the 5 best IC lounges
Dec 31, 16, 3:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Dubai
Programs: Qatar Plat, EK Gold
Posts: 91
the 5 best IC lounges
I want to learn something here, there are some incredibly well-traveled folks on FT with plenty of knowledge to share
interested in hearing opinions about the entire lounge experience = food, drinks, service, view, specials, breakfast etc etc
everyone has different expectations and needs / wants
if not for the Club Lounge, the overall IC experience would hold marginal value for me personally, I like that it is self-serve (usually) and there are no bills to sign + some staff are incredibly helpful and go more than the extra mile
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
interested in hearing opinions about the entire lounge experience = food, drinks, service, view, specials, breakfast etc etc
everyone has different expectations and needs / wants
if not for the Club Lounge, the overall IC experience would hold marginal value for me personally, I like that it is self-serve (usually) and there are no bills to sign + some staff are incredibly helpful and go more than the extra mile
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Jan 1, 17, 4:09 am
#5
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
Subjective , if one wants one or more of
o lounge space
o breakfast offering (and/or option of foc restaurant b/f )
o cocktails not just help your self drinks
o evening food offering far more substantial than 3-5 tiny canapes
o If you mark lounge down if fizzy plonk not a branded Champagne
o staff (yet to encounter poor lounge staff at any IC)
1. For View/ ambience
o IC Park Lane
o IC-HK-GS
o IC-HK
o IC Budapest
2. For Food + Drinks
o IC Park Lane (Breakfast , teatime, drinks ... alas evening canapes are a let down)
o IC Paris LG
o IC Prague
o IC Budapest (even a substantial lunch)
o IC Bucharest
o IC Kiev
o IC Kuala Lumpur
o lounge space
o breakfast offering (and/or option of foc restaurant b/f )
o cocktails not just help your self drinks
o evening food offering far more substantial than 3-5 tiny canapes
o If you mark lounge down if fizzy plonk not a branded Champagne
o staff (yet to encounter poor lounge staff at any IC)
1. For View/ ambience
o IC Park Lane
o IC-HK-GS
o IC-HK
o IC Budapest
2. For Food + Drinks
o IC Park Lane (Breakfast , teatime, drinks ... alas evening canapes are a let down)
o IC Paris LG
o IC Prague
o IC Budapest (even a substantial lunch)
o IC Bucharest
o IC Kiev
o IC Kuala Lumpur
Jan 1, 17, 6:05 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IC RA, Kimpton Inner Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,721
Originally Posted by Flying Lawyer
Danang, Singapore, Berlin, Paris, Sydney
I did however really like the Dubai FC lounge which was better in all respects other than the nice quirky local design at SIN.
I would also add my normal shout for the IC London O2, great all round lounge offer.
Jan 1, 17, 6:08 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: DUS (and somewhere in transit)
Programs: LH SEN, AB PLAT, BA Gold, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, SPG Lifetime Platinum, IHG RA, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 10,079
Originally Posted by Land-of-Miles
I thought Singapore was a little meh, on a par with PL for disappointing evening nibbles.
I did however really like the Dubai FC lounge which was better in all respects other than the nice quirky local design at SIN.
I would also add my normal shout for the IC London O2, great all round lounge offer.
I did however really like the Dubai FC lounge which was better in all respects other than the nice quirky local design at SIN.
I would also add my normal shout for the IC London O2, great all round lounge offer.
Jan 1, 17, 7:07 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire, IC Amb
Posts: 4,166
I haven't paid for Lounge access in all of the IC's I've stayed in but I will say that the IC Paris Le Grand seems to be worth the cost. 
Heading there next month again and am looking forward to that lounge again.
Heading there next month again and am looking forward to that lounge again.
Jan 1, 17, 7:32 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IC RA, Kimpton Inner Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,721
Originally Posted by Flying Lawyer
At least they do good cocktails in SIN
Jan 1, 17, 8:18 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: DUS (and somewhere in transit)
Programs: LH SEN, AB PLAT, BA Gold, Hilton Lifetime Diamond, SPG Lifetime Platinum, IHG RA, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 10,079
Originally Posted by Land-of-Miles
Agree there and at the IC Dubai FC
Jan 1, 17, 8:27 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: MAN and LON
Programs: Mucci, BAEC LT Gold, HH Dia, MR LT Plat, IC RA, Kimpton Inner Circle, Amex Plat
Posts: 13,721
Originally Posted by Flying Lawyer
View and drink is excellent, food choices used to be better in the past...
Jan 1, 17, 9:08 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 4,634
For me it is
IC Hong Kong with a wide margin. View, service and food
Sydney for the view. Food is ok
IC Wuxi
IX Seoul Coex
No longer
Saigon after my recent experience (hopefully this was an exception and not the new normal - can anybody comment based on a stay this year?)
IC Hong Kong with a wide margin. View, service and food
Sydney for the view. Food is ok
IC Wuxi
IX Seoul Coex
No longer
Saigon after my recent experience (hopefully this was an exception and not the new normal - can anybody comment based on a stay this year?)
Jan 1, 17, 10:49 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; SPGPlat; PCPlat/Amb; HiltonDiamond; CarlsonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesGold
Posts: 38,156
Though it's been a while since I was at either, both the IC Warsaw and Frankfurt, specifically for the evening food offering which is a full dinner with several hot entrees and vegetables, in addition to the normal cold buffet items.
Both IC Shanghai Puxi and Expo also have a most extensive range of buffet stations morning and evening, making for a fulsome breakfast as well as dinner if so desired.
Suppose my fifth would be the classic Paris property with Berlin a close follower up.
Both IC Shanghai Puxi and Expo also have a most extensive range of buffet stations morning and evening, making for a fulsome breakfast as well as dinner if so desired.
Suppose my fifth would be the classic Paris property with Berlin a close follower up.
Jan 1, 17, 12:18 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: FRA
Programs: LH SEN**
Posts: 500
Here are my Top-5:
1. IC Hong Kong: food and drink quality, service, ambience: all top notch
2. ANA IC Tokyo: outstanding food variety and quality, fantastic service, drinks not great
3. IC Bangkok: service typically very good, but can be hit-and-miss, good variety but not outstanding food quality for breakfast and cocktail hour
4. IC Seoul Parnas: all nice, but self service and limited choices
5. IC Singapore: can be very crowded and loud, food and drinks are good, but not great in variety or quality.
in my opinion, not worth the extra money: Dusseldorf, San Francisco, Miami, Austin, Palazzo Las Vegas
1. IC Hong Kong: food and drink quality, service, ambience: all top notch
2. ANA IC Tokyo: outstanding food variety and quality, fantastic service, drinks not great
3. IC Bangkok: service typically very good, but can be hit-and-miss, good variety but not outstanding food quality for breakfast and cocktail hour
4. IC Seoul Parnas: all nice, but self service and limited choices
5. IC Singapore: can be very crowded and loud, food and drinks are good, but not great in variety or quality.
in my opinion, not worth the extra money: Dusseldorf, San Francisco, Miami, Austin, Palazzo Las Vegas
