The best non-airline lounge that we’ve visited
Hot on the heels of our review of The Pearl Lounge in Abu Dhabi – the only non-Etihad lounge in that giant airport – is our visit to their sister location in Bahrain. Whilst the Abu Dhabi lounge was decent, this one was even better. As far as contract lounges go, this is one of the best we’ve been to.
What’s the story behind the Pearl Lounges?
There are a few Pearl Lounges across the Middle East, but they’re not run by a central organisation. The Kuwait location is run by a third party called National Aviation Services, and the Abu Dhabi and Bahrain locations are run in partnership with Plaza Premium.
They are fundamentally the same thing: lounges that cater for airlines who don’t have their own dedicated spaces, or passengers who want to pay for access. They are not card-friendly lounges, only allowing access from one single lounge pass, the Mastercard tie-in with Dragon Pass.
Where is the Pearl lounge?
The lounge is just a short walk from security, near gate 15. It’s on the second floor of the terminal, so you access it via an escalator or a lift. It sits at the opposite side of the main terminal building from the only other lounge at Bahrain, the Gulf Air lounge.
There’s also a second Pearl lounge in the arrivals area of Bahrain, after you pass through security.
Who can access the Pearl Lounge?
Bahrain Airport has only two lounges: the Gulf Air lounge, which caters to passengers on the national carrier, and the Pearl lounge, which is for everyone else.
- You can pay for entry, which is 25 BHD (approx £50)
- British Airways passengers, flying in business or first.
- BA passengers with silver or higher status
- Other premium airline passengers flying in business class, or – in the case of Qatar – regional first class.
- oneworld Emerald or higher status
- Mastercard / Dragon Pass holders
There is currently no way to access the lounge using Priority Pass or other lounge cards.
A lounge of many spaces
I am a big fan of lounges that have multiple zones, even if those zones are only subtly different. It breaks up the space, and if you’re staying in a lounge for a long period of time, it gives you a chance to move around.
The Pearl has taken this to the next level. Officially, they have ten “individually crafted areas, that offer a distinct ambience”. This isn’t hyperbole. As you walk through this lounge, you keep finding more and more places, and they are fundamentally different, and in some cases quite fun and interesting.
Having different spaces means you can settle into the area that fits how you feel, which in my case is nearly always wanting peace and quiet. I had a good wander around, and there were some louder, higher-energy rooms to sit in, but also plenty of space that was more relaxed.
Some of the more notable spaces are:
- A smoking area
- A games area, including a pool table and fussball table
- The Pizza Kitchen
- A beautiful coffee shop
- A bar
We spent most of our time in the “library” space, which is one of the first ones you reach after you enter the lounge. It is a beautiful room, with decor that puts other lounges to shame. This is not a space where corners were cut when it comes to the look and feel. The lighting, furnishing and wall covering are all at a level you’d expect in a five-star hotel.
The other spaces in the lounge are just as good. This is a really attractive lounge, even for the Middle East.
Food and drink at the Pearl Lounge Bahrain
You don’t have to go far for food and drink, with most of the lounge spaces having their own self-service areas. However, you will want to wander around to find more food options, though, as what’s on offer differs in each space.
You also have dedicated spaces for food and drink. The main dining room is effectively a sit-down restaurant. There’s an always-open pizza station where the pies are cooked fresh, plus the bar area, and a beautiful coffee shop.
The food itself was great. Where this lounge excels is in the breadth of options, rather than the absolute quality, and it caters well to families.
Amenities at The Pearl
With its gigantic footprint, The Pearl has plenty of space to cram in facilities. There are showers available, a smoking room and a games area.
There are no spa facilities, unlike The Pearl lounge at Abu Dhabi. However, it’s located very close to the transit hotel, which does contains a spa. If you’re a Priority Pass cardholder then you can use the card to get a 30-minute massage.
Amenities at the arrivals lounge
We didn’t get to try the arrivals lounge, but it does have showers and a washroom. It’s located in the rivals hall, so it’s technically usable by anyone visiting the airport. The price is roughly half of the main lounge: 12 BHD, which is just under £24. If you need a shower before a flight and you’re counting the pennies then it’s worth trying to get one here rather than the main lounge.
Final verdict on The Pearl
We used this lounge on a very late BA flight back to London, and spent a couple of hours in here just before and after midnight. We were struggling to stay awake, but The Pearl delivered exactly what we needed: some light bites, soft drinks, and a quiet space to wait until boarding started.
I really loved this lounge, simply because there was so much going on in there. Whether you’re a single traveller, a couple or a family, this will be a great place to spend a few hours.
Thoughts on Bahrain Airport
We didn’t just enjoy the lounge experience; the whole airport was great. It’s a modern building that’s light and airy, with an easy check-in process and a fast and efficient security process. Having just flown to and from Abu Dhabi’s new airport, I would say that Bahrain was slightly better, albeit much smaller.
Rating The Pearl Lounge
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