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The Pier, Business Class Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport [Review]

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The Pier, Business Class Lounge is 1 of 5 lounges operated by Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

The Pier, Business made headlines for offering a relaxation and meditation room featuring yoga instructional videos and quiet spaces for meditation. Besides that, The Pier, Business is one of the most sprawled out and best business class lounges in the world, with plenty of space to get lost in and eat your way through before your flight.

Here’s a look at what The Pier, Business has to offer passengers.

The Pier – Location

The Pier, Business is 1 of the 3 business class Cathay lounges and it is situated in their home base of Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). You can find this lounge in Terminal 1 on the 6th floor (departures level).

This particular lounge is located just further than The Pier, First. While The Pier, First is next to gate 63, The Pier, Business is next to gate 65.

This lounge is located after security, and it’s open from 5:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. every day.

Cathay Pacific Lounge Map at Hong Kong International Airport
Cathay Pacific lounge map at Hong Kong International Airport. Image Credit: Cathay Pacific

You’ll see a large LED sign next to the main corridor on the left side and will take the escalators down to the lounge.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport signage
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Signage

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport escalator signage
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Escalator Signage

Gaining Entry

Eligible passengers are those traveling on Cathay Pacific or Oneworld business class tickets. Note that there are no guests allowed for those on a ticket. Passengers that are offered complimentary upgrades to business class are not entitled to lounge access unless your access is otherwise included via your frequent flyer status.

Furthermore, Marco Polo Diamond members are allowed access for themselves and 2 guests on Cathay Pacific, Oneworld carrier, or codeshare flights regardless of cabin class. Gold members are allowed access for themselves and 1 guest, while Silver members are allowed access for themselves only.

Cargo Clan Elite members are allowed access for the passenger and 1 guest.

Lastly, Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members are allowed access for themselves and 1 guest, regardless of cabin class.

Hot Tip: Curious about the other lounges in HKG? See how one of our writers made the most of his 9 hour layover by lounge hopping at Hong Kong International Airport!

Design, Arrangement, and Seating

The Pier, Business is Cathay Pacific’s largest lounge at Hong Kong International Airport and it is huge. After descending the escalator, we arrived at the check-in area, which was adorned with beautiful wood finishes.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport check-in desk
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Check-In Desk

We presented our boarding passes and were granted access. The post-entrance hallway is split into 2 areas. To the right was the wellness area and to the left was the main seating and food area.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport main hallway
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Main Hallway

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport main hallway directory 1
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Main Hallway Directory 1

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport main hallway directory 2
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Main Hallway Directory 2

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport main hallway directory 3
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Main Hallway Directory 3

There was a ton of seating everywhere, including this interesting pillar.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport seating area pillar
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Seating Area Pillar

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport seating 2
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Seating

Bottom Line: It really took a while to digest the entire extent of The Pier, Business. I enjoyed the wood furnishings of the lounge, and I just couldn’t get over how big the lounge was. 

Food & Drink

There were 4 main areas for food and beverage in The Pier, Business:

  1. Noodle Bar
  2. Teahouse
  3. Food Hall
  4. Bar

The emphasis in a good business class lounge should be on the food and beverage offerings, and this was definitely the case in The Pier, Business. There’s a lot higher foot traffic and passenger volume in business class lounges than first class lounges, so Cathay Pacific exceeded expectations in building a lounge that could handle passenger demands.

Noodle Bar

Noodle Bar is a large dining area, with dining booths, tables, stools, and other seating options for travelers.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport noodle bar seating
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Noodle Bar Seating

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport noodle bar seating continued
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Noodle Bar Seating

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport noodle bar seating continued 2
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Noodle Bar Seating

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport noodle bar table seating
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Noodle Bar Table Seating

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport noodle bar
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Noodle Bar

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport noodle bar open-air kitchen
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Noodle Bar Open-Air Kitchen

The noodle bar had a retro theme to it, almost reminiscent of an old-school cha chaan teng, more commonly known as a Hong Kong breakfast joint.

