Just when I was getting accustomed to visiting the Chase Sapphire Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG), the Kyra Lounge HKG has its debut.
Having opened only on 2 July of this year, I only discovered it while scrolling through the Priority Pass app. Accompanying the Chase Sapphire Lounge, and the Plaza Premium trio of rubbish, I was surprised to see a new spot listed. Not just a new spot, but one that was finally along the main concourse.
Location & Hours
The Kyra Lounge HKG can be found right by Gate 23 … but don’t expect airport staff to help you locate it if you’ve accidentally passed it. I’ve always been disappointed in everything about that airport, save for that fact that it was quite useful while living in Shenzhen. Anyway, Cathay Pacific frequent flyers of yore might recognize the subterranean plot as the former home of The Cabin lounge.
The new space is open daily from 06:00 – 00:00.
Who Can Visit?
As hinted at earlier, Priority Pass is accepted, in addition to LoungeKey. If you don’t have any specific lounge membership, you can enter, but it’s a bit costly at 80 U.S. dollars per passenger over the age of two.
n.b. Here’s a nugget from The Club, which sells official lounge passes:
If I’ve purchased a Club pass for myself, can I bring guests into the lounge with me?
Guests are permitted subject to availability, but each guest will need to purchase a Club pass at concierge. Additional passes may be purchased for $50 per guest, per visit. Accompanying infants under 2 are admitted free of charge.
By the way, if you’re into airport showers, this lounge has no foreseeable plans to install them.
Design
Hong Kong-based Studio 5 International was the design team contracted for this first-ever Kyra Lounge. On top of floor-to-ceiling views of the airport apron & Tung Chung, lots of hues of blue, orange, and green appear throughout the space. In total, there is enough seating for 150 people, or 75 people resting their legs on 75 chairs.
On that note of base behavior, I really wish lounges had legit quiet spaces. Basically, a small, partitioned place where infants, chit-chat, politicians, and mobile technology were disallowed.
Has anyone ever heard of a Faraday cage? How about a Faraday Lounge? Tilting at windmills, I know.
Why do I mention this? As you can possibly tell from the photos, the lounge didn’t have too many other passengers. Yet, in the back right some mainland folks were already sprawled out on the few couches, watching videos without headphones.
Fortunately, I was able to shift closer to the bar, put on my headphones, and stare at the apron.
With my Fragrant Harbour cocktail.
Speaking of which, the bar was strategically placed in the middle of the lounge, just across from the reception desk.
There are a few signature lounge cocktails, such as the Fragrant Harbour, and a handful of mocktails.
But drinking on an empty stomach — let alone at all — is never a good idea.
Food
Similar to the Chase Sapphire Lounge, this aspect was a letdown. In part, it could be because I don’t care much for Hong Kong’s local food. My taste buds perpetually yearn for spicy, and that’s decidedly not a Cantonese kitchen’s forte. But you might be more interested, so let’s dive in.
Dumplings. O.K., I’m sold on these. But none of those char siu bao, blech. If I had wanted something sweet, I would’ve asked for dessert.
A few carafes of juices, and petits fours. Good thing there’s milk.
A bowl of mayonnaise, a bowl of couscous, cantaloupe, and honeydew.
If you happened to be at the lounge, and couldn’t find any tomatoes, that was me. They’re my favorite food.
This big salad was good, but the weightier bowls of dressing were off-putting.
Some of that day’s cold cuts included turkey, ham, and mortadella. (what, no ‘nduja?)
The only other thing I don’t mind in Hong Kong cooking is a fried pork chop. Thus, along with the vegetables, and vegetables, pork chop rice.
The cocktail is the same Fragrant Harbour one as above, and the latte was bad.
If you’re flying out of Hong Kong, then you might want to visit the new Kyra Lounge HKG. Its food scene could use a little work, as could the comportment of its users, but the location close to the start of the main concourse is choice.
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