Which InterContinental executive club lounge is best in the world and which InterContinentals offer free executive club lounge access? The InterContinental hotel lounges outlined below include Ljubljana, London Park Lane, O2, Madrid, Malta, New York Barclay, Paris Le Grand, and Sydney.
Previously, we have reviewed the best InterContinental hotels and the cheapest InterContinental hotels but did you know that our luxury travel concierge provides free executive club lounge access at many InterContinental hotels?
At certain InterContinental hotels, our concierge offers free club lounge access too. This is a great perk because InterContinental Club lounges offer excellent full breakfasts with free a la carte breakfast options, snacks, and drinks throughout the day, and a small buffet with canapes and complimentary alcoholic drinks and cocktails in the evenings.
We offer free lounge access at the InterContinental London Park Lane, Paris Le Grand, and InterContinental New York Barclay. There is no other way to get free lounge access at InterContinental hotels. High status on the ihg loyalty scheme does not get you free club lounge access. The only way to get free access is to book via a Virtuoso agent like our concierge. Otherwise, you must book a club room, or you can sometimes pay a fee for access to an InterContinental club lounge.
1. InterContinental London Park Lane
InterContinental London Park Lane features at the top of our best club lounges in London and this club lounge is pictured above. This may well be our favorite club lounge in the world because of the magnificent view. This is a wonderful sun-filled lounge with a great breakfast. You can read our full review of the club lounge at InterContinental Park Lane which will give you an idea of what to expect.
Club Lounge access is free here if you book via our concierge, along with benefits including a room upgrade on arrival, early check-in / late check-out (all subject to availability), and complimentary Wi-Fi.
The view here is an absolute winner. It is simply the best view from any executive club lounge in London. The view looks south toward the Thames with Big Ben with the London Eye in the distance to your left. Hyde Park Corner is straight in front of you and 6 or 7 floors below this lounge. Knightsbridge is to your right, along with the Peninsula Hotel, which sits on the far side of the roundabout. On Guy Fawkes night and New Year’s Eve, you can enjoy the distant fireworks across the London skyline from this beautiful lounge. In the distance, you can also see the spires of Battersea Power Station and Green Park, with Buckingham Palace hidden in the trees beyond. You are literally looking down on the Queen (assuming that she is in residence!).
The bird’s eye view of the skyline with the poetic dance of London doubledecker buses and the old-fashioned black taxi cabs below, circling the Hyde Park corner roundabout, makes this lounge feel very London! This is a unique view you wouldn’t find anywhere else, and it’s unbeatable.
Beyond the view, this lounge has so many great features. The staff are unbeatable and full of personality. When you sit down, the staff come and offer you any drink you want. There are loads of fridges with water and a vast choice of cold drinks. Throughout the day are nuts crisps, homemade biscuits, and snacks. The staff will also help you with any business services, from color printouts to anything else you need.
The breakfast here is massive and delicious. There is a buffet and an A La Carte. At the buffet, you can select from cheeses, smoked salmon, salads with olive oil, yogurts, a glorious array of fruit and berries, and Bircher muesli (a particularly good one and a personal favorite!) plus cereal, yogurt, muffins, bread, and some delicious pastries.
On the A La Carte menu, a British-style offering includes eggs as you like; Florentine, Benedict, and Full English, along with options like pancakes. Crucially, everything is cooked to perfection. I love their Eggs Florentine. Their poached eggs are soft in the middle while the white is cooked to perfection.
In the afternoon, a delicious afternoon tea is served between 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm, and an array of sandwiches and scones is arranged on a wedding cake-style up-and-up tray. This comes with their excellent tea as well as other drink options. There is none of your teabag rubbish here. All the tea is made from dried leaves. It’s the little touches that make a big difference.
In the evening, the food offering is limited. A large selection of drinks is available (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), plus a nice selection of canapes, but that’s it. Do not expect a full evening meal. You will need to eat out. On the plus side, Theo Randall’s restaurant downstairs is excellent, and you’re missing out if you don’t try his pasta. It is easily the best pasta in London.
It’s worth noting that the lounge staff is incredibly generous. They constantly top up and supply drinks. Champagne, cocktails, beers, and wines are available, and expect to be pestered into “just another one.” Even after the bar is officially closed, the staff are delighted to refill you or bring out an extra glass of beer. One evening, the staff suggested lining up 2 or 3 beers and glasses of wine to keep us topped up through the evening.
