The Executive Lounge at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, located before security, is the principal premium lounge in the international terminal. Operated by the Radisson Hotel Kathmandu, the lounge has served the airport since 2009. It is one of only a few lounges available at Nepal’s main international gateway, where facilities remain limited despite growing passenger traffic.

Lounge Access Requirements

Access to the Executive Lounge is available to international Business Class passengers and elite frequent flyers on the vast majority of airlines flying from Kathmandu. During my visit, this included airlines such as Air China, Air India, Biman Bangladesh, China Eastern, China Southern, Drukair, FlyDubai, Himalaya Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Airways, and Turkish Airlines.

Furthermore, members of programs like Priority Pass, LoungeKey, and DragonPass are also welcome. Travellers without lounge credentials can also enter by paying a fee of about USD 30.

Location

The Radisson Executive Lounge is located landside on the second floor in the international terminal, before the second security checkpoint. After clearing immigration, turn right, where you’ll find signage for the Executive Lounge and Airport Restaurant on the right-hand side. Follow those signs down a corridor, where you’ll see the entrance to the Radisson Executive Lounge and the Soaltee Horizon Lounge.

After going past the entrance, keep following the signage and head up the staircase to the third floor. At the landing, turn right, where you’ll find the reception for the Radisson Executive Lounge.

Radisson Executive Lounge

The Radisson Executive Lounge is separated into two areas – a premium lounge section on the right and an airport restaurant on the left. While the restaurant area is open to the general public, it isn’t available to lounge guests on a complimentary basis. Anyways, I was greeted by the lounge agent at the entrance, who motioned me to enter after providing my boarding pass and lounge invitation. On this occasion, I was granted access as I was flying Business Class on SriLankan Airlines.

Behind the reception desk is a small cloak and storage area, featuring an impressive display of model aeroplanes of airlines that use the Radisson Lounge. This includes a prominent display of a large scale model of a Qatar Airways Boeing 777-300ER

Notably, the Radisson Executive Lounge is also the contract lounge for Nepal Airlines’ Business Class passengers; this perhaps explains the wide availability of the airline’s inflight magazine at the literature rack near the reception, as well as throughout the lounge.

Main Lounge

From the entrance, the room opens straight to the lounge’s main seating area. It is a large, carpeted space filled with rows of velvet sofas in mismatched tones – from maroon to beige and camel brown – set against a backdrop of bold blue and yellow fabric wall panels. The overall colour scheme feels jarring and visually disjointed. In particular, the mirrored pillars, wood accents, and decorative clocks evoke a look that is stuck in the early 2000s. Far from refined, the design presents a sort of accidental maximalism that I found more overwhelming than relaxing.

Seating is dense, with the sofas arranged in tightly packed clusters that allow for limited privacy between travellers. While the velvet sofas were soft and well-padded, the close proximity became noticeably awkward during busier hours. Furthermore, although the potted plants in between attempt to soften the ambiance, it does little to mask the cluttered arrangement.

One of the more functional drawbacks of the lounge is the notably near-complete absence of power outlets. This, for one, makes it very inconvenient for those hoping to charge devices while they wait. However, for those craving a break from screen time, the eclectic interiors might just be the digital detox you didn’t know you needed. 😉

Nap Area

Behind the reception desk and the storage area is the lounge’s dedicated nap area. Dubbed as the ‘Forty Winks Lounge’, the room is a cosy, semi-private area furnished with large leather reclining chairs. While far from private, these seats are spaced apart enough to be comfortable. Notably, pillows and blankets are also available on request from the reception desk for extra comfort.

While I can’t imagine Tribhuvan International gets a lot of transiting traffic, the addition of a nap room is always a welcome sight at any lounge. In addition to the recliner chairs, there are also additional lounge sofas located along the corridor that opens to the recliner area. Curiously, these sofas are in a much darker area of the nap room, which seems counterintuitive to me. Make what you will of that.

Dining

Next to the main seating area is a narrow corridor, where you’ll find the lounge’s buffet spread and bar area. The dining corridor has a modest selection of hot food displayed on bain-maries on one side, and a refrigerated display of sandwiches and desserts on the other. In the background is also a basic bar setup, with a bottled water station completing the food and beverage offering.

