This is something unique and perhaps the first credit card lounge out of an airport that I have reviewed and visited. UOB runs a lounge for their premium customers right in the heart of Bangkok. The Infinite Lounge at EmQuartier in the Phrom Phong neighbourhood offers eligible cardmembers and guests a cosy oasis of space to rest their legs. You can also enjoy some drinks and snacks. The central location meant that the lounge can be a rather handy place to have when you are in the area or doing some shopping at the EmQuartier and Emporium! It even works if you are staying at the Hilton or DoubleTree nearby. I was shocked to learn that UOB has such a facility in a Bangkok shopping mall. We don’t even have something like this in Singapore, home of UOB!

Access Requirements

I am not too sure about this as I could not find much information about it. It did state on the UOB Thailand Infinite website that the UOB Infinite Private Lounge is a uniquely designed club, providing an exclusive and discreet haven in which members can enjoy the prestigious pleasures of refreshments.

  • Exclusive unlimited access to UOB Infinite Private Lounge for you and 1 guest
  • Complimentary refreshment 1 set per person per card per day (Maximum 2 sets per card per day)
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Complimentary 1 time per day per card, 2-hour use per visit
  • Operating hours: 11.00 – 20.00

While it did not state that overseas-issued cards are allowed access, I presume it follows an AMEX Centurion kind of rule where equivalent-level cards are accepted. I entered with a Singapore UOB Reserve Card and the staff swiped to verify before welcoming me in. The UOB Thailand Infinite Card requires an annual fee of THB 36,500 (exclusive of VAT) and it comes with 4 complementary supplementary cards. That is about 1400 SGD. If anyone is keen, you can find an old copy of the UOB Thailand Infinite Card benefits here. The card is marketed towards UOB Thailand Privilege Reserve Customers with an AUM of 50 million THB (~2 million SGD)

Arrival & Location

The lounge is located at EmQuartier M Floor. It is easily accessible via the BTS and directly linked. EmQuartier is a luxury shopping mall with many well-known names. Upon arrival, I was warmly welcomed by the hosts. All you have to do is to pass them your card and sign on the form. You are allowed to bring one guest each. At the entrance during the registration process, the staff will also pass you a menu and you can choose your snack and drink. You are limited to one each.

UOB Infinite Lounge EmQuartier

The lounge kind of sits in the middle of the mall and you are kind of exposed to the entire mall. There isn’t much seating and it is quite a small space. The lounge can probably fit 18 pax at once if you include the super uncomfortable high-top seating in the middle. The lounge doesn’t get full usually. During one of my visits on the weekend, it was full for a moment. Here are some pictures of the lounge.

Kudos to the premium customer team over in Thailand. I wish we can have something like this or better in Singapore. From what I have seen, they have much better privileges over there as well. Perhaps having such lounges in Ion? Paragon? MBS?

Food & Drinks

It is good and bad in this aspect, depending on how you look at things. After taking a seat, the staff will come over and offer you a bottle of water. You can also help yourself to them from the fridge. As mentioned earlier, during the registration process, the staff will also pass you a menu and you can choose your snack and drink. You are limited to one each. You can find the menu here. I love the idea that the food and drinks are from a nearby cafe, Patio that they collaborate from. The menu is pretty extensive on the drinks side. Food wise you only have three options.

Every guest can choose 1 drink and 1 food item. I have tried most of the items over a couple of my visits here. The coffee drinks are very good and I love how they will cling-wrap the items when bringing them over from the cafe. Food items are delicious although they are more like a tapas portion. I do feel they can afford to serve a bigger portion or have more options since they are just ordering it from the cafe. For your most exclusive customers, that shouldn’t be tough!

Conclusion

I wish that there are more places like this around the world and in Singapore. This comes in so handy! Remember the times that you are just standing outside waiting for your parents, your partner or even your kids to shop and blindly using your phone? A facility like this will come in so handy. I was shocked to learn that UOB has such a facility in a Bangkok shopping mall. We don’t even have something like this in Singapore, the home of UOB! The EmQuartier & Emporium shopping complex might have a huge collaboration with UOB. There are UOB signs all around and the UOB Thailand HQ is just nearby. In Bangkok alone, I would love to see these lounges pop up in places like Siam Paragon and Icom Siam. It will make it super useful for both locals and tourists. A refreshing and unique lounge that I have visited. I am still unsure about the full access requirements! Can we have something like this in Singapore??? Hello UOB!