The Pier First Class Lounge In Hong Kong | Best Lounge In The World?

[@ianworthington2324]

Looks nice. What are the entry restrictions? CY first class required? Or just OW emerald?

[@mygreygapyear]

Good point, thanks for your question, that should have made it into the video really, it's an Emerald lounge so any Oneworld Emerald flying on a oneworld airline can use the lounge and Cathay Pacific First Class customers.

[@gordonwalters7113]

Having also veered from my natural choices to the tasting menu I regretted it too. Agree about the beautiful design but what really struck me was a wonderful sense of calm. Whereas other lounges like the Al Safwa lounge shout a wow factor with huge scale, the wing just welcomes and soothes. Terrific sense of theatre as you descend the sterile concourses into the Cathay hearth and home. (Amazing how all can be destroyed by one very loud speaking person at the bar!)

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks you for your comment, that is an excellent point and the calmness of the lounge is the main reason that I use lounges, and I agree, the design choices soften the noise of other passengers whereas the Al Safwa design creates echoes and intensifies the noise of other passengers. I love the line "Terrific sense of theatre as you descend the sterile concourses..." and I now must use all my powers not to plagiarise in the future. If I do it will be because I've forgotten you used it and I believe it's my own creation, if I do that, please remind me. Thank you Phil

[@redcomusic]

My main standard for judging a lounge is the food. I'd probably be sufficiently fulfilled w/ any lounge at HKG as a sucker for some good Chinese food. But in terms of interior design, this one wins. Don't forget to check out my new video where I visit Gibraltar's BA-friendly lounge. POOOKE!!!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, I think I chose poorly off the menu. Should have gone duck confit.

[@iriding64]

this lounge makes me want to get to the airport earlier!!!!!!! Great vidoe

[@mygreygapyear]

I know right, I prefer to be early and relaxed over late and stressed, so a nice lounge works really well for me. Glad you enjoyed the video, Phil

[@deanfacer]

Keep up the great work Phil... Another well put together video. The Pier is still certainly one of my personal favourite lounges too!

[@mygreygapyear]

Certainly among the best and certainly the best designed that I've been to so far 😊, glad you enjoyed it, Thanks for your comment, Phil

[@mygreygapyear]

You're very welcome, glad yo enjoyed it

[@rickovanti982]

Niiiice. Love The Pier business. Aim to get to the 1st soon.

[@mygreygapyear]

You know, I loved the Pier business lounge when I was there a few weeks ago, with all the different little sections and seating areas. A really nice lounge and so big that it doesn't feel crowded even though it was busy.

[@faithg9766]

That was quite an experience, but how disappointing when you realise you have chosen the wrong food! They say that the saddest words are "if only" & it certainly applies to food.

[@mygreygapyear]

I love that, just spurted my tea across my desk, I did indeed pick the wrong food in a fine dining restaurant 😂😂😂 I have the best viewers with the best comments, keep them coming, Thank you Phil

[@simonchristie2765]

Excellent Video. Really enjoying your channel. Thank you

[@mygreygapyear]

Thank you, that means a lot, I'm glad you're enjoying it.

[@richardstreet7518]

Looks very civilised... thanks for posting was this back in May?

[@mygreygapyear]

Yeah it was May, it was due to be released in July but things got pushed back and then I was in Australia. Thanks for your comment, Phil

[@nomdeplume2724]

Very Nice! What a super looking place. Don’t do long haul very often these days… but tend to go First when I do…😏 Thanks Phil, great work 🤓❤

[@mygreygapyear]

Thank you for your comment, glad you enjoyed the video.

[@jimhankinson4428]

I'll be there in May, all being well - and in spite of your slight reservations I'm looking forward to it very much, even though my priorities for lounges are pretty much the same as yours. Thanks for the video.

