The Cathay Pacific Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 is actually two lounges in one. A lounge for first class passengers and another for business class passengers. As a Oneworld member airline, Cathay Pacific welcomes passengers traveling from terminal 3 on any other Oneworld business class or first class flight. Frequent flyers with Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status can also use the The Cathay Pacific Lounge when traveling in any cabin class. The proximity of the other Oneworld lounges makes it easy to lounge hop between the several lounges before your flight. If you’re anything like us, you’ll probably want to spend most of your time in the The Cathay Lounge, and here’s why…
In this review:
- Opening Hours
- Locating the lounge and reception
- Comfort
- Food & drink
- Toilets & showers
- Wi-Fi, charging & productivity
- Extras
- BG1 Verdict
Opening Hours
The Cathay Pacific Lounge Heathrow opened from 05:30 until 21:00, running through the full morning and evening waves at Terminal 3. These hours aligned neatly with Cathay’s Hong Kong departures and the steady procession of oneworld flights feeding premium passengers into this part of the terminal.
Locating the lounge & reception
The Cathay Pacific Lounge is located near to many of the other premium lounges at Heathrow Terminal 3 on the way to gates 1-11. As you exit the lift and enter through the door, you immediately leave the hustle and bustle of Terminal 3 and find yourself in a calm atrium. The the dark wood interior, lamps and frosted window extended to the check-in desk and beyond into the lounge.
There was no queue and we were quickly welcomed with our BA First tickets and directed to the First Lounge on the right. Passengers with business class tickets – or Oneworld sapphire status – continued up the corridor to the larger business class lounge.
Comfort
The lounge layout split cleanly into two connected spaces. To the left sat the first class lounge, and to the right sat the business class lounge. Both followed StudioIlse’s familiar design with warm timber, stone textures and brass details, but the first class side felt noticeably quieter and more refined.
The business lounge opened with the Noodle Bar and a bistro-style dining area before leading into a long room filled with sofas, armchairs and Cathay’s well-known Solo work pods. Power sockets sat beside most seats, and the window counter provided plenty of plug and USB options.
The first class lounge felt more intimate, with softer lighting, plush seating and a calmer atmosphere. A separate dining room sat at the far end, offering a sit-down à la carte service rather than the self-service layout in the business section. During my visit, I found several empty tables and comfortable seats, even as the business side got busier from lunchtime onwards – departures to the US and Australia.
Both lounges enjoyed generous natural light through large windows overlooking the apron, with aircraft rotating frequently between the neighbouring gates.
Food & Drink
The Cathay Pacific Lounge Heathrow maintained two distinct food concepts across its spaces. The noodle bar in the business lounge remained the headline act, serving made-to-order dishes such as dan dan noodles, Hong Kong-style wonton soup, Vietnamese pho and a dim sum basket. Orders were placed at the counter and collected with a buzzer.
The business side also housed a small bistro station with a rotating set of hot dishes. On my visit, options included chicken curry, pulled beef, and a mango pudding. A chilled station carried fruit, salads and simple snacks for lighter appetites.
The first class dining room offered a separate à la carte menu, with staff seating guests at tables and taking orders directly. The dishes changed across the day, but the format leaned towards plated restaurant-style meals rather than self-service.
In the mornings it’s all about eggs and for lunch and dinner there are European fish and meat courses alongside classic Asian dishes. Its quieter atmosphere made it a pleasant alternative for anyone wanting a proper sit-down meal.
The dim sum was middle-of-the-road, but it was still a wonderful treat to get it in an airport lounge. You could also order extra, if you wanted to fill-up on dumplings!
Both lounges had their own bars. Staff mixed cocktails, poured wine and spirits and served Cathay’s signature drinks. There was plenty of self-service options too, including champagne.
Barista coffee and a wide selection of teas rounded out the list, with ceramic tea sets adding a familiar Cathay touch.
Toilets and showers
The business and first class sections shared the same washrooms and the same bank of eight shower suites. I booked a suite at reception and was offered it almost immediately. Each room included a large walk-in shower, toilet, sink and Bamford toiletries in wall-mounted dispensers. Towels were replaced between guests, and the suite felt consistently clean. Additional bathrooms near the entrance offered multiple sinks and cubicles.
WiFi, power & productivity
The internet connection remained one of the better ones at Heathrow. My speed test recorded around 55 Mbps down and 40 Mbps up, which supported calls, uploads and browsing without interruption. Productivity also felt easy thanks to the solo chairs, window ledges and numerous plug points across both lounge sections. The first class lounge provided quieter workspaces, while the business side offered more variety.
Extras
The presence of both lounge sections made this one of the most versatile premium spaces in Terminal 3. The noodle bar continued to anchor the business lounge, while the à la carte dining room gave the first class side a clear identity. Physical newspapers and magazines were available in both, which felt refreshing given the shift to QR-only content in several surrounding lounges.
BG1 verdict
The Cathay Pacific Lounge Heathrow delivered an impressive dual-lounge setup, offering strong food, quiet seating and excellent shower facilities across both spaces. The Business Lounge worked well for variety and energy, while the First Class Lounge provided calm, polished dining and room to slow down. If you’re flying oneworld through Terminal 3, this lounge remained one of the easiest recommendations in the building.
Read our other Heathrow lounge reviews.
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