Lounge Review: The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista) - Phuket International Airport (HKT)

Phuket remains one of the easiest beach escapes from Singapore, but the departure experience at Phuket International Airport (HKT) has rarely been the highlight of the trip. When I last reviewed The Coral First Class Lounge back in 2017, the lounge options in the International Terminal were functional at best. The Coral group has since opened a brand new lounge, The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista), which opened on 7 August 2026 and is quite possibly the nicest space you can access in the terminal today. Contrary to what is stated on the Priority Pass app, the lounge is actually not located on the 3rd floor (departure level) of the International Terminal after immigration and security. It is located on the same floor and near to Gate 10 and 11 - it currently operates from 06:00 to midnight daily. I gained access using my Priority Pass membership. Many Singapore-issued credit cards come bundled with Priority Pass, so check the latest credit card sign-up offers if you do not already have one. According to the Priority Pass listing, stays are capped at 3 hours, there is no dress code, and members are entitled to a complimentary 15-minute shoulder massage (subject to availability).

Click HERE for the best credit card sign-up offers in Singapore!

Main Seating Area
The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista) - Phuket International Airport (HKT)

The first thing that struck me was how far removed the design is from the dated, dimly lit contract lounges I have come to expect in Thailand. The Vista leans into a breezy, coastal aesthetic: pale grey pillars, arched alcoves with brass picture lights, beach-themed artwork and a vintage-style illustrated map of Bangkok. Floor-to-ceiling windows are dressed in woven bamboo blinds with warm backlighting, which keeps the space bright without the harsh afternoon glare. Seating is varied and sensibly zoned. The central area is filled with round wooden dining tables paired with curved cream armchairs, which are at the correct height for actually eating a meal. Along the windows, a long leather banquette with yellow scatter cushions offers a more relaxed setting for couples or small groups.

Communal High Table
The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista) - Phuket International Airport (HKT)

For those who need to get some work done, a long communal high table sits under two rows of pendant lights, with pop-up power outlets along its length. Wi-Fi details are displayed on table cards throughout the lounge (network: Vista Lounge; password: ilovecoral), and flight information screens are placed in several corners so you can keep an eye on your departure gate. This is also where you can easily charge your devices as international power outlets are readily available here - there are some other power outlets scattered around the lounge but you will need to bring your own travel adapter if you have an international plug.

Main Seating Area
The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista) - Phuket International Airport (HKT)

As I was flying back to Singapore via SQ735 which was scheduled to depart at 6:00PM, I arrived at the lounge at approximately 4:15PM and I noticed that it started to get busy from 5:00PM. Given that Phuket sees waves of departures to Singapore, Hong Kong and the Middle East in the late afternoon and evening, I would expect it to fill up quickly at peak times.

The Vista is also the designated lounge for Cathay Pacific in Phuket. At the back of the lounge, a small area is cordoned off with velvet ropes and brass stanchions, reserved for Cathay Pacific Business Class passengers as well as oneworld Emerald and oneworld Sapphire members. The section features bold tub chairs, side tables and arched windows that let in more natural light than the main lounge. From what I could see, it is a quieter seating zone rather than a separate lounge, and the food and beverage offering appeared to be the same as the main area. Since I was traveling on Singapore Airlines, I did not bother trying to gain access to this area.

Buffet Section
The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista) - Phuket International Airport (HKT)

All the food served at the Vista is halal, which makes it a comfortable choice for Muslim travellers flying home from Phuket. The buffet counter is dressed with towering floral arrangements and sculptural vases, and every dish is clearly labelled in English and Thai. A food allergy notice is also displayed, advising that dishes may contain or have come into contact with peanuts, tree nuts, soybeans, milk, eggs, wheat, shellfish or fish.

Buffet Section
The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista) - Phuket International Airport (HKT)

Hot dishes are kept in a row of cast-iron pots on induction warmers, alongside steamed rice and a creamy potato soup. The cold section includes a tuna niçoise salad with a choice of Thousand Island, Japanese sesame soy and Caesar dressings, green and black olives, and a small selection of maki rolls with shoyu and wasabi.

The bakery corner offers canapé tartlets, cheese sandwiches, banana cake and trays of blueberry and cherry muffins. A glass-fronted chiller holds yoghurt pots, cupcakes, butter, traditional Thai desserts such as thong yod (golden egg yolk drops), cut fruit (watermelon and dragon fruit) and jugs of chilled juices, including mango juice.

Simple but Delicious Food
The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista) - Phuket International Airport (HKT)

I kept my plate simple with a delicious beef massaman curry, stir-fried black fungus and mushrooms, and seafood fried rice. Even though they looked pretty ordinary, the flavours were actually great. While the spread is not extensive, it is a clear step up from the processed carbohydrates I have encountered at other contract lounges in the region.

Complimentary Drinks and Alcohol
The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista) - Phuket International Airport (HKT)

While the food is halal, the Vista still has a fully staffed bar, and the drinks are complimentary for Priority Pass members. This is a massive perk compared to the Coral Executive Lounge on the 4th floor, where the Priority Pass listing limits complimentary alcohol to beer only.

The menu is surprisingly comprehensive for a contract lounge:

• Coral's Signature cocktails: Pink Coral, Blue Coral, White Coral, Orange Sunshine and a Siam Mojito made with Sang Som rum

• Classic cocktails: Gin and Tonic, Screwdriver, Mojito, Bloody Mary and Dry Martini

• Spirits: Sang Som, Mekhong, Uncle Tom, Smirnoff, Gordon's and Jameson

• Wine and beer: red, white and sparkling wine, plus Chang and Federbräu beer

• Mocktails: around ten options, including a Virgin Mojito, Mango Fizz and Pineapple Punch

• Soft drinks: Coke, Coke Zero, Orange and Sprite

Restroom
The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista) - Phuket International Airport (HKT)

The Vista has its own restrooms, so there is no need to leave the lounge and queue with the crowds in the terminal. However, there is only one male and one female toilet, so you may have to wait your turn when the lounge gets busy. The male restroom is a single room with a toilet, a urinal and a sink (that is awfully close to the urinal). There are no shower facilities in the lounge, which is worth noting if you are hoping to freshen up after a final afternoon at the beach after checking-out of the hotel.

The Coral Finest Business Class Lounge (Vista) is a welcome upgrade for anyone departing from Phuket's International Terminal. The design is bright and thoughtfully zoned, the halal buffet is well presented and properly labelled, and a complimentary bar with cocktails, wine and spirits is a rarity for a Priority Pass lounge in Southeast Asia. The main caveats are the 3-hour stay limit (even though this would probably not affect most of us) and the likelihood of crowds during the evening departure peak. Still, if you have Priority Pass through your credit card, this is the lounge I would head to first before my flight back to Singapore. oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members flying Cathay Pacific also get the bonus of a quieter cordoned-off section at the back.