This lounge is a personal favourite of mine, and is luxurious yet cosy. It’s a lounge that feels like a home, but with free massages, day beds, and even menu collaborations with celebrity chefs.
I’m going to break this down into five categories, scoring each out of 10 for a total score out of 50:
- Access — How easy it is to get here
- Vibe — Design, atmosphere and layout
- Eat — Food and drinks
- Relax — How well you can unwind before your flight
- Refresh — Ability to freshen up
I have visited here through Platinum Qantas Membership a few times staying at the lounge from one hour to six hours on separate occassions so I’ll also share tips for both short layovers (1–2 hours) and long ones (4–6 hours+). You don’t need to fly First Class to get in here!
How to spend 1-2 hours here
- Check massage counter first
- Go to dining room for a quick bite
- If you have time, shower or bar
How to spend 4-6 hours here
- Go to massage counter and shower rooms first to get a buzzer
- Go to dining room
- Have a massage and/or shower
- Get a nap in the day suites or relax in the bar area
- If you’re lucky, get a second meal!
Access
The Pier First Class lounge is located near Gate 63 in Terminal 1, which can be a little bit of a walk depending on where you land. There are travelators on the way, but I genuinely always work up a light sweat getting here. However, this might just be my luck landing and boarding at gates that aren’t close to the lounge!
Open from 5:30am to 12:30am.
Access score: 5/10.
Not the easiest lounge to reach — but you know instantly when you get there why it’s worth the walk.
Vibe
After the lounge reception, you enter a long hallway with green walls — which reminds me of jade in Asian culture. The hallway connects everything: dining, day suites, bar, shower suites — so everything feels connected by the single hallway, but it’s also easy to make a quick getaway if you need to board soon!
The design is luxe but cosy. There are quiet nooks where you can work, and a busy dining room.
Vibe score: 10/10.
Eat
The dining room at Pier First Class Lounge often has collaboration menus with Michelin-starred chefs — and the menu rotates regularly. Ours included a dish collaboration with Mott 32 and another time with Rosewood. It gives retro Hong Kong diner (“cha chaan teng”) vibes, but elevated.
Even if you skip the collaboration dishes, the regular menu is legitimately good as well— congee with various toppings, BBQ pork buns, siu mai, rice noodles, and my favourite: dan dan noodles (if you don’t have a peanut allergy — get this!)
For those who aren’t after a full sit down meal, you can also grab some lighter bites from the The Pantry (buffet style) near the entrance of the lounge.
For those who can appreciate a good cocktail, the bar is a must visit before you go.
Food score: 10/10.
Relax
There are Day Suites facing the tarmac, which is both relaxing and dangerous for plane nerds — because you’ll end up watching planes the whole time.
The bed isn’t the most comfortable in the world, but after 14 hours of travel, you can definitely fall asleep. There are blinds to block out daylight if you’re having a quick snooze
They have free 15-minute massages (highly sought after — if you want one, check in for a slot the moment you arrive). These make a WORLD of difference when you’re travelling long haul.
Relax score: 8/10.
Refresh
The shower suites are similarly designed to the rest of the lounge and are very spacious and well stocked with toiletries (including a dental kit). They’re also well maintained and generally very clean.
There’s a bench for bags and even a valet stand for jackets, which is such a relief when travellingwith a carry on and winter coat.
I showered and brushed my teeth, and instantly felt alive again.
Refresh score: 9/10.
Final Rating
| Category | Score / 10 |
|---|---|
| Access | 5 |
| Vibe | 10 |
| Eat | 10 |
| Relax | 8 |
| Refresh | 9 |
| TOTAL | 42 / 50 |
Final Thoughts
The Pier First is one of the most thoughtfully designed lounges I’ve ever experienced. Yes, it’s a bit of a hike — but if you have time, you should make the walk!
Let me know: How would you rate this lounge?
Ange on a plane 
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