Which Hilton executive club lounge level is the best in the world across America, Asia, Europe, and Australia? The best Hilton hotels in the world include the luxury brands of Waldorf Astoria, LXR Hotel & Resorts, and Conrad.
We think the best Hilton Executive Club Lounge is at the Hilton Venice because:
- It has fabulous views over the passing boats on the Venice Lagoon
- It’s separated from the Piano Bar by glass walls, so you can enjoy piano tinkling from the lounge
- It’s easily found on the ground floor
- Its all-day drinks and snacks are hugely advantageous in expensive Venice. It can be very expensive to eat out
The best way to get a discount at a Hilton hotel is to book with an Impresario agency like our luxury travel concierge. When you book with us, you get double Hilton Honors points and all the other benefits our concierge offers.
We offer free club lounge access at some InterContinental hotels including London Park Lane, Paris Le Grand, and InterContinental New York Barclay. This is a great perk because InterContinental Club lounges offer excellent full breakfasts with free a la carte breakfast options, snacks, and drinks throughout the day and a small buffet with canapes and complimentary alcoholic drinks and cocktails in the evenings.
To access a Hilton club lounge, you need to book an executive room or suite. Hilton Honors members with Diamond elite status get free access to executive club lounges for themselves and one additional guest. If you have Gold Elite status with Hilton Honors, you may get an upgrade to an executive room with executive club lounge access, (subject to availability), but this is not guaranteed. If you get the upgrade, this will give you lounge access for yourself and up to one additional registered guest.
Here are 10 Hilton hotels that we consider to have the best Hilton club lounges:
1. Hilton Molino Stucky Venice
Hilton Molino Stucky Venice is a large hotel with over 400 fabulous rooms. It offers a modern escape from central Venice on the island of Giudecca. I emphasize the modernity of this hotel because it is quite unusual to find a hotel in Venice that offers newly refurbished rooms, and it is these rooms that make the Hilton a stand-out choice in Venice.
The Hilton Molino Stucky is located across the water from St. Mark’s Square on Giudecca Island, and you can walk from one end of the island to the other, as far east as the magical Belmond Hotel Cipriani, which takes around 25 minutes. St. Mark’s Square and the rest of Venice are easily reached by the hotel’s regular shuttle boat, which is free beyond an initial, one-off, room charge.
While the Hilton Molino Stucky offers stylish and modern rooms, the hotel itself is steeped in history. Exposed wooden beams and original brickwork reveal this building’s iconic warehouse design.
The hotel has a gym and a spectacular rooftop pool to enjoy. The pool can get very busy, so the early morning is probably the best time for a swim. While there aren’t any gardens, you can step outside and sit on the seats perched on the cobbled waterfront and while away hours watching the boats. You can also walk or jog the length of Giudecca Island, right by the waterside.
Rooms are clean, modern, and stylish, with a warm grey color scheme, wooden floors, and nautical murals, bringing the feeling of the Venice canals into your room. Most have panoramic views across different parts of Venice, as the Hilton Molino Stucky is one of the tallest buildings in Venice.
The breakfast here is spectacular, and the array of food on offer is mind-boggling and extensive. There is an unbelievable view from the Skyline bar at the very top of the building, and the hotel’s best restaurant, Aromi Restaurant, is located on the quayside on the water’s edge.
The Hilton executive club lounge is the best club lounge in Venice and is on the ground floor, next to the reception and adjacent to the piano bar. It is separated from the piano bar by floor-to-ceiling glass walls. This lounge is long and thin, with bare brick walls on one side containing big windows looking out to the waterfront and the boats going by. On the other side, against the glass wall, is all the food and drink, with lots of fridges and tables of food.
This lounge is not large, and the array of food is not massive, but there are snacks and drinks throughout the day, and there is more than enough in the morning to fill you up. However, the buffet here is not a patch on the glorious array of breakfast items in the main restaurant.
There is an evening happy hour, and while the spread is not the best of all the club lounges that we feature in this article, the cost of eating out in Venice is high, and there are very few supermarkets, so there are no “cheap eats” in Venice. This means that this club lounge provides huge value, particularly if you are traveling with a family and the kids like to drink and snack throughout the day.
If you book a stay at the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice via our concierge, you will get a bunch of free benefits, including hotel credit and the wonderful breakfast for free.
2. Conrad Bali
Conrad Bali has one of the best executive lounges in Bali and is located on the quieter side of the island of Bali, in the Nusa Dua resort area and away from the madness of trendy Seminyak. Take a taxi from the airport to the Conrad Bali Hotel for around $25 USD for a 20-minute taxi ride.
This hotel is simply stunning, from the grand, dark wood lobby with windows that swing open to the vista beyond to the lagoon pools and the huge variety of rooms, some with their own private pool.
The rooms to pick from are the new Pool Villas, which are considered part of the Conrad Suites Wing, with their own separate entrance and executive club lounge access. The villas are hidden away between the reflections lounge and the executive lounge. Guests staying in these villas will have access to the executive lounge at the Conrad Bali.
