The Pier First Class Lounge review: A business traveller’s dream in Hong Kong

As a frequent business traveller, I’ve been fortunate enough to spend countless hours in some of the world’s best airport lounges. And after a recent trip to Boston, Cathay Pacific’s The Pier First Class Lounge in Hong Kong has now secured its spot as my all-time favourite.

And if you’re wondering about Cathay Pacific’s business class cabin, I have reviewed that too.

I was genuinely surprised when The Pier took over from my previous top contender: the Emirates First Lounge in Dubai.

To be fair, I haven’t set foot in the Emirates First lounge since the beginning of Covid. Its vast size, fine dining and luxurious showers still provide fond memories.

There was no better way to relax and cool off from the desert heat, even when landing in the early hours of the morning.

But for me, The Pier edges out its competitors with its thoughtful approach to luxury and practicality.

For business travellers like myself, The Pier offers an experience that blends elegance, comfort, and pure functionality — making long layovers and transits not merely bearable, but a delight.

Access and where The Pier is located

Cathay Pacific is a OneWorld partner airline. This means you can access its First lounges in Hong Kong – The Pier and The Wing – if you’re OneWorld Emerald status/Qantas Platinum or Platinum One. Or if you’re flying first class with the airline or have a lounge invitation.

You’ll find The Pier in Terminal One, near Gate 61. This is particularly convenient if your flight departs from the middle or lower gates of the terminal.

Mine did, both to and from Australia – one of the main reasons why I prioritsed The Pier over The Wing – Cathay’s other first-class lounge. This one is closer to gates 1-4 as well as the security you go through for connecting flights.

While The Wing offers some notable amenities — like the cabana suites for bathing, which I’ll get to — it was a bit of a hike from my gates.

Thoughtful, curated design

What stands out about The Pier is its design. Unlike other large lounges that sprawl across vast airport real estate, The Pier is more intimate without feeling cramped.

It is not small by any means, but it doesn’t take up space for the sake of it. Cathay Pacific has taken full advantage of its ability to operate two first-class lounges in Hong Kong, allowing The Pier to feel more like a luxurious private residence than an airport lounge.

Every detail, from the warm green walls to the walnut finishes and plush seating exudes a sense of elegance.

As someone who spends a lot of time in airports, I can appreciate how The Pier avoids the temptation to overdo things.

Instead, it focuses on creating a calming, relaxing environment that encourages you to unwind before or between flights.

One of the best aspects of The Pier’s design is its balance of spaces for relaxation and work. The layout is considered, with various nooks for privacy, and it never feels crowded — even during peak times.

This is crucial for business travellers who need a quiet space to focus or recharge. Everything has been designed with the passenger’s needs in mind, making it one of the most thoughtfully laid-out lounges I’ve ever experienced.

The Pier is a business traveller’s dream

When you’re traveling for business, having a functional workspace is essential. The Pier nails this beautifully.

The lounge offers plenty of seating options, from individual plush lounge chairs equipped with side tables to proper workstations tucked away from the main seating areas.

I found this especially helpful during my layovers, as it allowed me to comfortably spread out my ergonomic laptop setup and truly deranged amount of devices that needed charging.

Each seating area is equipped with discreetly placed power outlets, so you’re never scrambling to charge your devices.

The workstations are quiet and some even come with desktops already there. Perhaps a touch unnecessary in the age of personal devices, but a nice blast from the past all the same. And it’s probably quite handy for anyone who may need it in a work emergency.

There’s also fast and reliable Wi-Fi throughout the lounge – always a must. I managed to get quite a bit of work done during my time there. The calm, quiet environment made it easy to focus.

The Pier doesn’t try to be a high-energy, bustling lounge—rather, it offers a serene space where productivity and relaxation can coexist seamlessly.

First-class dining

Food is an essential part of any lounge experience, and The Pier goes above and beyond.

I dined at The Pier twice during this trip, once for dinner and again for breakfast on the way back to Australia.

The service was impeccable—attentive without being intrusive—and the menu offered just the right amount of variety to cater to different tastes.

The friendly staff also happily encourage questions about the menu, including portion sizes, to determine the best choice for you, your dietaries and your hunger levels. Mine were, of course, high.

For dinner, I was recommended a Cantonese tasting menu designed by Rosewood in Hong Kong.

It included a marinated abalone for the starter, chicken soup, steamed chicken nestled in a lotus leaf, and a sweetened red bean soup for dessert.

I was also convinced to try the sichuan hot and spicy dumplings from the regular menu. By the end of the meal, I was beyond stuffed.

Every morsel was an absolute delight. As I was anticipating a 15 hour-journey that I wanted to sleep through, it made for the perfect food coma.

