration and security.
If your flight departs from the top of the terminal – with a gate number up to the low 20s, and especially gates 1 through 9 – then allow plenty of time to walk back from The Pier First, as the APM doesn’t run a return leg.
Cathay Pacific The Pier First lounge: design & layout
If you’ve previously visited The Pier First lounge, you know what to expect – and if not, you’re in for quite the treat.
Created by feted design doyen Ilse Crawford and her London-based Studio Ilse, The Pier First is less like an airport lounge and more like a lushly inspiring if insanely-oversized apartment.
Clean, contemporary and stylish.
(Crawford’s portfolio includes the concept for Aesop stores worldwide and Michelin-starred Hong Kong restaurant Duddell’s, which is another Cathay Pacific partner for inflight first and business class meals.)
The lounge has a key focus on natural finishes.
“After you go through security and immigration, and then you’re about to get on another flight and be off again, we felt the lounge could provide an opportunity where you could slow down,” Crawford told Executive Traveller at The Pier First’s initial ribbon-cutting.
So if time allows, look around The Pier First and take it all in, from the green onyx walls and walnut timer panelling to the carefully-chosen furnishings.
Power outlets are within reach of most seats.
Not does The Pier First overwhelm you with a vast and likely-crowded space the moment you enter – instead, the layout sets up two focal points for passengers at either end of the lounge, while nestling its relaxing showers and day rooms away from the hubbub.
Cathay Pacific's The Pier First Lounge.
Cathay Pacific The Pier First lounge: dining
Fine dining has always been a hallmark of the Cathy Pacific first class experience, both in the air and on the ground.
The Dining Room dominates the far right of The Pier First, inviting travellers to sink into snaking deep-green leather benches and order from an à la carte menu (unlike Cathay’s The Wing First lounge, there’s no self-serve buffet here).
Choose a seat at the bar or a table in The Dining Room.
The breakfast menu offers Chinese and Western sets – the former includes siu mai, congee and e-fu noodles, while the later is a predictable mix of bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, sausages and beans.
Of course, Cathay’s ‘signature’ wonton noodles and Shanghainese-style dan dan mien also make an appearance, alongside poached or scrambled eggs, quinoa and coconut porridge, a 'green pea and avocado smash’ and a superfood breakfast bowl.
Dan Dan Noodles.
Things pick up once the ‘all-day’ menu lands. In addition to the ever-reliable noodles there’s a riot of starters (try the Vietnamese chicken salad), mains (kung pao king mushrooms, pappardelle with beef ragu, wagyu beef cheese burger) plus sweet treats and cheeses.
Vietnamese shredded chicken salad with fragrant greens.
Atlantic salmon with mashed potato, tomato and chive beurre blanc.
Coconut panna cotta.
On the whole, we also noticed more vegetarian options compared to several years ago, and service was fast and attentive.
In addition, the lounge also offers a new Cantonese set menu in partnership with Michelin-starred Hong Kong restaurant The Legacy House, which shines the culinary spotlight onto traditional southern Chinese cuisine. And it’s definitely worth trying if you have time.
The current menu is a knockout, beginning with abalone with tofu and brown sauce, leading through to double-boiled chicken soup with porcini mushrooms.
Marinated abalone, tofu and brown sauce.
Double-boiled chicken soup, porcini and bamboo pith.
For the main, a wok-fried prawn and rice topped by a crispy rice cracker, with a sweet black sticky rice and coconut to finish. All up, a delightfully-decadent and delicious meal.
Wok-fried prawn and crispy rice cracker, served with plain rice.
Sweetened black sticky rice, cream and coconut.
In addition to the Drappier Carte d’Or and Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne, highlights of the current wine selection include:
- Domaine Frederic Trouillet Pouilly-Fuisse, Burgundy, France, 2018
- Craggy Range Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc, Martinborough, New Zealand 2022
- Château Noaillac Cru Bourgeois Superieur, Bordeaux, France, 2019
- Kilkanoon Killerman’s Run Shiraz, Clare Valley, Australia, 2020
- Palliser Estate Pinot Noir, Martinborough, New Zealand, 2021
Whiskys include Johnny Walker Black Label, Glenmorangie Single Malt and Chivas 12, while the bartender will of course shake up a classic cocktail (hello, espresso martini).
While you can enjoy all those drinks and more in The Dining Room, we’ve always found The Bar – down the opposite end of The Pier First – really hits the spot for a pre-flight tipple or two.
The Bar at Cathay's The Pier First lounge.
The horseshoe-shaped bar is a magnet for convivial travellers, while recliners and lounges let you find your own solo or shared space.
Seating angled for conversation.
The Bar even has its own soundtrack piped through: a smooth cool jazzy playlist created for Cathay, which perfectly sets the mood.
The lounge is flooded with natural light.
An oft-overlooked part of The Pier First is The Pantry – that small self-serve alcove just before The Bar – which during our visit had everything from hot western and Asian dishes to bakery items, cereal, sliders and even a tempting stack of macarons.
Sweet treats in The Pantry.
Cathay Pacific The Pier First lounge: working
With fast and free (password-protected) WiFi and AC/USB outlets in a nifty drawer within each side table, you can work, stream or Zoom pretty much anywhere in The Pier First.
Be sure to bring an international adapter.
But if a serious work session is on the cards, with privacy and quietness paramount, head for The Bureau.
Tucked away off the main hall, halfway between The Dining Room and The Bar (hang a right after the reception and service desk), this dedicated ‘productivity zone’ sports six partitioned booths.
The desks provide a comfortable work base.
While each of these secluded mini-suites has its own iMac, the wide deep desks provide plenty of room to push that aside and plonk down your laptop and spread out your documents (ask at the reception desk about your printing options).