These Pool Villas, although not large, are perfectly formed with their own private garden, plunge pool, sun terrace, and outdoor tub. Sliding doors on both sides of your room can be opened up to let the outside in from either the lawns on one side, or you can open up to the private bathtub area on the other. Within the room, you have all the usuals, a double sink, etc., and a large shower area doubling as a private steam room.
The private plunge pool is a highlight in this climate, although bear in mind this is a plunge pool, not an exercise pool, so if you want to exercise, you will need to swim laps in one of the main pools and lagoons. That said, it is magic and sits between the bedroom and your own private lawn in your garden.
The breakfast you get with the Pool Villa or being a Hilton Honours Diamond loyalty member is excellent. It can be taken either at RIN or in Suku. RIN is located by the poolside and is a good option. You get a small buffet section along with an a la carte menu, which includes egg dishes like omelets and eggs benedict and some more unusual options, including steak and breakfast burritos.
The Conrad Suite Club Lounge is located directly above RIN. There is also an exclusive Conrad Suites Pool. The Conrad Suites Lounge at Conrad Bali offers a huge range of drinks and cocktails, all presented beautifully, and the canapés are generous and replaced as soon as you finish them, things like sushi, mini-wraps, grilled fish in sauce. They are not comparable to a full meal, but I am a picker when it comes to food, so I found these mini dishes filled me up. For a big eater, they would not be large enough for a full meal.
3. Conrad Seoul
The Conrad Seoul is a gorgeous luxury hotel located in one of the four towers in the heart of Seoul’s renowned International Finance Centre (IFC) in Yeouido Business District. Conveniently attached to Seoul’s subway system and an upmarket International lifestyle Mall with 9 CGV Theaters, Conrad Seoul is the closest luxury hotel to both International Airports. Conrad Seoul also offers one of the best club lounges in Seoul.
The Seoul subway (which is clearly marked in Korean and English) makes it easy to get around town from the Conrad. You are about 20 mins or so by subway from the business area of Gangnam and about the same distance from Myongdong. Don’t bother taking a taxi, except to and from the airport, as the traffic in Seoul is terrible and you will take double the time to get to where you want to go if you travel by car.
The Conrad Seoul Hotel offers 434 super spacious guest rooms with stunning views, Apple-based in-room technology, excellent restaurants, a luxurious wellness center, and an executive club lounge. This hotel is part of the Hilton group and is the most expensive Hilton in Seoul, both in points and when booking with cash.
From the Conrad, you can admire Seoul’s landscaped parks, such as Yeouido Park, right across the street and offers an access path to a path along the Han River. Yeouido is a leader in environmental and green technology. The Korean Green Building Council has accredited Conrad Seoul for its eco-friendly facilities.
The Executive Lounge is an exclusive luxury retreat on Level 37, which is the highest floor at Conrad Seoul, with unique wraparound views. You get access if you book an executive room with lounge access. All rooms at this hotel are luxurious with decor, in warm earth tones with lots of light brown wood and gorgeous, modern bathrooms with separate deep tubs and a walk-in shower. But the key at this hotel is to choose a room on as high a floor as possible, as the views of the business district and the skyline of Seoul are stunning.
The executive lounge is beautifully designed to exude the feel of a private residence. A cozy fireplace enhances the intimate atmosphere. You can enjoy a vast buffet breakfast, including eggs and other hot dishes at the buffet, snacks, soft drinks, and tea and coffee throughout the day. Lunch and high tea are served Monday to Friday, so you are fed throughout the day during the week (but not during the day at the weekends), and in the evening, there are complimentary cocktails and canapés. It is worth noting that if you are traveling with your family, children under 12 are not allowed in the executive lounge from 4:30 pm onwards.
The biggest problem with the executive lounge at this Conrad is the room’s size. While it has staggering views of the city and the river, undoubtedly some of the best from any club lounge in Seoul, the lounge is large, and many guests have access to it, which means that it can feel impersonal and it can be busy.
The Four Seasons Seoul (and the Park Hyatt Seoul, for that matter) are also better located for the old and central parts of Seoul. But for value alone, the Conrad wins, with considerably cheaper rooms offering a similar level of luxury.
4. Hilton Seoul
If you are specifically looking for a Hilton property in Seoul, your choice is between the Millennium Hilton, Grand Hilton, and the Conrad. The Conrad is a much, much nicer property in a better location. The Grand Hilton is on the outskirts of the city, so not ideal.
The Millennium Hilton is a 10-minute walk from or to Seoul Station (up a hill) and within walking distance to Namdaemun market, where locals hang out into the night. The lounge serves a full breakfast if you have status or book an executive room. The evening food is decent, too, but it can not be compared to the luxury of the Conrad. If you have the budget, Conrad is the Hilton to pick!
5. Conrad London St. James
The executive club lounge at Conrad London St. James is one of the best executive club lounges in London that our team has experienced. The lounge offers a luxurious setting, and the staff really seem to care.
The decor includes wood-cladded walls, and soft furnishings have blue hues with blue sofas, carpets, and backlighting. The lounge is split into a seating and eating area, and there’s a fireplace for the colder months.
