Cathay Pacific puts class first at Hong Kong airport lounge

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  Those who prefer to wind down can head to The Retreat with its 14 showers and foot spa. Courtesy Cathay Pacific

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  Cathay Pacific says The Pier was designed around the concept of being an apartment where passengers are guests and well taken cared of. Courtesy Cathay Pacific

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  The Pier's dining room, offering a la carte meals, can cater to 100 guests at once. Courtesy Cathay Pacific

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  However, those who are in a hurry to fill their stomachs can grab food, with the menu changing throughout the day, at the lounge's pantry. Courtesy Cathay Pacific

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  Passengers can choose from a wide selection of breakfast items in the morning, followed by an all-day menu. Courtesy Cathay Pacific

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  At the pantry, passengers can enjoy grab and go delicacies. Courtesy Cathay Pacific

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  Cathay Pacific's dining room offers table service with freshly prepared dishes made-to-order by the chef. Courtesy Cathay Pacific

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  Cathay Pacific's newly opened lounge is located at Gate 63 in the North West concourse of Hong Kong International Airport. Courtesy Cathay Pacific

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  Guests at the lounge will notice the abundance of plants, which gives it a dose of nature and suggests a healthy environment. Courtesy Cathay Pacific

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  Cathay Pacific's newest lounge at the Hong Kong International Airport has a maximum seating capacity of 231. Courtesy Cathay Pacific

Enter the new Pier First Class Lounge in Hong Kong International Airport and you might think you've taken a wrong turn. Located underneath the main airport concourse, this haven for Cathay Pacific's first class passengers feels more like stepping into a luxury apartment than an airport lounge.

One of five belonging to the carrier in Hong Kong airport, renovations were begun at the lounge 18 months ago. Designed by the London-based company Studio Ilse, it now offers a purely residential feel and even has its own signature scent – a mix of bamboo, lavender, green tea and jasmine.

A large, spacious hallway tiled in honed onyx and adorned with modern art connects the various “rooms”, as the space has been broken up to offer a cosier feel. The rooms include a beautifully crafted horseshoe bar. The surrounding area is filled with designer furniture. On one side of the lounge is a panoramic window offering a perfect view of aircraft landing in front of the Hong Kong skyline.

I’d recommend arriving early: the lounge is 10-15 minutes walk or train ride from security and therefore only suitable for departures leaving from the high- numbered gates.

For those feeling peckish, there is a well-stocked pantry, all tendered to by trained Peninsula staff.

At the opposite end of the lounge The Dining Room, a contemporary European bistro with a full à la carte menu, can seat 100 passengers. Dishes include the wok-fried beef tenderloin and the crabmeat and conpoy soup; I recommend the simple tomato and mozzarella salad – fresh and full of flavour.

Wi-Fi is fast and there are six dual-system iMacs with connected printers in a dedicated and private bureau.

Those who prefer to wind down can head to The Retreat with its 14 showers and foot spa.

The lounge’s crowning glory, however, is the eight private day suites: quiet walnut-wood cladded sanctuaries offered on a first come, first serve basis. Each has a large day bed, thick curtains for privacy as well as blind and lighting controls, allowing passengers to cocoon themselves for a power nap.

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