There are also shower and storage facilities so you can safely stow your luggage in the lounge. In addition to free club lounge access at this and other hotels featured below is included. Room upgrades at the time of booking (subject to availability) are also included if you book via our luxury travel concierge.
Of note, this is one of two InterContinentals hotels in London, but the InterContinental O2 does not offer free lounge access to our guests. That said, it offers our luxury concierge clients many other benefits, including hotel credit, a super breakfast, room upgrades (subject to availability), and more.
2. InterContinental New York Barclay
The InterContinental New York Barclay club lounge is one of the best executive club lounges in New York. Club Lounge access is free here if you book via our luxury travel concierge, along with benefits including a room upgrade on arrival, early check-in and late check-out (all subject to availability), and complimentary Wi-Fi.
The InterContinental New York Barclay is located behind Tiffany’s Fifth Avenue store on East 48th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues. The hotel rooms here are large by NYC standards, but the bathrooms are quite cozy. There are 702 rooms, including 33 suites, at this hotel, and the interior look is elegant and classy.
The lounge here is called Club InterContinental and is excellent. It can be found to the left of the lobby. It serves a delicious buffet breakfast, including gluten-free options, snacks, afternoon tea, evening cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres. Club guests can check-in here and use its business center and a meeting room.
3. InterContinental Paris Le Grand
InterContinental Paris Le Grand easily offers one of the best club lounges in Paris. The last time we were staying at the InterContinental Paris, we booked a wonderful rooftop room in the eaves of this historic hotel. The view was out over the rooftops of Paris, and it couldn’t have been more romantic.
The InterContinental Le Grand is conveniently located in the Opera district, close to the Place Concorde, Rue Faubourg Honore, Champs Elysees, etc. The hotel has been beautifully refurbished and remodeled and is one of Paris’s most beautiful and luxurious.
Even if you have loyalty status or are an InterContinental Ambassador, you will be charged to access the club lounge at this InterContinental in Paris. If you book with us, you get all your usual benefits, and we can apply your loyalty number to your booking so that you can collect your points. Plus, you will also get Club Lounge access free, even when you book their standard room.
If you are not an InterContinental loyalty member, you will still get all our free luxury concierge benefits when you book into this hotel in Paris via our concierge, which means you get a free upgrade, free breakfast, and free club lounge access.
The lounge itself is a charming space on two levels at the top of the hotel. The upper level has great views of the Opera, and the whole lounge offers free internet. Start your day with a delicious breakfast with eggs made to order and juices and a glass of champagne (Moet) if you like.
Enjoy the lounge’s cold buffet at midday, with high-end items like foie gras, smoked salmon, hams and cheeses, and free-flowing Nicolas Feuillatte champagne.
In the afternoon, indulge in their delicious pastries at tea time and, at the end of the day, enjoy a light supper in the lounge, which is open until 10:00 pm. Expect excellent service with a generous delivery of unlimited champagne and wine to drink each night, along with beer, spirits, and soft drinks. Canapes included duck liver paté and lots of cheese.
Guests in this lounge tend to be friendly, and because of its location in Paris, a fair number of British and American guests usually use the lounge.
4. InterContinental London. The O2
The club lounge at InterContinental O2 in London is unexpectedly excellent, with great views and food. This lounge is modern and beautifully furnished with plenty of comfy sofas and chairs, including two sets of sofas arranged around a coffee table right by the window of this lounge and overlooking the Thames.
The views from this window are simply amazing. Straight in front of you is the River Thames, and behind the river is Canary Wharf, with its ever-growing array of skyscrapers towering up. It really is a spectacular view, particularly at night, when the main tower with its triangular roof seems to smoke like a chimney into the night sky. This view is the closest thing that London has to the Manhattan skyline. In front of the towers is the River Thames, a main artery for London’s transport system. Police boats and bus boats whizz up and down. They go so fast (30 knots or 40mph) that it looks like you’re watching a YouTube video on fast forward.
The lounge’s food is also impressive. We did not try the breakfast in the lounge as we had breakfast in the main restaurant, which inevitably has a much larger array of food and similarly good views, a great way to start the day. Afternoon tea here is a mix of sandwiches, cakes, and biscuits. In fact, according to my son, they are the best chocolate cookies in the world. They are extraordinarily good.