Food and beverage on offer includes breakfast, afternoon light bites, and evening canapes & drinks. Drinks include alcohol, beer, wine, and spirits. You can also grab soft drinks throughout the day, including water, coffee, and tea. This is a really lovely lounge, and the food is excellent. Expect food like carrot cake, salmon, potato salad and dumplings.
6. New York Hilton Midtown
New York Hilton Midtown executive club lounge is long and thin and not overly luxurious when compared to the nearby Ritz-Carlton club lounge. It is, however, a decent place to spend time with floor-to-ceiling windows.
This lounge is off the lobby, and if you have access, you can enjoy a continental breakfast, including fresh fruit, bread, pastries, cereal, and yogurt. Tea, coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate, water, and orange juice are available throughout the day. Homemade cookies are offered in the afternoon, hors d’oeuvres are available early evening, and then homemade cookies are served after the hors d’oeuvres.
7. Grand Wailea A Waldorf Astoria
Overlooking the southern shores of Maui, the Grand Wailea A Waldorf Astoria Hotel is a 40-acre property on the edge of the ocean in Hawaii. The Grand Wailea A Waldorf Astoria highlight is the tropical freeform pool, which comes complete with slides and is a dream come true for families.
This hotel is next door to the Four Seasons on the same beach, but usually, the Grand Wailea A Waldorf Astoria comes in somewhat cheaper. We have compared Four Seasons Maui Vs. Waldorf’s Grand Wailea. The rooms at the Waldorf are not as special as the Four Seasons, and the hotel feels less exclusive, but the pool is amazing, as is the club lounge.
The Grand Wailea’s executive club lounge is not the best club lounge in Hawaii. This accolade goes to the Four Seasons Maui and Ritz-Carlton Maui.
The Waldorf lounge is only available to guests paying to stay in the Napua Towers. Usually, Diamond loyalty members do not get a free upgrade to this lounge. Lounge access costs around $175 USD per day.
This is not a brilliant executive club lounge. Continental breakfast is included, but the dishes are all cold except the oatmeal. There is plenty of bread, plus muffins and pastries. For fruit, there is melon, and you can enjoy cold cuts and smoked salmon. The room lacks a Hawaiian atmosphere or any level of stylishness. There are usually lots of kids kitted out for the beach using the lounge, and people come in and load up on free bottled water and then leave.
If you can, have breakfast in the main restaurant, which has an alfresco dining area and waiters bringing you drinks. The main restaurant has a much better breakfast selection. At peak times, around 9:00 am, there are big queues, and there are also a lot of kids running about in this restaurant during the holiday seasons.
Canapes are very limited in this lounge in the evening. Certainly, they are not enough to fill you up as an alternative to eating dinner out. They have lots of beany dishes and sometimes chicken and rice. Nice enough but not brilliant and served in a less than luxury environment. Executive club lounge alcohol is served on the 6th floor in a hallway area close to the children’s play area, so again, it is not ideal.
8. Conrad Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates
The executive club lounge at Conrad Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is classy with cream furnishings and dark wood walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows have incredible views across the Dubai skyline, and the food is spectacular.
At breakfast, there is a good selection of hot and cold items. Later on, there are sandwiches like tuna wraps, chocolate cake, nuts, and whole fruit.
The Waldorf Astoria Dubai Hotel is considered a more luxurious Hilton hotel in Dubai, but it doesn’t have an executive club lounge. We have reviewed the best executive club lounges in Dubai separately.
9. Hilton Sydney
The Sydney Hilton executive lounge is one of the best executive club lounges in Sydney and offers continental breakfast, including a coffee and juice bar, all-day refreshments, afternoon tea, evening drinks, and canapés from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, plus business facilities and complimentary pressing/shoe shine.
This lounge is very stylish, following a $7 million USD upgrade to both guest rooms and the lounge. The restyled lounge by architect Mark Landini seats up to 120 guests in private and communal areas and offers a redesigned boardroom for up to 12 with built-in audiovisual and teleconferencing and two larger communal tables in the main lounge to encourage networking.
10. Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa
Relax and take in the views of Croatia’s Adriatic coast at Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa, where all guest rooms are sea-facing. This resort is perfect for leisure travelers, featuring a private beach, full-service spa, health club, and more.
Guests also have six on-site dining options, including a rooftop restaurant offering authentic Croatian flavors and a striking location overlooking the Adriatic Sea. If you want to explore, Hilton Rijeka Costabella Beach Resort & Spa is between beach destination Opatija and the coastal town of Rijeka, an area renowned for its historic charm.
The executive lounge here is excellent. Breakfast includes an extensive buffet that will fill you up, including sparkling wine. The lounge has a terrace, well, a small balcony with around six tables and chairs so you can enjoy breakfast alfresco.
During the day, you can enjoy complimentary soft drinks and hot beverages in the lounge, along with fresh fruit and granola bars. Happy hour offers a light cold buffet and alcoholic drinks, including wine, beer, and spirits, all available for self-service.
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