On offer in The Pier, Business’s Noodle Bar were:

  1. Dan Dan Noodles
  2. Wonton Noodles in Soup
  3. Vegetable Tom Yum
  4. Braised Beef Brisket with Turnip Broth Rice Flat Noodles

If you wanted to eat some popular dim sum items, you could enjoy:

  1. Steamed Chicken Bao
  2. Glutinous Rice Roll
  3. Malay Brown Sugar Sponge Cake

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport noodle bar menu
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Noodle Bar Menu

What noodle soup would be complete without popular condiments such as chili oil, Sichuan chili oil, soy sauce, and red vinegar?

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport sauces and condiments
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Sauces and Condiments

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport condiments
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Condiments

Noodle Bar at The Pier, Business serves up delicious Hong Kong and Chinese classics that are sure to please the pickiest eaters. The fresh, made-to-order dishes are super savory, satisfying, and representative of Hong Kong.

Teahouse

Whereas Noodle Bar seems to be a clamoring venue, Teahouse next door was the opposite of that — highly refined and peaceful are the words that immediately come to mind.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport tea house
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Teahouse

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport tea house seating
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Teahouse Seating

In Teahouse, you can enjoy artisanal varieties of JING tea, customized by specialists in the trade.

The choices include:

  1. White Peony Tea (seasonal special)
  2. Ceylon Breakfast
  3. Earl Grey
  4. Whole Chamomile Flowers
  5. Whole Peppermint Leaf
  6. Lemongrass and Ginger
  7. Japanese Sencha
  8. Organic Jade Sword
  9. Traditional Iron Buddha
  10. Jasmine Silver Noodle
  11. Vintage Imperial Pu-erh (my personal favorite)

Also, if you were in the mood for a smoothie, Teahouse crafts a house-made smoothie dubbed Just for You, showcasing strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, low-fat milk, and non-fat yogurt.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport tea house menu
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Teahouse Menu

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport tea house loose-leaf teas
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Teahouse Loose-Leaf Teas

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport tea selection
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Tea Selection

Of course, with great tea comes great snacks. The left item is black sesame and peanut candy, while the right item is almond puff (a Cantonese favorite).

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport tea house Chinese snacks
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Teahouse Chinese Snacks

In the mood for something sweeter? Walnut cakes and cheese tarts were available, too.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport pastries
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Small Pastries

The best part of Teahouse is being able to sip on high-quality, robust, and full-bodied tea while enjoying a delicious Portuguese egg tart.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport Portuguese egg tarts
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Portuguese Egg Tarts

Next to the food selection at Teahouse were some soft drinks, chilled snacks, and an espresso machine.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport soft drinks
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Soft Drinks

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport soft drinks and local beers
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Soft Drinks and Beers

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport tea room espresso machine
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Teahouse Espresso Machine

Bottom Line: Teahouse is a great place to peacefully enjoy tea. Keep in mind that this experience is only available at the Pier, Business, so be sure to take advantage of it, especially if you’re a tea enthusiast.

Food Hall

Food Hall is where most of the food is served buffet-style. First, we saw steamed young cabbage with goji berry bouillon, which was delicious.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport hot food
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Steamed Cabbage

To the right was Singapore Fried Vermicelli.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport hot food continued
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Hot Food Fried Vermicelli

After that, there was deep-fried chicken with lemon sauce.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport hot food continued 2
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Hot Food Chicken with Lemon Sauce

There were also some Chaozhou-style pork dumplings.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport steamed selection
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Hot Food Dumplings

If you want more vegetables or soup, there was also roasted butternut squash and red onion with light tahini and wild mushroom and potato soup.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport hot food selection
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Hot Food Butternut Squash and Mushroom Potato Soup

Beef meatballs with creamy gravy, cheesy creamy broccoli with mushroom casserole, and rigatoni arrabbiata with dried chili flakes, basil, and olives rounded out the main hot food section.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport hot food selection 2
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Hot Food Meatballs and Broccoli Casserole

