In this trip report, I review the Cathay Pacific The Bridge Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), which I got access to before boarding my flight on the new Cathay Pacific A350 Business Class Hong Kong to Düsseldorf.
Cathay Pacific commissioned world-renowned, UK-based architectural firm Foster + Partners to design The Bridge, which opened in 2013. It’s clear that a lot of effort has been put in creating a stylish environment with a relaxed and homey vibe where one can unwind before a flight.
A set of escalators takes you down from the main concourse to the lounge’s reception area, which features a luminous reception wall, made of Venetian glass tiles by Fabbian of Italy. The Bridge is divided into a so-called North and South wing, each extending from a central reception area.
The North wing features the bulk of the facilities, among them a large restaurant, with both individual and communal tables, which is called ‘The Bakery’. It offers buffet-style dining, although it’s clearly a step up from the usual mediocre airport buffets. Freshly baked bread and pizzas, as well as delicious sandwiches, Danish pastries, Asian and Western soups, and several fresh salads, are on display. In the back of the North wing, you find a stylish bar – offering a wide range of drinks, canapés, and hot and cold tapas – together with a television lounge. There’s plenty of seating inside the lounge with several seat types available, among them the famous Cathay Solus Chair solid – marked by leather upholstery and lacquered shell – which is a designer piece exclusively created for Cathay Pacific.
The South wing features a dedicated IT zone with computer workstations as well as the so-called ‘The Bistro’ restaurant, a second (albeit smaller) self-service area offering a variety of high-quality Asian and Western hot dishes and cold food selections, including some delicious desserts and light leafy salads. At the Coffee Loft, you can treat yourself to freshly brewed coffee and speciality tea, accompanied by freshly baked muffins, pastries and cookies.
Floor-to-ceiling windows stretch all along the lounge’s entire length, offering great views of the traffic on the tarmac, and bringing the outside in. However, IMHO, the lounge’s most striking feature is not the views nor its excellent facilities, but its residential ambience, aiming (and partly succeeding) at offering a ‘home away from home’. Wood floors and accents of oak and brass form a warm and natural colour palette throughout the interior space that creates a comfortable and cosy atmosphere to make you feel at home. The residential feel is echoed by the inclusion of various pieces of art and culture, just like you would find in the living room of any home. For example, the main seating area in the North wing features two display cabinets that are curated with artefacts and books, in addition to two magnificent (and very expensive) Louis Poulsen PH Artichok lamps as well as works by photographer William Furniss, a specialist in abstract waterscapes.
From the lounge, it was only a 5 minute leisurely stroll to gate 34 where the plane was being prepared for an on-time boarding process.
You may also be interested in our review of the best executive or club lounges in Hong Kong hotels.
Based on a review written by our friends at The Luxury Travel Expert.
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