By Josh Wood
Published Tue Nov 04 2025
Cathay Pacific has long been recognised for its exceptional inflight service, but the airline’s commitment to hospitality begins well before passengers step on board. Its award-winning lounges that deliver on understated luxury are an experience in themselves, featuring spaces that perfectly capture the airline’s signature blend of comfort, design, and service.
Cathay operates five lounges at Hong Kong International Airport, each with its own character. For this piece, we’re visiting and focusing on two of its standouts: The Pier, Business and The Pier, First.
The Pier, Business: A Showcase of Hong Kong Hospitality
The Pier, Business is Cathay Pacific’s largest lounge and a true reflection of Hong Kong’s culture. Inspired by the city’s mix of tradition and modernity, it offers a warm, elegant, and inviting space where travellers can relax and recharge before their flight. There’s also a certain vibe to the environment that’s hard to put into words, a space that somehow energises you while helping you unwind. The AirlineRatings team credits much of this to the lounge staff who are efficient, friendly and always there for a chat with those who want one.
Stretching along a generous length of the terminal, the lounge is thoughtfully divided into sections, each with its own personality:
• A serene Teahouse serving premium brews.
• The renowned Noodle Bar with made-to-order classics.
• The Food Hall, featuring tapas, cheese boards, and wood-fired pizzas (we didn’t get to try these, but the aroma alone was incredible).
• A quirky coffee cart for quick caffeine fixes.
• Shower suites, a Relaxation Room, and a dedicated Bureau workspace.
The bathrooms are, of course, elegant and spotless, with plenty of shower suites stocked with quality amenities including shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and plush towels.
Everything in the Pier feels undeniably premium, exactly what you’d expect from Cathay Pacific.
Location: Level 6, Terminal 1 near Gate 65 | Hours: 05:30 – 00:30 daily
The Pier, First – Luxury Reimagined
For those flying First class or holding top-tier status, The Pier, First takes indulgence to another level. In partnership with Michelin Star restaurant Mott 32, Cathay offers a gourmet dining experience that is a highlight in its own right before you’ve even left the airport.
We sampled both the tasting menu and dishes from the à la carte selection, including the Wagyu beef cheeseburger and Cathay’s signature Dan Dan noodles. The food was outstanding, beautifully presented, perfectly balanced, and served with first-class professionalism. A word of advice though: go easy on the hot chilli sauce! Tables are set for both solo travellers and small groups, and the food comes out relatively quickly, so even if you only have a short amount of time, this is one culinary experience worth making time for.
If you’ve still got time after the dining experience, guests can enjoy complimentary massage services or unwind in private day suites overlooking the runway. These suites are a real treat, think daybeds with a view, heavy curtains to block out light and noise, and a peaceful cocoon to rest or simply watch the aircraft movements. To set expectations, these are daybeds rather than full sleeping pods, and while there’s a time limit during busy periods, it’s often relaxed when the lounge is quiet.
Additional amenities include a fully serviced bar, The Pantry for light bites, and The Bureau for those needing to catch up on work. The shower rooms are exceptionally well designed, each featuring a private toilet, basin, and thoughtful extras like dental kits, face mist, and moisturiser. The rainfall shower with a handheld wand offers excellent pressure and temperature control, while large, plush towels and a luggage bench add to the comfort and convenience.
The Pier, First takes understated luxury and functionality to a whole new level.
Location: Level 6, Terminal 1 near Gate 63 | Hours: 05:30 – last departure
The Bridge – A Contemporary Retreat
Located near Gate 35, The Bridge is the newest addition to Cathay’s Hong Kong lounge family. It blends sleek design with modern functionality, featuring touchless check-in and a variety of dining options at the Noodle Bar, The Nook, and the Food Hall. Travellers can unwind at The Bar or refresh in the shower suites, while Diamond members and First class guests have access to an exclusive retreat.
Hours: 05:30 until last departure
Other Lounges in Hong Kong
Beyond these three, Cathay also operates two additional lounges in Hong Kong:
• The Deck (temporary First) – located near Gate 6, featuring the open-air Terrace, Noodle Bar, and shower facilities.
• The Wing, Business – situated in the south departures hall near Gate 2, offering the Noodle Bar, Long Bar, Coffee Loft, and workstations.
Lounges Beyond Hong Kong
Cathay’s signature lounge experience extends across the globe. Recent upgrades include the Beijing lounge, now featuring a Noodle Bar, Food Hall, and Teahouse Terrace. The airline will also open its first New York lounge next year, expanding its global network of premium spaces. Other locations include Taipei, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Vancouver, San Francisco, Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Paris, and London.
Who Can Access?
Access is available to Cathay Pacific Business and First class passengers, as well as eligible members of the Cathay Membership Programme, and oneworld frequent flyers. Notably, Silver tier members, the second tier in Cathay’s programme enjoy Business Class lounge access, offering even greater value to regular travellers.
Investing in the Future
Looking ahead, the Cathay Group has committed over HK$100 billion in investment over the next seven years, reaffirming its dedication to enhancing the customer experience and strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a leading global aviation hub. This investment spans new aircraft, upgraded cabins, redesigned lounges, and advancements in digital and sustainability initiatives, a clear statement that Cathay Pacific’s journey to elevate travel is far from over.
