Review: Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa, Abu Dhabi

Etihad opened their new First Class lounge in Abu Dhabi, towards the end of May 2016. Since this trip to London was known at that time, it was only natural that I'd try to visit this lounge, which is exactly what I did! Here's more...

Index of posts

First, let's get the name right. It is the First Class Lounge & Spa. Not just a lounge!

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Entrance

The new first class lounge & spa is for the exclusive use of

Guests of The Residence (who get their own separate lounge within the lounge)
First Class guests
Etihad Guest Platinum member with one guest
Eithad Airways Partner airlines platinum members with one guest
Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum members with one guest

The last three above are irrespective of class of travel, and I was able to enter because I am a Jet Airways Jet Privilege Platinum member.

I registered at the lower level, where my credentials were checked, after which I had to take the elevator to the next level above. As soon as I got out of the elevator, a staff member greeted me by name, and immediately ensured that my bags were stowed away and a receipt handed over.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Welcome and concierge

The staff member then took me through the lounge, explaining some of the key highlights on the way. I was then handed over to a senior member of the lounge staff, Mikkel, who is actually an in-flight chef, who's helping set up the lounge in its initial days.

He then gave me a tour of the entire lounge, which included the spa and shower areas, restaurant, two bars, secondary dining area, TV lounge, relax and recline room, smoking room, cigar lounge, and kids play area. The only area I wasn't shown was the separate lounge-within-a-lounge for The Residence guests.

I had nearly 5 hours to kill before my next flight, so I decided to max out on the lounge!

At 1,666 square meters, it is a great place to spoil yourself silly!

First things first, I booked an appointment for a foot massage and a shower. The appointment was to be an hour later, since there were some guests already. So I decided to head out for a quick snack at the secondary dining area, which is more of a self-serve section from the buffet.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Lounge areas and bar

Oh I forgot! Every table at the lounging areas comes with power connections and USB ports for charging your devices.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Self-serve secondary dining area

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Secondary dining area bar stool seating

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Buffet

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Buffet and drinks

Here's what I helped myself to...rather underwhelming, I suppose.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - My snack

I then seated myself just outside the relaxation room, which is also right opposite the smoking room.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Main restaurant area

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Relax & recline room

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Smoking room

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Main dining and (another) bar

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Kids play room

It was now time for my shower and spa appointment, so off I went.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Six Senses spa

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Spa and washrooms corridor

The shower area - which is different from the washrooms - has separate rooms for men and women. I was ushered into a shower room, which was larger than some hotel bathrooms I've seen!

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Shower room

First class and The Residence guests get to use both the spa and the Style & Shave. As a business class passenger, however, I could only select one 15-minute session at the spa, for which I chose a foot massage that turned out to be extremely relaxing.

I returned to the lounge, only to find Mikkel asking me if everything was alright, and if I'd care for a drink from the bar.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Main bar

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Main bar menu

A glass of champagne. Sure, why not? And while at it, make it rosé champagne!

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Main bar Rosé champagne

I found the bar display extremely attractive, especially after Mikkel mentioned that they stocked 170 different drinks out there, not counting mixed cocktails and mocktails.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Main bar

A couple of drinks later came the question I least expected at an airport lounge:

"Sir, where would you like to dine?"

Apparently, I could choose to eat at my own seat, in the relaxation room, in the secondary dining area, or in the main dining area. These lounges are a pain, I tell you...what with all the mental exercise you've got to go through!

Long story short, I chose the main dining area, and in a minute, a table was specifically set up for me, including a glass of champagne.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Main restaurant

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Main restaurant, waiting for my tasting menu

There was an extensive menu, which I couldn't take pictures of because I was constantly being pampered with something or the other. A restaurant staff then came up to explain the menu to me, including the "specials" and their signature dish, the 5-course tasting menu prepared by the Emirates hotel in Abu Dhabi. I chose the tasting plate, which included (and this is as best as I can remember):

Amuse-bouche: Date-and-chami (yogurt)
Soup: Chicken with barley
Appetizer: Red snapper
Palate-cleanser: Mango granita
Main course: Lamb Medfoun (local lamb, saffron rice, tomato-chickpea stew), and finally
Dessert: Batheatha (dates, saffron, cardamom, fresh cream).

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Tasting menu collage

Needless to say, the meal was absolutely fantastic.

I decided I'd had enough for a while, and so decided to relax a bit. But this is the Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa, you see. One doesn't get to relax in their own seat. No Sir. That would be a travesty. Instead, head to the right place for that - the Relax & Recline room, with a 11m x 2m panoramic wall consisting of of 27 screens, displaying "soothing" images.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Relax & Recline room

The large display keeps changing with images that are meant to relax the mind. And the Poltrona Frau recliners are out of this world! In fact, all seats in the lounge are by Poltrona Frau!

With a little over an hour to go before boarding commenced, my man Mikkel to the fore once again.

"Sir, how about a whisky and a cigar?"

Of course, you don't use the smoking room to smoke a cigar. Again, that would be not just travesty, but plain crazy. Bang in the middle of the lounge is a really tastefully furnished cigar room,

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Cigar room

... with ... wait for it ...

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Cigar menu

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Cigar menu with whisky pairings

... its own menu!

Mikkel explained the different cigar flavours, and I chose a Romeo Y Julietta Churchill. He then suggested that I pair it with a Chivas Regal 25 yo.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - RnJ with Chivas 25

Forty-five minutes well spent.

I headed back to my seat in the lounge, to prepare to leave, when Mikkel suggested if I might like a final drink before my flight. Not wanting to corrupt my palate, he suggested I stick to the Chivas Regal 25.

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Chivas Regal 25 yo

Alrighty then.

Time to board, but one final, lingering look...

Etihad First Class Lounge & Spa Abu Dhabi - Entrance

Conclusion

Etihad has this habit of pushing things to the extreme, and this lounge is no exception. They've clearly pulled out all the stops. And the best thing is, you can use this lounge even if you're not flying first class, as long as you're a Platinum member with Etihad Guest or one of the Etihad Airways Partners airlines. From that perspective, this lounge & spa is one great reason to try and reach (or hang on to) Jet Privilege Platinum status.

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