Cathay Pacific Lounge, Heathrow, London, UK

For savvy long-haul travellers, an invitation into Cathay Pacific’s Heathrow First and Business Class lounge is prized as much for its bubbled isolation from the airport’s hubbub as for its comforting made-to-order bowls of wonton and spicy dan dan mian noodles.

The London-based designer Ilse Crawford’s spruce up of the Terminal 3 space has only buffed up the shine. Clocking in at 1,200 sq m, the refurbished lounge is 30 per cent larger, which affords considerably more expansive views of Heathrow’s apron and north runway, while allowing a complete segregation of first and business class passengers – the only Cathay lounge outside Hong Kong with this distinction.

Crawford’s mood-board offers low-key chinoiserie, the custom-made chairs, slatted wooden screens, oversized lantern lamps, and artwork by Chinese artist Han Feng quietly layered with a dining room with table service, loftily branded ‘Shower Suites’, and work desks.