Food

The cold food selection includes a range of salads, sliced fruit, assorted cakes, sandwiches, and a basic cheese platter, though some of the baked items tasted noticeably stale. The hot buffet offers a better impression in terms of freshness and includes a mix of typical Nepali and Western dishes – such as rice, curries, and pasta – alongside the occasional surprise, like Cantonese-style fried fish. While the variety certainly appeals to international palates, the overall flavour and ingredient quality were modest at best. While the selection doesn’t instil much confidence in the Radisson Hotel, the food is serviceable. For what it’s worth, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Drinks

In addition to the food spread, the lounge provides a well-rounded drink selection. There is both a tea and coffee station for self-service, as well as a staffed bar offering a good range of various spirits and liqueurs, which are neatly displayed behind the counter. Surprisingly, fruit juices and milk are noticeably absent from view; however, I imagine that they are likely available upon request.

Furthermore, the beer lineup – which includes Gorkha Strong, Heineken, San Miguel, and Tuborg – is particularly impressive (the Gorkha Strong I’d recommend in particular). Overall, I’d say that the drinks are one of the lounge’s stronger points, featuring a nice variety and quality, especially compared to the mediocre food options.

Toilet

The toilets are located in the same narrow corridor as the food and beverage area and are segregated by gender. Inside, you’ll find a clean but basic facility, which notably stands out compared to the restrooms in the main terminal. In addition to the shoe polishing machine, bottled water is curiously provided by the sink for gargling.

Much like the lounge, the facility looks outdated and modestly maintained, though thankfully, clean and dry. The men’s room, in particular, features two urinals and a single toilet stall. Curiously, the latter lacks a handheld bidet, which is usually very common in the region.

There is also a solitary shower room at the rear of the toilet, which requires a USD 10 upcharge. As I didn’t fancy paying more just to see what I imagine is a shoddy facility, I wasn’t able to get a picture of the shower.

Sitting Lounge

At the rear of the lounge lies a secondary sitting room, with an aesthetic that mirrors that of the main area – both in terms of layout and design. Identical maroon and beige sofas and armchairs dominate the space, similarly arranged tightly around the basic, glass-topped coffee tables. It is definitely comfortable enough – if not particularly inspired. 😛

Furthermore, along the far wall, several framed Nepali artworks and statuettes add a modest sense of place, offering a tinge of cultural accent to the otherwise chaotic feel of the space. With the wall clocks notably absent here (unlike in the main section), the decorative touches are easier to notice – and perhaps even appreciate(!) There is also a television displaying a departure board on the opposite side of the room, which is certainly convenient to keep track of your flight while tracking down the elusive power outlet.

For one, the wall-mounted televisions playing international sports channels inject some casual energy into the otherwise stiff ambiance. Again, the overall atmosphere feels very eccentric, shaped by a cluttered mix of clashing colours, seating, and decor that frankly feel like they were chosen across different decades. While the intention may be comfort, the result definitely leans toward visual overload rather than cohesive design. A low office-style drop ceiling and stark overhead lighting do little to tie things together, giving the space a vibe that’s difficult to describe – perhaps somewhere between waiting room, hotel lobby, and afterthought? 🙁

In addition, I’ll also add that there are also two ancillary rooms tucked along the interior side of the space: one designated for quiet rest, while the other, for smoking.

Quiet Room

Shielded behind a glass wall, the quiet room feels like an entirely different world from the chaotic main lounge. The plush-looking cream recliners and deeper colour palette give the space a calmer… and dare I say, VIP-lounge aura? With its striped carpet, soft lighting, and thoughtfully spaced tables, it’s one of the few spots in the lounge that actually feels relaxing. If the rest of the lounge is caught somewhere between transit and conference room, this corner at least offers an inviting haven.

Smoker’s Room

Next to the quiet room is an indoor smoking room. It is a small, enclosed space with glass walls, nicely positioned near the rear of the lounge to minimise smoke dispersal. Inside are four basic sofas and coffee tables with multiple ashtrays. The space has a utilitarian setup, and much like the rest of the lounge, nothing too special.

WiFi

While the Executive Lounge offers complimentary password-protected Wi‑Fi, its reliability was quite inconsistent. For one, the network’s signal was rather spotty at certain corners of the lounge during my visit. In any case, it was useful enough for basic browsing needs and whatnot.

Overall

The Radisson Executive Lounge is a notable upgrade over the main terminal at Tribhuvan International Airport, though that isn’t saying much. By comparison, the lounge falls short when compared to international lounge standards, or even the neighbouring Soaltee Horizon Lounge. For one, the furnishings and overall space feel dated and worn, and the food selection was underwhelming during my visit. Still, the staff are welcoming and friendly, which is a nice contrast to an otherwise lacklustre experience. While I was grateful to have access, I wouldn’t deliberately allot extra time to visit this lounge in the future.

Read more from this trip here!