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport hot food selection 3
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Hot Food Pasta

In the bakery section of Food Hall were flaky danishes, croissants, and other pastries.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport fresh pastries
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Pastries

Continuing on, there was actually freshly baked pizza and a real pizza oven, which was cool.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport pizza
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Pizza

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport pizza oven
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Pizza Oven

Bread and cheese followed, and there was even a cheese display.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport bread selection
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Bread Selection

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport bread selection 2
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Bread Selection

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport crackers and cheese selection
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Crackers and Cheese Selection

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport almond pudding
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Almond Pudding

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport desserts
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Desserts

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport finger sandwiches and salads
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Sandwiches and Salads

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport fresh fruit continued
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Fresh Fruit

The espresso cart was more like a coffee bar, since there was a barista curating custom drinks for travelers.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport espresso machine
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Coffee Cart

Sparkling, hot, and filtered water were available via a filtered water tap.

Lastly, sliced fresh fruit and various juices rounded out Food Hall.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport fresh fruit
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Fresh Fruit 2

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport juices
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Juices

Food Hall was extensive. Without a doubt, this is one of the most complete and beautiful set ups of a buffet I’ve seen.

Bar

The bar is the last food and beverage section in The Pier, Business. There were lots of snacks and a huge alcohol selection in this area.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport bar
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Bar

For those who prefer non-alcoholic beverages, the refrigerator section is located just beside the bar, which offers juices, soft drinks, and bottled water.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport refrigerated drinks and juice bars
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Refrigerated Drinks and Juice Bars

Also, there’s a separate area with glasses and infused water.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport infused water
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Infused Water

If you happen to be at the bar and want to sip on a coffee, there are two espresso machines available to automatically pour drinks such as lattes.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport espresso machines
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Espresso Machines

Bottom Line: The food and drink selection at The Pier, Business is seemingly endless. From high-quality teas to fresh pizza to a made-to-order noodle bar, this was probably one of the most comprehensive arrangements in the world in terms of variety. The Pier, Business truly designed each area superbly to accommodate different styles and dietary preferences. 

Amenities

One thing I was looking forward to at The Pier, Business most was the wellness focus.

The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga

The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga is a 700 square foot area that is dedicated to stretching, relaxing, and rejuvenating the mind, body, and soul. It opened in late January 2019 and was designed in partnership with The Pure Group.

There are 2 main areas within the Sanctuary:

  1. The Body Sanctuary (yoga and seated stretching)
  2. The Mind Sanctuary (audio and gazing meditation)

To find it, take a right after the check-in counter instead of a left.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport Yoga Room
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Yoga Room

The first thing you’ll see is a blue table, which contains cleansing wipes, hand towels, and a storage area for shoes or your pocket items. To the left of this, you’ll see 4 chairs, each with a large poster in front.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport yoga room seating stretching
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Yoga Room Seated Stretching

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport towel area
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Towel Area

This is the seated stretching area, and the chairs overlook directions on stretching different parts of your body.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport seated stretching 1
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Seated Stretching 1

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport seated stretching 2
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Seated Stretching 2

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Seated Stretching 3

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Seated Stretching 4

The next section of the Body Sanctuary has a large television monitor with guided videos for self-practice. In total, there are 5 yoga mats laid out in front of the television.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport video yoga
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Video Yoga

If private practice is more your style, there’s a separate section with a curtain for extra peace.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport private yoga station
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Private Yoga Station

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport Pure Yoga video
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Pure Yoga Video

The Mind Sanctuary contains a gazing meditation and audio meditation area.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport gazing meditation
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Gazing Meditation

Each of the 3 cushions has graphics that facilitate Trataka yoga.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport gazing meditation station
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Gazing Meditation Station

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport audio meditation continued
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Audio Meditation

Each of the 4 pods contains noise-canceling headphones and iPads that you can use to listen to guided meditation sessions from Pure Yoga.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport meditation room
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Meditation Room

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport meditation corner
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Meditation Corner

I was able to get 20 minutes of yoga in before heading to my flight.

