Mumbai’s Terminal 2, which is the designated Terminal for all international flight operations from Mumbai, went live in February 2014. The new terminal had a massive lounge which was operated by GVK, and inaugurated later in 2014. I have been to the Business Class section of the lounge many a times, and I wrote a review of the lounge on my first trip in November 2014.
While I have been to the First Class section of the lounge also a couple of times before, I was in a rush so I did not get enough of the experience to be able to write a review. When we were flying Singapore Airlines Suites Class on this trip, they invited the both of us to the First Class Lounge, by presenting us their own Golden Tickets.
All the Golden Tickets
The set-up of the GVK Lounge is on Level 3 and Level 4. You enter the lounge through Level 4, and Business section lounge members are sent to Level 3 via an elevator. Level 4 hosts the Premium Lounge, and in a roped off section, the First Class Lounge as well.
GVK Lounge Entrance on Level 4, CSIA Terminal 2
Our host from the GVK Pranaam service walked us all the way to the lounge and left us to ourselves there. The lounge has a restaurant section, a lounging area along with a fully stocked bar, and a few couches for solo travellers, overlooking the tarmac.
First Class Lounge Setup
Restaurant Area, GVK Lounge First
Solo Couches, GVK Lounge First Class
Bar, GVK Lounge, First Class
Lounge Area, GVK Lounge, First Class
Premium Section, GVK Lounge
The key difference between the business class section and the first class section is not just the hue (Silver for Business Class and Golden for First Class). First Class lounge access gets you real champagne (Moet & Chandon Imperial) while Business Class only gets sparkling wine (Chandon).
While there is a vast buffet for the Premium Lounge passengers which is also accessible to the First Class passengers, there is white-glove dining for them, and you can order stuff off a menu presented to you, which the staff will bring to you. The buffet has a large assortment of cold salads/finger foods and desserts, and about 8-10 hot entrees as well.
Buffet Layout, GVK Lounge, First Class
The menu is enclosed below, and has a good mix of Indian as well as World food. There is an entrée menu for Lunch and Dinner, and also an all-day dining menu which can be ordered anytime.
Lunch & Dinner Menu, GVK Lounge, First Class
All-day Dining Menu, GVK Lounge, First Class
We ordered a Wasabi soup and a chaat platter to start off. We also ordered a dim sum platter to share. Before everything else, we were brought an Amuse Bouche made of Tofu, which was very very delicious. They followed it up with a nice bread basket which was left for us, along with some flavored butters.
Amuse Bouche, Dinner
Bread Basket
The Wasabi Soup was very nice, and I just got a tasting of it, while Shipra got the whole of it. I was very amused to see a Chaat Platter, but hey, when there is Chaat why would I need to think of anything else to eat.
Wasabi and Dim Sum Soup
My Chaat Platter had some Panipuri and some Dahipuri in it. It was finished in two minutes.
Chaat Platter
Non Veg Dimsums
While I was trying to save my appetite for my SQ flight, I could not help but give the staff an opportunity to serve us all three courses. I ordered a Murg Dum Biryani, which was very delicious as well. Luckily, it was a small portion and not a massive helping. We both shared the Biryani.
Murg Dum Biryani
With the Biryani out of the way, we headed to the other side of the Lounge, where there is a spa. All First Class passengers get 30 minutes of complimentary neck/back massage or foot spa. We did not have that kind of time, so we took a 15-minute foot spa instead.
Spa Area, GVK Lounge, First Section
The restroom also had integrated showers, which was something we did not get to try. The restrooms were also stocked with other amenities such as shaving kits and dental kits for those of you need them.
Men’s room, GVK Lounge, First Section
Before we left, we gave their caramel dessert a shot, because, sweet tooth! It was done exceptionally well.
Dessert
We left the lounge happy and satisfied that GVK’s new F lounge is much better than all the other lounges I saw at the old Terminal 2, and maybe not allowing airlines to operate their own lounge was a good idea after all. The lounge was not very crowded and the service was very personal, which is often the note to start a good trip on!
What has been your experience at the GVK First Class Lounge, Mumbai Terminal 2?
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This is one of the finest lounges I have seen world wide. It will probably look biased, if I say it’s the best. Having travelled to almost all the best airports the world over, this one seems to be a place where I would go again and again.
Ambience, decor, facilities, drinks or food, I can say it has everything that’s needed.
There is always a scope to improve but so far I find nothing missing here.
Had a terrible experience. We had 2 kids with us. We were 4 Emirates first class passengers (3yr old and 6yr old) and we had a Nanny that had an economy ticket.
We requested that as we are 4 first class passengers if we can just have the nanny come inside and not eat or use any facility just for 15-20 min so kids can get changed for our flight and they outright reduced. And they were extremely rude about that as well. Repeatedly we tried and explained and instead of even consulting with the management they just outright reduced and said she cannot even set a foot inside.
Horrible ladies at the counter. We would have at least deserved A decent chat with the manager.
Pathetic.
Good, answer is no, buy the nanny an F ticket if you want her to use lounge so she can take care of the spoilt brats. So because you tried to break the rules with your “new” Indian money you call it a terrible experience. This is typical attitude of the “special elitist” people in that place. I’ve just been in Bombay and have witnesses abject poverty the likes of what should not be allowed. You people sit from on-high, expecting to be able to break rules because all of a sudden you have a bit of cash, it’s frightening how elitist the country has become. Instead if complaining you poor darling, throw some money at the poor living in your shit.
We were upgraded to this lounge in November following a mess up with our tickets. Oh wow! It was fabulous but I was gutted our flight wasn’t delayed as we did not have time for the foot massage!
Hi Ajay! Nice review and waiting for more such insight into your red carpet trip. Can you give an idea about the difference between the premium section of lounge on level 4 and business section on level 3?
@Pratik I think the Premium section is an in between between First and Business. I don’t even know how to get there. I have always got either a business or a first class section invitation.
Thanks for the review !
Professionally done reviews of this lounge are very rare to find on the internet.
Where would you rank this one with the other world class lounges you have visited so far?
@Deo nice one, but not the best when you stack it up with Emirates in DXB and Thai in BKK and LH in FRA. But those are all airline captive lounges and this one is a multi-airline lounge, so I can live with what I see.