After mulling over which of Cathay Pacific's business lounges to visit at HKG (they have so many), I decided on The Pier since it seemed to have more positive reviews. After our visit, it's definitely one of the nicest lounges I've been to in both the US and abroad (note that most of my lounge visits have been via Priority Pass; seldom do I get to visit first/business class lounges). Keep in mind there's a first class lounge separate from the business lounge (both called The Pier) - I made the mistake of going into the wrong place initially.
Stepping in, you'll notice the darker interior, dim lighting, and nice soft yellow hues glowing from the lamps. The vibe feels nice, modern, upscale, but not overly snooty. Once you get in, there are lockers nearby to put your luggage/gear (woot!) - no locks needed as each has a digital lock you can set. Super convenient.
I like the corridor layout - the lounge is essentially a long strip broken down by sections or "rooms" either focusing on food/drink or something else. There's an area with the bar, another area with a deli type set up for food, a made to order noodle counter, a room dedicated to tea (they actually give you a small whole pot of tea, made to order), the shower area, and also a sleeping area with very comfortable sofa like lounge chairs to nap. It's very clear what section is what and I like how they separated things out. With things spread out, it never felt overcrowded in the lounge.
Showers: Yup, took advantage of this. Convenient that they'll give you a pager if all showers are taken so you can roam around for a bit. I only had to wait 10 minutes before mine was ready - it came sooner than expected so I had to chug down my food as my pager buzzed. The showers reminded me of ones at nice hotels; it's also a good size, clean, has a spot for your luggage, and of course equipped with all your standard amenities (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrushes, etc).
Food: Pretty legit; too bad I wasn't able to try everything. Got dan dan noodles from the bar, meats, cheeses, pineapple buns, cheesecake tarts, beer, wine, etc. They even have a small coffee cart where they'll make your coffee to order (so the coffee machines aren't your only option). All alcohol is free (noticed some lounges in Asia charge extra for it).
The Pier is definitely a great lounge - makes you kind of wish your flight would be delayed so you could stay longer. I mean you have: food, alcohol, made to order coffee, showers, a cozy sleeping area, comfy chairs, plenty of space, charging ports, etc. I'd like to make The Pier my next travel destination :)
PS: I briefly stopped by The Wing after The Pier. The Pier was definitely better - felt more upscale, newer, and a tad cleaner. The first floor of The Wing didn't impress me much; the open area on the second floor had a better vibe, but still The Pier won me hands down. read more