Christmas in the Cathay lounge

The kitchen in The Pier, First is abuzz with laughter and conversation. The tinkling of silverware and the roar of a fire cut through the chatter. The festive scent of chestnuts, pumpkin and gravy fills the air.  

As plates receive their finishing touches, chef Jerome recounts the creative concept behind each dish to our Dining and Hospitality team. Months of hard work are about to come to fruition: the festive menus for Cathay lounges are being finalised. With this marriage of sounds, smells and sights, it’s clear that Christmas has landed – all that’s missing is a carol or two.  

When it comes to crafting the perfect Christmas menu, there’s nothing more important than the feeling it evokes. Ours is designed to reflect the spirit of the season, serving up a dose of nostalgia, connection and joy with signature Cathay sophistication. This brand-new seasonal selection of dishes and beverages will be available in Cathay lounges between 10-27 December. 

Visitors to our First class lounges, The Wing, First and The Pier, First, can feast on refined à la carte offerings alongside wine pairings and vintage champagne at The Haven or The Dining Room, peruse the buffet at The Haven, and sample sweet treats in both The Atrium and The Pantry.

Travellers can expect balanced dishes made from premium produce, such as a creamy chestnut soup with pan-fried scallops and clams, a nourishing turkey ballotine with winter root vegetables like carrot and celery root and a fresh shrimp pearl barley and fava bean salad. The turkey Wellington, a medallion of succulent turkey wrapped in delicate cabbage and puff pastry, topped with musky enoki mushrooms and cerulean puree, is one of our team’s favourite dishes on this year’s Christmas menu. To satisfy your holiday sugar cravings, we've got a range of desserts across our First class lounges: a Yule log served with English vanilla cream, a decadent chocolate chestnut log, a tropical fruit tart topped with meringue, a traditional limoncello panettone with citrus ricotta, and crowd-pleasing Christmas cookies. 

Meanwhile, visitors to The Wing, Business, The Pier, Business, or The Deck will find the self-service buffet counters overflowing with seasonal options like turkey  and gravy with sweet and tangy  winter vegetables, apricots and walnuts, served with   lemon semolina, a nutritious radicchio and lentil salad with feta and walnut, and a hearty pumpkin gorgonzola gratin sure to leave you feeling satisfied. Those with a sweet tooth will be happy to hear that the limoncello panettone and Christmas cookies are also available here.  

Our specially crafted seasonal beverages are as much a treat for the eyes as they are your tastebuds. In any of our First class lounges, savour a rich, frothy gingerbread espresso martini made with Baileys, or a festive bourbon with port and orange juice, adorned with a slice of lemon. In our Business lounges, sip on a refreshing, lime-green sour melon soda or a spiced Rémy Martin with apple – topped with a cinnamon stick for an extra kick. If you’re feeling chilly, get cosy and warm up with a glass of classic mulled wine or soothing, Chinese-style sweet tea with a Christmas twist – available in all of our lounges. Alternatively, our striking, poinsettia-inspired raspberry champagne cocktail offers an Instagrammable photo-op, featuring homemade raspberry puree and a sprig of rosemary in a sugar-rimmed champagne flute – the ultimate festive indulgence.  

At Cathay, we care about making every step of your journey memorable and meaningful. That includes the time you spend in our beautiful airport lounges. We believe “every thought counts” – which is why we’ve taken every single detail into consideration to bring you a memorable festive lounge experience. In addition to delectable seasonal dishes and creative Christmas beverages, we’ve also got pre-flight pampering and exclusive experiences for the whole family.

Yuletide carols

When you enter our lounges this season, you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time to the Christmases of yore. We’ll be sprinkling your pre-flight soundtrack with cosy vintage tracks like Frank Sinatra’s Jingle Bells and Elvis Presley’s Blue Christmas – just try to resist singing along.  

1-26 December

Deck the halls

You’ll see our elegant lounges peppered with thoughtful decorative touches – think winter foliage like fir trees and poinsettias for a soft authentic feel. In our Business lounges, trees are adorned with Cathay’s own gingerbread cookie ornaments, while in First class lounges, Swarovski crystals bring a dash of sparkle and glamour. Meanwhile, the whimsical elements we’ve added to our Business lounge receptions – Advent calendar cabinets filled with sweet treats and cheeky Elf on the Shelf decorations – are sure to enchant young travellers.

7 December-1 January

JING-le bells

Before your flight, take a moment to enjoy a soothing, restorative cup of tea from our longstanding partner JING Tea. The artisanal tea brand has created a limited-time seasonal blend, available to First class passengers at The Atrium and to Business travellers at Teahouse. Short on time? You can help yourself to a loose-leaf chai tea blend at JING Tea’s beautifully decorated pop-up trolley situated at The Deck.

10-26 December

Winter wellness

While there’s a lot to love about this time of year, the holiday season is not without its stresses. Reset before your trip with the help of our lounge wellness services, brought to you in partnership with THIA Wellness. Visit The Pier, First and receive either a relaxing foot massage or mini facial. 

For our foot massages, we use THIA Wellness’ special Christmas oil: a formula of grape seed oil, jojoba oil, and essential oils of cinnamon, orange, ginger, and fir needles, designed to improve circulation, relieve sore muscles, reduce swelling and promote relaxation. 

If you opt for the mini facial, you’ll reap the benefits of moringa oil, which sinks deep into the skin to keep it hydrated and glowing – perfect for those with long flights ahead. 

20-27 December

Santa Claus is coming to town

Even if you're not headed to the North Pole this Christmas, you can still meet Santa in Hong Kong, right here in our Business lounges The Wing, The Pier, and The Deck. Those catching an early flight this month are in luck, as Santa will be visiting from 8-11am. We have no doubt this unique experience will be one your family can cherish for years to come. 

22-24 December

Season of giving 

To bring the magical spirit of a Cathay Christmas into your home, pick up our exquisite Christmas ornamental baubles, specially handcrafted for Diamond members and First class passengers. 

23-25 December