Macro Polo Venice Lounge
The Marco Polo Club Lounge at Venice Airport is a decent airport pay-in lounge, with the rare delight of a conservatory, outside balcony, basic wines, lots of pastries and pasta, a small business 'shelf', a TV room and showers.
The lounge has recently been renovated, and is now quite a comfortable place to wait for your flight.
Alas, before the daily Emirates flights leaves, it can be a very busy place.
Venice Macro Polo lounge review
Venice Macro Polo Club lounge is one of the better pay in lounges on the circuit, and is right in the middle of the new, small airport, only a few minutes walk from the gates. It is used by a host of airlines, from BA to Emirates, as their Business Class lounge, and it is also Priority Pass, or pay on the door.
The newly renovated Marco Polo Club has a lot of space. Except in mid summer, or when the Qatar and Emirates flights depart within minutes of each other, you won't struggle to find a seat. In winter in the evenings, you can almost have the lounge to yourself.
To find the lounge, after security, head past the cafe and duty free to the window, where there are escalators to the first floor. There is an entrance right ahead of you for a lounge - but that's the Alitalia lounge. Instead wiggle inland past the cafe, and there is a small sign to the lounge, and then at the end of a long hallway, is a vast sign with all the airlines and lounge access passes and their logos. You can't miss it.
The entrance has three reception podia, and past this you enter the main part of the lounge.
Here, there are a load of alcoves on one side, each with one seat and a power socket (Euro only). On the other is a large rotunda, with seats around the circle. Few people sit here.
Go further into the lounge, and the food counters are on the right, with an island bench, and well guarded wine refrigerator at the far end.
By the windows are lots of reclining seats, and small tables: these are coveted, as it is by far the best place to sit in the lounge.
Further on by the windows is a large square area with lots of sofas: alas, here, many solo passengers like to put all their bags on the six or so seats around the table, and glare furiously if you attempt to come near. There are few solo seats in the lounge.
Never mind, further around is another rotunda that is always empty, and then a 'shelf' which is the business centre, with a TV room at the far end near the bathrooms and showers.
Finally, at the far end is the large conservatory area, with palm trees and a sort of inside / outside vibe.
If you really want to go outside, here there is also a balcony so you can head out and enjoy the view and the heady smell of Jet A1.
The lounge comfortably seats about 200 people, and it is vastly better after the renovations
Food
The food in the lounge is vastly better than you might expect - and indeed better than the very limited bar.In the heated cabinet are several pasta dishes, with lasagne and meatballs a favourite.
But it is the sandwiches most people remember the lounge for. There are dozens of them to try, with ham, cheese, egg, and lots of other variants.
Also n the fridge cabinet are plenty of deserts too.
On the island bench is a good salad bar, with lots of fresh greenery, tomatoes, sweetcorn, and plenty of dips.
Bar
Drinks, including beer and wine,are also complimentary as you would expect. What you may not expect is that they have to be served and brought to you, even though there is a fridge right by the food area. If you serve yourself, you'll be pounced on and told that all drinks must be served by the staff.all alcohol is kept in the large upright fridge. There are two white wines, and a sparkling Italian wine. And that's it. Just one bottle of red completes the wine selection.
Beer is Peroni, and it is carefully counted out by the staff. Indeed, it seems odd to make a member of the wait staff wait by the fridge, but not provide a proper staffed bar. Spirits are basic: if you ask the waitress she will pour you a basic measure, but you're limited to asking for gin, or whisky, or vodka - not a named brand.
There is also barista-made coffee, and the macchiato and cappuccino are very good. Remember that Cappuccinos, caffé lattes and any other milk-based coffee beverages are considered breakfast in Italy. After 11am, Italians tend towards an espresso. The staff look blankly if you ask for flat white.
Business Facilities
Not so good in the Venice Macro Polo Lounge. There is one shelf at the back of the lounge that has ipads on stands, with a few apps, and that's it.
Magazines are kept beneath the coffee tables in the middle of the lounge.
Free wifi.
Bathrooms
In lounge, and acceptable.There are good showers - but there can be quite a queue on a hot sticky Venetian afternoon.
Venice marco polo lounge access
Anyone can use the Marco Polo Venice lounge by paying 40EUR on the door.It is also a Priority Pass Lounge, plus with access for American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve card.
Business Class passengers get free access, so the Marco Polo Club also becomes the Emirates Venice Lounge, and the British Airways Venice Lounge.
Video: Macro Polo Lounge
Good pastries