Cathay Pacific The Pier First lounge: relaxing
The warm, calming aesthetic and thoughtful mix of materials and furnishings makes it easy to relax anywhere in The Pier First.
It’s a lounge where you leave the busy-ness of the day and the terminal behind: you automatically slow down, draw breath, take a beat and then take a break.
If there’s time for a shower, you’ll appreciate why designer Ilse Crawford put so much thought into these 14 private and very posh suites, with their limestone tiles and brass fittings.
There can be a wait for showers during peak times.
They’re not just super-roomy, with ample space to open your cabin bag for a change of clothes and to spread out your personal toiletries.
You don’t need a degree to operate the overhead rainforest shower – Crawford says weary travellers shouldn’t be forced to puzzle over which way to turn this knob or that lever – while the water doesn’t pool out onto the bathroom floor, and the steam and condensation doesn’t build up to transform your refreshing shower into a sticky sauna.
Another way to wind down is with a complimentary 15-minute treatment at the Wellness Spa: choose between a Foot Reflex Massage, Head Massage, Neck & Shoulders Massage or Eye Revitaliser.
Cathay Pacific's The Pier First Spa.
The spa is open from 7am to 11pm, with appointments slotted in on a first-come, first-served basis.
Cathay Pacific's The Pier First Spa.
Facing a long transit? There’s no better place to be the Day Suites in The Retreat (the same zone as the showers and spa) if you want to rest, reflect, meditate or snooze.
Day Suites provide a peaceful sanctuary from the wider lounge.
Secreted away in the quietest part of the lounge, each of these eight private nooks is furnished with a comfortable daybed, dimmable lighting, a ledge where you can park your carry-on bag and AC/USB ports so your travel tech can recharge at the same time as you do.
Other sensible touches with the traveller in mind include coat hooks and a mirror.
Thick noise-reducing windows overlook adjacent airport gates and the runway, although you can lower the blinds and also draw the heavy aisle-facing drapes to cocoon yourself.
As with spa treatments, Day Suites can’t be booked in advance, and Cathay asks guests to limit their stay to 90 minutes.
Cathay Pacific The Pier First lounge: summary
We’ve loved The Pier First since the day it opened, and we don’t know anyone who doesn’t look forward to visiting this impressive lounge.
It may have lost some of its stellar shine over the years – the original restaurant was a true fine dining experience boasting suitably ‘first class, five-star’ fare – but the Cathay of 2023 simply isn’t the Cathay of 2015, after suffering through the bruising global pandemic and with a full recovery still ahead.
Even so, The Pier First remains one of our favourite lounges and we’re thrilled to welcome it back.
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Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 May 2020
Total posts 4
Was there on Thursday 6/9. First visit since the re-opening and a fairly regular visitor prior to the pandemic. The review is absolutely spot on.
Whilst the a la carte offering isn't what it was in the Peninsula days, it did seem to me that it has taken a lift on re-opening from immediately before the pandemic. I had six hours there so got to see breakfast and lunch in the restuarant. Lunch was my preferred offering and the Wagyu Burger was terrific. The Drappier 2017 is a sensational champagne. The Haut-Medoc 2012 a delight. There was a wonderful chap behind the bar who made an excellent Bloody Mary!
Had the Eye and face massage, wonderfully done. Service throughout the lounge was spot on. It's great to have this icon back.
05 Mar 2015
Total posts 404
Yep, spot-on review, the dining experience when The Pier first opened was amazing, it really was like a proper restaurant. Didn't take long under Sodexo to drop, and the 'before' and 'after' difference was staggering. If those menus are any indication then The Pier is now sort of halfway back to where it started but still better than say 2019. Agreed on the previous comment on the Drappier Millésime Exception 2017 Champagne, a wonderful drop. Not a 'big name' like many but shows that someone in CX knows their stuff!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
06 May 2018
Total posts 12
My son and I visited last week the day after I attained QF Platinum a couple of days before. I was concerned after reviewing some posts that my OW Emerald status might not be recognised, but it was. We arrived at 06:45, just in time to make an 07:30 booking for a foot massage. We had a superb breakfast in the dining room ahead of this and then retreated to the bar area to chill before our flight to CGK. What a sensational lounge - not the bling or expanse of EK DXB F lounge, nor the soaring spaces of QR DOH Al Mourjan, or Al Safwa, but an understated luxury in refined surroundings. HKG is back!
22 May 2011
Total posts 88
I’ve visited a few times since covid reopening and there’s always minimum 3 hr queue - so unless you have more than 3 hrs at most times, the spa sadly isn’t that much of a benefit. They need a bigger spa!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Oct 2017
Total posts 3
Excellent Review - did you get a photo of Crawford at the opening in 2015? I think he does great work,
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2554
Ilse Crawford is a 'she', and yes, I have some photos of Ilse at the lounge – she's an extraordinary designer and it was a highlight to be able to talk with her about how she developed Cathay's 'signature look', which is also a complete 180 from the 'high-tech' take of Norman Foster & Partners which shaped The Wing.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1533
I been in this lounge before COVID. It is great lounge, no question, but would you believe it or not I prefer The Pier Business one that I regard as the best of the best. Still like re-visit First should opportunity arises.
United Airlines - Mileage Plus
12 Sep 2011
Total posts 332
Its an OK lounge for the slumber pods with tarmac view, but the shower rooms are tiny, compared with Wing First Lounge, where you have a cabana with rainfall/conventional shower and also where champagne is available self service (unlike Pier First)
I'd try both
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Nov 2019
Total posts 83
Without doubt the best set of lounges in the world. Just my opinion.
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