Discover an oasis of deep green calm at Teahouse in The Pier Cathay Pacific Business Lounge, Hong Kong International Airport.
If there’s one thing that’s on short supply when you are travelling by air it is a quiet place to get away from the crowds. So finding a teahouse focussing on the finer things in life at Hong Kong’s International Airport is like hitting the jackpot.
This oasis of calm in an already chilled out airport lounge has deep green glossy tiled walls and plenty of wooden seating to contrast with the black walls and fixtures. Under the warm glow of brass lights, the look is elegant and oriental. It really evokes the feeling of a teahouse rather than an airport lounge.
Teahouse at The Pier
You’ll need to keep on walking past The Pier’s many delights to find this spot at the rear of the large complex.
Make your way to the central counter where you’ll discover both a written and interactive menu to assist with tea selection. Smell some of the many loose-leaf JING tea varieties before choosing your brew.
It takes about five minutes to make before your cuppa is ready for collection. There’s a buzzer system to let you know which is the only downside in this zen space.
Choices include the expected Ceylon Breakfast and Earl Grey and branch out into herbal styles with whole Chamomile Flowers and Peppermint Leaf. There are Japanese Sencha, Japanese Jade Sword blends, along with Traditional Iron Buddha and Jasmine Silver Needle.
The selection of food includes candied slices of winter melon and walnuts, which were delicious. Also try the tea-themed cookies and cupcakes made with earl grey tea, slices of mango pudding and red bean cake. For those who don’t like tea, there are three fresh juices.
The Pier – Recently renovated
The teahouse is part of a revamped lounge, which opened in June 2016 in Terminal Three of Hong Kong’s busy airport. Designed with plenty of natural light, plant greenery, and wooden features, it is a warm and inviting space.
Think multiple layers of Hong Kong’s street culture combined with the comforts of home, and you’ll get the idea.
The Pier includes a gregarious food hall offering a wide selection of dishes from smoked salmon and cheese plates to popular cranberry and turkey subs along with fresh salad, cut and whole fruit. Barista made brews come from a street vendor styled cart serving Illy coffee.
Next section is a well-stocked bar followed by a branch of Cathay’s popular Noodle Bar. This is the place to sit down with a plate of steamed dim sims or noodle soup.
Relaxation at The Pier
The Pier also has getaway areas designed to minimise noise and maximise relaxation. This includes a well-designed Business Centre, the Tea House and a relaxation space where it would be hard not to take a nap. It all a perfectly complements Cathay’s mission to foster a life well travelled.
My favourite area is the outer zone, which flows alongside the expanse of windows overlooking the concourse with plenty of seating for relaxed viewing of arrivals and departures. I found a spot where solo armchairs were set up with matching footstools and side tables with lamps fitted with USB charging and power points.
It was the perfect quiet spot for an extended transit stay where the only problem was making sure eyelids stayed open. There’s always one, of course, looking at you thoughtless businessman cycling through all your phone contacts looking for a loud chat and destroying the peace.
Right at the very end, there is a true relaxation space with lounge beds in a darkened area where guests can fully stretch out and sleep.
Where is The Pier?
Find it in Hong Kong International Airport’s Terminal 1, after Security, just near Gate 65. The 3306 square metres lounge, the largest of Cathay’s Hong Kong lounges, caters for 500 guests and is open from 5:30 AM to last departure.
You can enjoy free food with beer, wine or premium drinks. The use of printers, copiers and Wi-Fi also is complimentary. And if you choose to have a shower or read a magazine, that’s free too.
Arrival lounges also are available in Hong Kong, London Heathrow and Frankfurt, so you can freshen up once you arrive.
The Pier Lounge entrance requirements
First and Business Class customers; Silver, Gold, and Diamond members of The Marco Polo Club; Sapphire and Emerald members of the Oneworld alliance.
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Disclaimer:
Eat, drink + be Kerry travelled as a guest of Cathay Pacific Airlines.
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