[@mygreygapyear]

My reservations were very slight, the tasting menu is on rotation so the food should have changed by then. I hope you have a fantastic trip 😊, Phil

[@noameier46]

I went to this lounge at the end of September and really loved it! We had a foot massage, which was such a lovely touch. The wagyu burger is also excellent in the restaurant and the bartender made us any cocktails we could imagine! I appreciated the old-world feel too, in comparison to the vast open spaces in Doha international's lounges.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment and support, when I used Exclusive and / or executive in the video it didn't quite feel right but it was the best I came up with but I prefer yours, the "Old World Feel" perfectly sums it up, it has that without going full colonial. Thanks, Phil

[@TC.C]

That lounge looks unbelievable! It exudes class. I agree with you about the abalone, you pay (in a restaurant) a substantial amount for it and it’s just a piece of chewy sea food /snail 😊 Great video!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, I wouldn't avoid abalone in the future but I wouldn't seek it out either.

[@tobybrassington7853]

Amazing video again!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@ukdavepianoman]

Very impressive lounge - maybe because it was night, but it felt a little dark inside. The Melbourne lounge looks more inviting to me. I love a reviewer who enjoys a tipple or two.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment and support, I do love a tipple and love to take advantage when it's free. The lights in the corridor are designed to replicate daylight, so at night they probably are set to some kind of night mode.

[@HaCkEr6662k7]

It is the best in the World, at least for me. I love it. I know the staff by name and often bring them gifts. So do they sometimes have something for me. I sometimes just fly in to HK for a visit to the lounge.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, I thought the staff were perfect too, I would also consider flying via Hong Kong for the many excellent lounges.

[@jimmyjames6492]

🥇🥇🥇Thanks for the info + video!

[@mygreygapyear]

You're very welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@davidbalcon8726]

Indeed, had you stuck with the duck confit (and the Pinot Noir) you’d have a much better appreciation for the food!

[@mygreygapyear]

Yes, I agree, duck confit is one of those foods that I enjoy so rarely it never seems to disappoint.

[@stevecraven3502]

Phil. Another good video and like you I do enjoy a good lounge. Ive tried Abalone before and agree with you totally. As for the rice pudding, even looking at it was off putting. I do like a lounge that serves a good Cognac. Just going to be a bit snobbish now. Hennessy is from the Cognac region of France, made from white grapes so should be referred to as Cognac not Brandy. brandy can be made from any fruit. The Pliska XO Brandy I tasted in Bulgaria is a rather nice Brandy. 😊 Cheers ears Steve. C.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, and it's not snobbish, I love these little fun facts. Pliska XO Brandy I'll have to look out for that, Thanks Phil

[@charliebrown5]

Thank You ✈️

[@mygreygapyear]

My pleasure, as always.

[@calebcuthbert2420]

This needs to become your new motif, Phil, describing airport layouts like this. Amusing this means that Schiphol is an octopus right?

[@mygreygapyear]

I've said before and I'll say it again I have the best viewers who make the wittiest comments and leave me with a smile in the morning. I may well plagiarise your Schiphol the Octopus line in the future, if I do remind please me if I forget to give you credit. Thanks for your brilliant comment and support, Phil

[@silverkijh]

Just moved to Europe from HK. I miss the Pier. 😢

[@mygreygapyear]

Hong Kong was your home airport? You must be missing that hard. My sympathies.

[@twentyrothmans7308]

I'm too busy to watch all of this, Phil, having been confined there for 23 bloody hours once. My only complaint was that they'd shut down the smoking lounge, had it not been for that, I'd still be there, four years later. Did you not have a three-hour bath?

[@HaCkEr6662k7]

The cabana suites are in a different part of the airport and that lounge will be closed for renovations soon.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment and support, I think the private rooms with baths are in the Wing, but in any event I didn't use the showers or baths on this occasion. 23 hours is rough, I would definitely need a day bed suite for some of that Thanks Phil

[@mygreygapyear]

@HaCkEr6662k7 just seen your comment, thanks for confirming that for me. Didn't know they were going to refurb the Wing, now I really wish I'd been in the First part of that for a before and after...

[@twentyrothmans7308]

@@mygreygapyear Forgive me - I get them muddled up, having voluntarily spent 20 hours in the other place :-) Fair dinkum, they are the nicest lounges I've ever visited.