The evening has three hot dishes on offer and many cold canapes along with nuts and crisps. There is easily enough food to cover your evening meal. The hot dishes include battered prawns, mushroom balls, mini pies, and patisseries with sausages on them. The cold options include carrots and peppers in homus, little patisseries with fillings like avocado and fish smoked salmon, and little vegetarian options like tomatoes with cheese. The canapes and drinks are pre-dinner, so were only served 5:00 – 7:00 pm. At 7:00 pm, the booze cabinet is promptly locked, although the staff at this lounge were beyond super and always seemed to load you up with an additional bottle of beer or glass of gin before they closed up.
The views are some of the best in London. The food is enough to fill you up and very much better than the IC Park Lane in the evenings, where the canapes are limited, although we love both hotels and wouldn’t hesitate to stay at both.
5. InterContinental Sydney
Sydney’s Club InterContinental on the rooftop of the InterContinental hotel in Sydney has arguably the best harbor views in town with a gorgeous wrap-around balcony. The location of this hotel is also excellent, close to Circular Quay and the ferries. It also has a decent gym and a great indoor pool for families. The InterContinental is next door to the beautiful Botanic gardens.
The club lounge is located on level 28, with direct views of the Harbour and Opera House via floor-to-ceiling windows. The lounge is super stylish and modern with a blue-grey wavy carpet design and cream and blue-grey furnishings, which seem to reflect the colors of the harbor as the sun goes down.
Expect the usual complimentary (wonderful) gourmet food, breakfast, afternoon delights, and evening canapés, as well as soft and alcoholic drinks and cocktails, to go with the sunset. Note the canapés here are extensive; a large selection of food, including salads, dips, vegetables, hot mezze, salmon, cheeses, and desserts, is available. It can only be described as a feast presented in large dishes for you to pick at.
The Australian wines here are very good, and you can enjoy them (or beers or spirits) indoors or outdoors on the decked terrace on their comfy lounging chairs. This lounge is absolutely worth paying for at the InterContinental, and this is the best lounge in Sydney for views and probably the second-best lounge in Sydney overall, along with the Four Seasons Sydney, which are both featured in our best club lounges in Sydney.
6. InterContinental Malta
Situated in the exclusive beachside resort of St Julian’s, InterContinental Malta is just seven kilometers from Valletta, Malta’s capital city, and within walking distance of some of the island’s finest shopping and entertainment locations.
Unwind at the wonderful lagoon-styled outdoor pool, or enjoy a day at their private sandy beach. There is also an indoor pool, gym, and spa. With a variety of restaurants and bars (some seasonal), InterContinental Malta is one of your best luxury hotel choices in Malta.
The interior of this hotel is lovely, with lots of intricate, stylish lighting. You will enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep if you request a room facing the hotel courtyard and outdoor pool rather than the main street.
The club lounge here is the best club lounge in Malta, with coffee, tea, juices, soft drinks, and snacks available throughout the day. Breakfast is served with cold cuts, smoked salmon, olive and sundried tomato pastes, salad, pastries, bread, cereal, fresh fruit, Prosecco, juice, tea, and coffee. Hot dishes include scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, etc.
Evening drinks and canapes are served. The selection includes Prosecco, wines, spirits, beers, and soft drinks. Canapes are things like chicken skewers and fish cakes, enough for a drink accompaniment but not enough to fill you up.
7. InterContinental Madrid
InterContinental Madrid has the best executive club lounge in Madrid, but we still prefer the Four Seasons as our best hotel choice in Spain. The problem with the InterContinental Madrid is that it is situated on the Paseo de la Castellana on the northern side of the Salamanca fashion district.
This means it is not an easy walk into the city center, and you would be wise to hop on the tube at the nearby Rubén Darío metro station. Some argue this is an exciting area with the 24-hour outdoor Museo de Arte Público, with works by 20th-century Spanish sculptors displayed underneath a rather depressing concrete flyover. We think that this location, away from the main pedestrianized center, is far from ideal for a leisure trip to Madrid.
The hotel is a very nice 5-star, which was the palace of the Dukedom of Aliaga. Original red marble pillars, chandeliers, and white marble floors are classy and regal if slightly dated. The whole place feels slightly old-fashioned, although obviously luxurious.
The rooms are large and mix mustard and brown, and the bathrooms have black marble and are very nice, as you would expect. El Jardín is a wonderful restaurant with an al-fresco feel and French windows overlooking the central garden.
Like the rest of the hotel, this InterContinental club lounge is not very stylish, with classic, classy decor that lacks the modern touch. There are lots of orangy-colored woods and blue and mustard carpets, and it is open from 7:00 am – 11:00 pm.