The breakfast was similarly exceptional. I opted for the Chinese set course, which included siu mai, glutinous rice with chicken, salted egg and chicken congee, and stir-fried Shanghainese noodles.

I was, once again, convinced to get some a little extra. So I went for the sago, green tea and coconut pudding.

I washed this down with an iced Hong Kong-style milk tea. Absolute heaven.

Having a sit-down meal before a long-haul flight truly is one of the small luxuries that can make all the difference in your travel experience.

What I also loved about this experience was the restaurant’s ambiance. It doesn’t feel like you’re in an airport lounge; rather, it feels like a high-end restaurant where you can take your time and enjoy your meal.

The wine and champagne list is equally impressive, with delicious options that complement the dining experience.

A particular standout was the 2016 Tattinger Brut Millesime champagne. Absolutely gorgeous any time of the day.

Even if you’re not in the mood for a full meal, The Pier’s ‘pantry’ offers a range of snacks, drinks, and light bites, perfect for a quick refreshment before boarding.

The food options change depending on the time of day but you’ll always find a mix of savoury and sweet treats, as well as ample cheese and meats.

The Pier’s express massage and showers offer the ultimate reset

Being able to take a refreshing shower between flights is one of my favourite things about travel. Anything to feel a little less like a gremlin when you’re not quite sure which time zone you’re in at hour 22.

The Pier takes this a step further by also offering 15-minute express massages. I indulged in the neck and shoulder massage before my last leg home, which was exactly what I needed after a 15-hour flight.

The spa offers several treatments, all complimentary. They’re perfect for a quick reset before your next journey. The massage helped ease the tension my shoulders had built up after a week of working on the road, not to mention the flights.

The showers at The Pier, though, deserve special mention. They are, quite simply, the best showers I’ve ever experienced in any airport lounge.

The shower suites are made of natural stone, which adds a tactile, luxurious feel to the space. It may sound odd, but it just feels so lovely under the feet.

The water pressure and temperature were perfect, and the large rain shower head made for an incredibly soothing experience.

Bamford toiletries, known for their high-quality, natural ingredients, were an added touch of luxury.

Unlike some lounges where you have to reserve a shower in advance, The Pier allows you to simply walk up and request one, which makes the whole experience even more convenient.

Showers are great, but what about an airport bath?

One thing I didn’t try at The Pier this time around was the daybed suites. While it looked inviting, I was already spoken for.

As I mentioned previously, Cathay Pacific offers two first-class lounges in Hong Kong – The Pier and The Wing.

The latter is located closer to the transfer gates in terminal 1. I also happened to arrive in Hong Kong right as it opened. This timing was important.

The Wing has something I have never experienced in another airport lounge before.

A bath.

Actually, an entire bath suite called the cabana.

If you have the time and the opportunity, I highly recommend starting your Hong Kong lounge visits at The Wing for the cabana suite.

It’s an incredibly spacious room with a large bathtub, shower and lounge area — complete with a fluffy robe. It’s perfect for a long soak after a gruelling flight.

There are only about 15 cabana suites available, so it’s worth getting there early to secure one. I was there right on opening at 5.30am.

I adore a bath, and I had the time to take one before hiking over to The Pier, which was closer to my departure gate. The experience was pure heaven. Nothing feels more indulgent than having a bath in transit.

Once I was done swanning about, feeling very pleased with myself, I made my way over to The Pier to enjoy the rest of its amenities.

This is another reason why Cathay Pacific’s dual-lounge setup works so well. You can indulge in the best of both lounges if your schedule allows.

The Pier final verdict: My new favourite lounge

That being said, if you can only choose one, The Pier remains the clear winner for me. It offers everything you need (minus the bath) in one place, from fine dining to excellent workspaces and luxurious showers, all conveniently located near your departure gate.

The Pier has, without question, taken the top spot on my favourite airport lounge list.

While my experiences at the Emirates First Lounge in Dubai were pre-COVID, I still hold it in high regard for its size and range of services.

What makes The Pier special is its curated nature—it’s not just about being the biggest or offering the most options. Instead, The Pier focuses on thoughtful, well-executed details that make your time there feel truly luxurious.

Cathay Pacific’s ability to operate two first-class lounges in the same airport allows The Pier to maintain a sense of calm and exclusivity that is often lost in other lounges.

For business travellers, The Pier offers everything you need to make your journey more comfortable and productive. Whether you’re there to enjoy a meal, catch up on work, or simply relax before your next flight, The Pier delivers on every front.

If you only have one lounge pass or a limited amount of time, make sure you spend it at The Pier – you won’t regret it.

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