Review: Malevich Business Class Lounge Moscow (SVO): Very Good But...
- Konrad Tillman
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
Intro
Prior to my business class flight on board Etihad to Abu Dhabi, I had the opportunity to check out the nicest lounge at Moscow Sheremetyevo: The Malevich Business Class Lounge.
While I am usually someone who enjoys a la carte dining and fine champagne, without all of that, this still remains one of the best business class lounges I have been in recent memory. Somehow, they have it all. From a games room to an incredible smoking room, to a beautiful wrap-around design, this is a more than acceptable lounge.
Location+Access
Finding the Malevich Lounge is perhaps one of the easiest tasks when running around SVO airport. Simply head through passport control, to the back of Terminal C, and there will be an escalator with a big sign saying "Malevich Lounge". If you somehow get lost going straight 😅, it's by gates 140-146.
Now, there are a couple of different lounges inside Terminal C, one being the Alfa, another being the Mastercard, another being the Chagall, and the final one being the nicest, the Malevich Lounge.
Why? Well, only those ticketed into business class onto Aeroflot and certain carriers such as Qatar, Gulf Air. AirSerbia and Etihad, to name a few, have access to this lounge. I imagine that elites on Aeroflot also gain access, but I cannot guarantee SU or other carriers.
Seating
Stepping into this lounge, for the first time in a long time, I saw something new in a business class lounge. It's weirdly kind of cool how this lounge is laid out, as it is an entire wraparound circle. It's as if once you go up the escalator, you are in your own terminal. Whether it be the two bars, the food station, and random rooms that make no sense on paper, it all comes together to be quite a nice lounge.
Can you name me another lounge where it's a whole circle? I can't think of one...
The lounge in itself is modern, with power ports available at over 50% of seats, and televisions scattered across. It wasn't busy in this early hour, but I imagine with the evening departures to China and SE Asia, things would start to fill up.
Perhaps the best part of the lounge has to be the ramp views. My gosh, just seeing the Aeroflot fleet parked up is a sight to behold; there is nothing quite like it. And due to the way SVO is laid out, you can planewatch from about 75% of the lounge.
Food+Drink
Here is the aspect where the Malevich Lounge had the potential to be the best business class lounge in the world. However, they sort of dropped the ball here in comparison to the amenities they offer (more on that later). To start off, when you walk in, there is a large buffet selection and drinks selection (with spakling wine, red wine, white wine, and basic liquors) all free of charge.
Seeing as I was out of rubles at this point (I spent the last thousand on a gift for my sister), I settled on some homemade ham and cheese sandwiches with the cold cuts.
Now here is where things get really interesting, since as I walked around, I noticed a few bars. Well, premium cocktails, as well as a la carte dining, are available, but at a premium. You'll pay about 12 USD for a cocktail, and the food prices can vary...
I'm not a fan of this concept, as it's similar to what the DL1 lounge does in the US, as well as the lounge in Krasnojarsk, but I get it.
Still, the Malevich Lounge drops the ball here as if this was all complimentary, it might be the best business class lounge outside of the Middle East and the US (lounge game in the US is strong these days)
Amenities
Finally, for the amenities part, as this is where the lounge really comes to life. I'll list what they have, and follow it up with a few pictures for those who are visual learners. The lounge features:
Caviar that you can buy
A souvenir shop
A kids' playroom with plenty of activities and games (even 2 air hockey machines)
A smoking room with up-to-date furniture
Nap rooms (appointment-based)
State-of-the-art lavatories
Shower rooms
Incredible apron views
Honestly, that's pretty incredible for a lounge in Europe. Perhaps the best in Europe? Maybe...
Final Thoughts
If you happen to be flying business class out of Moscow (SVO) anytime soon, I would highly recommend arriving 3 hours before your flight to enjoy the lounge. Why 3 hours? Immigration takes an hour, so you really only get 75 minutes in the Malevich Lounge, which isn't enough time. With incredible views, state-of-the-art amenities, and even nap rooms for layovers, the only issue comes with having to pay for cocktails and upgraded food. If the Malevich Lounge fixed that, it might compete with many carriers' lounges in Asia...
Still, probably the best business class lounge in Europe...
Russia Series
