HONG KONG — Cathay Pacific’s (CX) lounges are widely regarded as some of the world’s best. The airline operates five lounges in its hub, offering some of the most high-end services in the commercial aviation industry. Due to a long layover in Hong Kong, I decided to make the most of my time here.

The airlone operated two First Class and three Business Class lounges during my visit. The Wing, First and The Pier, First are near gates 1-4 and 63, respectively. The three Business Class lounges, The Wing, Business, The Pier, First, and The Deck, are located near gates 2, 65, and 6, respectively, covering most of HKG’s large terminal.

Different amenities are found across the lounges, including private spas, noodle bars, à la carte dining, shower suites, sleeping cabins, and much more. I landed in Hong Kong from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) around 6:00 am local time, with a ten-hour layover ahead, ready to experience as much as possible.

The Wing, First

As I connected from another destination, I quickly went through security again. The transfer points are close to The Wing and The Deck, and I opted to visit The Wing, First as the first destination of this lounge-hopping tour.

The lounge is found immediately after security and features first-come, first-served cabanas. Complete with a tub, shower, and amenities, the cabana can be used for up to 90 minutes to relax and decompress between flights. I scored the last available cabana and enjoyed my first bath at an airport, freshening up before heading for breakfast. 

The lounge’s design is open air – from here, guests can admire the traffic in Hong Kong, including take-offs from runway 07R.

The lounge is long and narrow, spanning most of the left-hand side of the terminal. The business class section is at the end of the first-class section and comes with the iconic noodle bar.

In the first class section, an à la carte menu and a buffet are available. As it was still 7:30 a.m., I opted for a quick breakfast with pastries from the buffet and an excellent espresso while enjoying the view of CX’s widebody aircraft. The lounge also offers a champagne bar, an office area, and a stylish bar. Recently, this area has been closed to renovate some of the amenities.

Sky Bridge

Still early in the morning, I decided to leave The Wing, First immediately after breakfast to catch some sleep. The Pier, First, CX’s second first-class lounge, offers private rooms where passengers can lie down and relax, which was everything I was looking for now.

From The Wing, First, passengers can take a train or walk to the other side of the terminal. I opted for the latter, allowing me to check out the Sky Bridge. This terminal connection offers some unique views on the airport traffic, with widebody aircraft taxiing directly underneath.

Large windows facilitate views, and people are encouraged to take a moment and enjoy the movements from designated areas. At the end of the bridge, a proper observation point is found with binoculars, chairs, and Hong Kong Airport’s expansion plan. I could have spent hours here, filming and taking pictures of the many wide-bodies in CX’s fleet.

The Pier, First

After emptying a camera battery and recording footage of the airport traffic, I continued my walk to The Pier, where I was immediately greeted and shown around. I asked if a day suite was available, and I slept for three hours while occasionally waking up to do some plane spotting.

The rooms are divided by a curtain and feature a large bed, storage space for luggage, power outlets, and an essential bedding kit.

After waking up and freshening up, I checked out more of the lounge, which may be my new favorite. The design differs from The Wing, First, and feels like a cozy hotel rather than an airport lounge. A large corridor spans the length of the lounge, connecting all the different areas.

Shower suites, a complimentary massage service, and the day suites are available in the retreat section. An office space and a pantry stocked with snacks are found immediately after the entrance.

In The Pier, First, dining is à la carte, with a wide menu selection that includes some of CX’s iconic dishes, like the signature wonton noodles and dan dan mien. The Pier, First, offers exclusive dining in collaboration with Mott 32.

The special tasting menu is in addition to the normal lounge menu and includes a cocktail and three courses, which I was very happy to try.

The lunch started with crispy crab puff as an amuse-bouche. The appetiser consisted of Sichuan pork dumplings with chili sauce, which were simply delicious. The main course, braised wagyu beef with aged tangerine peel, was tender, spicy, and citrusy all at once, returning a complex and excellent flavour balance.

The meal was paired with a Hong Kong iced tea, delightfully presented. The restaurant was quite busy during my visit. However, the staff was consistently friendly and professional, and it was a pleasure to learn more about CX’s collaboration with Mott 32.

My visit to The Pier, First was concluded with Cathay’s bar, where the airline offers an incredible selection of cocktails and signature mocktails. Here, I opted to try all the mocktail options, including the Cathay Delight, an iconic and refreshing kiwi-based drink.

The wine and champagne selection was equally impressive; however, I decided not to have any alcohol here to minimise the effects of jet lag.

Recent news

Earlier in May, Cathay Pacific officially reopened The Bridge at Hong Kong International Airport. The reopening marks the first stage in Cathay Pacific’s wider lounge enhancement plan in Hong Kong and beyond.

Located near Departure Gate 35 at HKIA’s Terminal 1, the newly redesigned The Bridge lounge continues Cathay Pacific’s dedication to human-centric design. It places its customers’ needs and wishes at the heart of the design process. The Bridge brings together thoughtful propositions, design elements, and material choices to create a residential ambiance, ensuring that customers feel welcomed, valued, and cared for.

On the left-hand side, customers can visit Cathay Pacific’s iconic Noodle Bar, which serves signature dishes and all-time favourites such as wonton and dan dan noodles and dim sum. The rotating menus are further enriched by new Chinese favourites, from main dishes such as biangbiang mian to braised beef shin with cauliflower to punchy, vibrant salads and delectable desserts.

In addition, this side of The Bridge features The Nook, a brand-new concept for Cathay Pacific’s lounges that complements and extends the culinary offerings of the Noodle Bar, while also expanding the dining seating into this cosy corner. Customers will discover a curation of Chinese regional small plates and lighter options packed with punchy flavour and texture, such as made-to-order savoury-filled bao, crispy scallion pancakes, and steaming rice rolls. A custom dim sum cart, as much a piece of furniture as it is functional, and reminiscent of Hong Kong restaurants, brings something new yet familiar.

On May 23, The Wing, First closed for renovations and is set to reopen in 2026. To guarantee its first-class offer, The Deck has been repurposed as a First-Class lounge. Over the next two years, Cathay Pacific will launch new flagship lounges in Hong Kong, Beijing, and, for the very first time, New York as part of the Cathay Group’s over HK$100 billion investment into new aircraft, cabin products, lounges, and digital innovations.