The best on-board first class airplane bars | Gentleman's Journal | Gentleman's Journal (2024)

There are those who think the golden age of air travel is over. Lobster and roast beef used to be served on flights of the fifties, alcohol was free and people used to get dressed up to fly. Today, people view the flight as the part of a break or holiday you have to do, but not necessarily enjoy.

But, for a little more, upgrading to first class can elongate your enjoyment and bring luxury to 40,000 feet. And, if you fly with the high-end airlines, this means taking a bar into the sky – complete with lounge, co*cktail menu and room to socialise. Here are five of the best bars to be found above the clouds…

Beginning with the best, Emirates’ modern A380 Onboard Lounges are sleekly designed and entirely exclusive. With a clean ivory palette, and bronze and wood grain accents, you are invited to meet other jet-setters in an ambient setting. Emirates tops our list because the open areas for mingling are directly juxtaposed with relaxing areas with LED mood lighting.

co*cktails and nibbles abound, and major live events or news can be caught up on via the 55-inch LCD TV screen – a feature that makes this feel as much a social area as it does a place to work. Unique brand touches, too – such as contemporary decor and the UAE’s national Ghaf tree embellishing the walls – make you feel like you’ve landed in the Emirates before you’ve even touched down.

You may not have flown – or even heard of Korean Air before, but you’ve been missing out. The asian airline’s A380 ‘Celestial Bar’ is a minimalist and highly convenient relaxation space for first and prestige class passengers – and looks less like an airplane than a swanky hotel bar.

Chicly designed, and exquisitely well-lit, this impressive sky lounge gives you views of the ground passing miles below and the perfect serene atmosphere to enjoy your flight – and cool, crisp vodka. The box chairs may not look the most comfortable, but a couple of the specially-crafted co*cktails later and you’ll feel like your sitting on clouds. Which, to an extent, you are.

The only international airline with bars on all of its planes – priorities, gents – Virgin Atlantic’s pink-hued bars are iconic, striking and oddly timeless. The airline serves crisp, clean drinks such as mojitos on board, taking into account the effects altitude has on alcohol, and small bites if you’re feeling peckish.

The design is incredibly in-keeping with the brand aesthetic – stylish stools and an underlit bar give the area an almost nightclub-vibe – so you can party away the night on your flight.

Etihad are unique among airlines, as they offer a social space called The Lobby – not necessarily a bar, but an area where passengers can congregate and socialist between the first and business class cabins. Said to be inspired by the Arabian concept of ‘Majlis’, a room where guests are met and entertained, the bar takes a backseat.

Instead, semi-circular leather sofas sit around a marquetry table in the middle, and the dappled lighting of first class is carried through for a touch of added elegance. Wide armrests double as a place to store drinks and snacks, charging points are installed throughout and a television screen can play entertainment or sports games as you enjoy a glass or two of champagne.

The largest airplane bar out there – or should that be up there? – Qatar’s bar is well-known for having the best food you can buy during a flight. Smoked salmon, mini deserts – it’s like being in a co*cktail bar in the sky. And, with curved couches and a sweeping wooden bar, it’s even got the decor to match.

The branding, too, is subtle enough that you could be in a bar anywhere in the world. It may lack the traditional decor of the Emirates bar, or the pared-down sleekness of Korea’s offering, but Qatar is still a strong choice if you’re looking for a sky high tipple or two.