What the Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge in Istanbul Is Really Like

25.07.2024 - 15:57 / cntraveler.com / Louis Vuitton

Inaugurated in 2018, iGA Istanbul Airport has quickly become one of the world’s busiest, recording more than 76 million passenger arrivals in 2023.

Thanks to its strategic position on the edge of Europe and Asia, the airport has become a hub for transit passengers, many of whom have time to kill. As such, the selection of shops and restaurants on offer in IST is seriously good: there are full-sized designer boutiques for all the big hitters like Dior, Celine, and Louis Vuitton, as well as a pop-up brand market with more niche selections—all housed in a shiny central atrium.

But one of the airport’s most impressive features is the 60,000-square-foot Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge, often listed among the best airport lounges in the world. We paid a visit during a recent stopover on the way back from Bodrum to Dubai—here’s what it's like inside.

The Istanbul Airport's Turkish Airlines Business Class lounge is a whopping 60,000 square feet.

Taking over the mezzanine floor overlooking the busy central atrium of the terminal below, the chic space flows freely between live food stations and counters, with plenty of table and lounge seating dotted throughout, and quiet cosy corners for settling down away from the bustle of the terminal below. A self-playing piano greets guests on arrival, and just beyond, a slick storage room with clear lockers allows passengers to store (and locate) their luggage easily. With space to accommodate up to 1,000 passengers, the lounge is massive and never feels cramped, even at full capacity—it’s unlikely you’ll ever be hard-pressed to find a seat here.

The space is sleek, with the futuristic curves of the airport’s facade blending with touches of traditional Turkish design found throughout, intended to showcase the country’s rich culture and heritage—something Turkish Airlines likes to incorporate into every stage of passengers’ journeys.

The lounge is designed around a series of live cooking stations decorated in traditional stone, each serving a traditional Turkish dish. It’s a lovely touch that adds a sense of place, and you can watch the chefs at work as they freshly prepare dishes such as filled pides, shakshuka, and Turkish ravioli. There are monthly revolving Turkish specials to try—during my visit, Gozleme, a traditional yoghurt-based drink, was served from a wooden barrel. A well-stocked salad bar has cold mezze on offer and Turkish sweets can be found scattered throughout.

There’s also a coffee bar where baristas will make your drink fresh to order—a vast improvement to the instant machines found in many airport lounges. And wine carts are dotted throughout the lounge, where guests can pour themselves a glass from an impressive selection of options.

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