[@HaCkEr6662k7]

@@mygreygapyear The design of "The Pier" will slowly rolled out to the other lounges. So "The Wing First" will be closed first and refurbished. Once it opens up gain, "TheWing Business" will be closed as well and upgraded. The Cabana Suites will likely be removed. To be honest, they were quite useless. I tried it once, just to realize, it takes over 60 minutes to fill the tub, and the water will be cold by that time anyway :D But they had a laundry service as well, wich was very nice. So after the bath, you would find your pressed shirts in a pass-through closet installed in the suite.

[@diamonddave2622]

It's now a cowboy in Paris looking at the Eiffel Tower

[@mygreygapyear]

It took me a minute to understand what you were getting at there, but yes it is 😂😂😂

[@Locutus]

Maybe it's just how you made the video, but I can't say wow at that lounge. Maybe it's one of those things you have to experience first hand. That's *not* a criticism of you. I don't travel as much as you, but I've come to the conclusion that a lounge is a lounge. Even BA Galleries are good enough, although they are going to be enhanced, I mean, refurbished, so hopefully we will see a big improvement in Galleries.

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your comment, for me the dining experience is what I really look forward to. getting a fine dining experience for free is a big benefit and unfortunately the dining experience was only good or ok.

[@ahumpage]

Phil, it beggars belief to me (as a fellow YT channel owner under a different name) that you only have 845 views and 12,700 subscribers as I watch this. To me, as someone who has traveled a lot internationally in the front of 'planes at at nicer hotels, you have far more credibility than a lot of the chattering talking heads on YT. OK, The Pier, and I've spent a lot of time at HKG: Certainly a Top-10 lounge, likely Top-5. #1? It's a close run thing and it depends what you value. It's a gorgeous place with a good restaurant. I happen to have a soft spot for the Concorde Room at LHR T5 but it probably falls short of The Pier. I've never been to the Qatar lounge in Doha, can't say. Emirates First in Dubai? Nice but I was not there long. Looking forward to your HK hotel report unless you were in and out and stayed at the Regal HKG, which, as airport hotels go, ain't half bad.

[@harshilpatel684]

9:46 the Cathay business lounge in Heathrow t3 is the nicest decor wise I've been in

[@ahumpage]

@@harshilpatel684 Never been in there. The CP First lounge is nice at LHR, but small.

[@mygreygapyear]

@ahumpage Thank you for your very kind words, they're very much appreciated. I agree with you on this being a top 5 or maybe top 3 for me, it is very difficult to create an objective scale. I loved the Al Safwa lounge in Doha but the décor wasn't to my taste, but that would also be a top 3 (I think 😊)

[@mygreygapyear]

@harshilpatel684 I've yet to sample the lounges in Terminal 3, lounge crawl 2025 😊

[@ThomasSylvest-v4q]

Vsop cognac in a first class lounge - seems a downgrade ?

[@mygreygapyear]

I'm going to be honest, Brandy is not my area of expertise, I was reading off a menu as I didn't get a look at the bottle (or didn't film it at least). I'm asking this out of genuine interest, what should it be in a First Class lounge like the Pier? Or where does brandy get properly good? Thanks Phil

[@two20john]

where are all the passengers?

[@mygreygapyear]

It's a First Lounge so they are usually quieter. It's also a good distance from the main entrance which has another very good Cathay First Lounge near it.

[@JJ-vy2rh]

Not many first class I guess

[@mygreygapyear]

@@JJ-vy2rh Or OneWorld Emerald

[@rickreid8572]

Channel gonna die soon if we don't get more than the same 5 or 6 destinations.... squeezing as many videos out of two trips!!!!

[@mygreygapyear]

Thanks for your feedback Rick, I've actually been through Hong Kong Airport a lot this year through one thing or another, four take off and landings, so I've still got the lounge crawl video to come and the Cathay Pacific flights. I think I asked you in the past to give me the three videos that you'd like to see, I'd genuinely appreciate it if you could give me those. All the best, Phil

[@rickreid8572]

@@mygreygapyear depends on your budget phil!!!! Just do some different destinations...you've set yourself up as tier point run and lounge man.....get some more done..

[@mygreygapyear]

@@rickreid8572 Cheers for sharing your views