Warrior II pose at The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport
Warrior II pose at The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport

Shower Suites

The shower suites in The Pier, Business are plentiful. There are a total of 14 shower suites, each with premium Aēsop amenities. There’s a staff member always waiting at the front desk to assist travelers.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport relaxation room lobby
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Shower Suites Entrance

The waiting room is spacious and comfortable, too!

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport waiting area for showers
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Waiting Area for Showers

I was able to use a shower suite right away, and I immediately noticed the interior design. Next to the door were power outlets, a hair dryer, and a bench.

The sink, though petite, was filled with tons of amenities.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport shower suite sink
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Shower Suite Sink

Some toiletries included a shower cap, sanitary bag, cotton buds, makeup pads, Aēsop facial hydrating cream, and dental kit.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport shower suite toiletries
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Shower Suite Toiletries

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport shower suite hand amenities
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Shower Suite Hand Amenities

The toilet was located inside the suite and next to the showers.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport shower suite toilet
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Shower Suite Toilet

A functional rain shower head and handheld shower head were available.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport shower
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Shower

The shower suite within The Pier, Business was tremendous, exceeding expectations for a business class lounge. The sheer number of suites is perfect for the high passenger volume going in and out of the lounge on a daily basis.

Relaxation Room

Passengers need a place to relax, especially if they’re coming from a long or red-eye flight. That’s what the Pier, Business’ Relaxation Room is for.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport additional seating
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Additional Seating

Simply put, there are tons of day beds with charging facilities and small side tables all along the Relaxation Room.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport day beds
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Day Bed Selection

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport day bed
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Day Bed

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport day bed charging stations
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Day Bed Charging Stations

Business Center

The business center is located in Food Hall, and it consists of a row of iMac computers furnished with printers, keyboards, mice, and bar stools. Although this set up is not the most ergonomic in the world, it’s a great option for those who need high-speed computer and internet access.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport business center
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Business Center

Experience and Services

Luggage Storage

There were lots of luggage storage lockers available on the right side of the lounge, just next to the Sanctuary by Pure Yoga.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport luggage storage
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Luggage Storage

Restrooms

The restrooms were extremely clean, as well.

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport restrooms
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Restrooms

The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport restroom stalls
The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport — Restroom Stalls

The Pier, Business is pretty much everything you want in a business class lounge. Although the service isn’t as personalized and polished as in, say, The Pier, First, it’s exactly what you need: a quiet place with plenty of space and variability to make a memorable experience.

Final Thoughts

This business class lounge ranks at the top of the list when it comes to overall business class lounges.

The consistency and variety of the food is something that’s simply difficult to emulate. Noodle Bar and Teahouse were 2 definite highlights of the lounge that I’ll remember for years. It always brings me back to Hong Kong which holds a special place in my heart.

The Sanctuary by Pure Yoga was great, too, and it adds that X-factor to the lounge. Lastly, the Relaxation Room had lots of capacity for resting travelers. The velvet day beds were very comfortable.

All in all, Cathay Pacific has created a special business class experience, and I would recommend everyone who can to stop by for a couple of hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Cathay Pacific lounges are there in Hong Kong?

In the Hong Kong International Airport, there are 6 Cathay Pacific lounges:

  1. The Pier, Business
  2. The Pier, First
  3. The Wing, Business
  4. The Wing, First
  5. The Deck
  6. The Bridge

Each of these has different access rules, but they are all an excellent way to relax and unwind before your flight.

What is inside The Pier, Business at Hong Kong International Airport?

There are a variety of amenities, including shower suites, a unique yoga/wellness room featuring video lessons from Pure Yoga, and countless dining options!

Can we sleep in Hong Kong Airport?

If you have access to The Pier, Business, you’re in luck! There are tons of day beds in the relaxation room to catch a quick nap.

Stephen Au's image

About Stephen Au

Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used by hundreds of clients.

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