The lounge includes a private breakfast, which is usually very good at InterContinental hotels, with a very good buffet and a la carte hot dishes. Beyond breakfast, there are snacks and drinks throughout the day, and in the evening, there is a large buffet with appetizers, snacks, and drinks. Also included in this club lounge is Wi-Fi throughout your stay, an ironing service (I’m not clear if this is free), and a 10% discount at restaurant el jardín & brunch. InterContinental Club lounges are excellent, and even though I am not a fan of this hotel’s location, this is definitely the best executive club lounge in Madrid.
8. InterContinental Downtown in Los Angeles
This is the second InterContinental in Los Angeles, and this InterContinental has a club lounge. InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown is massively tall and, as a result, expect 360-degree breathtaking views of the legendary California sunset from the tallest building on the West Coast. You check-in on the 70th-floor sky lobby and can dine at the top of this 73-floor building, which rises 1,100 feet above street level.
This is the newest luxury hotel in Los Angeles, with 889 plush guest rooms and Instagram-worthy vistas over the City of Angels, from the Hollywood sign to the Pacific Ocean. Six food and beverage options include Spire 73, the highest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere.
Book a Club InterContinental room rate on one of the eight club floors near the top of the hotel and benefit from Club InterContinental lounge access with complimentary breakfast and cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres daily. The lounge also provides check-out facilities and video libraries.
This lounge is one of the best club lounges in Los Angeles and is all about the views and is located on the 70th floor of the hotel (the same floor as the hotel check-in desks). It offers its own private check-in and stunning city views through floor-to-ceiling windows. Exclusive access is available to Club InterContinental guests. Extra benefits include complimentary pressing of two pieces of clothing per stay (excluding express service), complimentary local calls, and complimentary Internet access.
They say that distinctly separate areas are created for relaxation, light dining and drinks, and business discussions. You can also enjoy an extensive choice of gourmet breakfast options, snacks, and drinks throughout the day and a wide selection of complimentary evening drinks and canapés to suit your palate.
Club InterContinental rooms also offer an extra level of luxury with Le Labo® bathroom toiletries and thoughtful benefits, like daily turndown service, complimentary Wi-Fi, private in-room check-in, and the option for a later check-out based on availability. Club rooms and suites receive complimentary mineral water daily and are equipped with Nespresso® machines.
9. InterContinental Miami
Built around Henry Moore’s famous sculpture, “The Spindle,” the luxury InterContinental Miami hotel lies along Miami’s downtown waterfront. This hotel is usually considered the best InterContinental in Miami with the best club lounge in Florida.
Book a Club InterContinental room and experience luxurious Miami hotel rooms and exclusive Club amenities. These spacious rooms feature modern decor, contemporary in-room amenities, and access to the Club InterContinental Lounge. Located on the 29th floor of the InterContinental Miami hotel, the Club InterContinental Lounge offers a place to enjoy a hot breakfast in the morning and hors d’oeuvres and drinks later in the evening.
Options are a bit limited if you are expecting a full American breakfast. During happy hour, you can enjoy alcoholic cocktails there while taking in the excellent views of Miami from floor 29.
There is a rooftop pool at this InterContinental on the third floor, which means that around noon, the taller buildings surrounding the hotel start blocking the sun. There are about 40 pool chairs available next to the pool, plus a couple of daybeds that need to be booked separately. The on-site Bluewater Café is open until 10:00 pm.
10. InterContinental San Francisco
InterContinental San Francisco is tall, has breathtaking views, and is one of the best club lounges in San Francisco. It opened in 2008 and stands at one of the most strategic locations in the city. Its South of the Market location makes it easy for leisure and business travelers, with Union Square just a short walk away. Powell Street station is also about a 5-minute walk away. Its facilities also include a pool and a 24-hour gym.
The rooms here are slightly dated, but the panoramic views cannot be argued with. They look out over the famous San Francisco skyline thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows. If you can snag a corner room, the views here are staggering, with glass on two sides of the room.
One of the Intercontinental San Francisco highlights is its club lounge with continental breakfast, evening cocktails, plus hot soup, afternoon tea, hor oeuvres (evening cocktails), and late-evening desserts. The club lounge itself isn’t very big, but it has sweeping views of the San Francisco skyline from the floor-to-ceiling windows. There’s also a useful PC and printing station in one corner.
The food selection during evening cocktails is good but limited and is unlikely to fill you up. Book an Executive lounge access room and get lounge access included in your rate.
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