During my ongoing review journey, I encountered a lengthy layover at Delhi Airport (DEL). In a prior entry, I discussed my impressions of the remarkable Air India First Lounge.
While at the airport, I realized I had to finally experience the Encalm Xenia Lounge, which launched in late 2025. I had received numerous positive remarks about it and was eager to see it for myself, despite having to cover the access fee myself. I must admit, I was thoroughly amazed by the standard of this lounge, and it could very well be the most exquisite airport lounge I’ve visited that isn’t managed by an airline. Although access isn’t inexpensive, I felt it was well justified.
Why I spent $125 to enter the Encalm Xenia Lounge
Encalm manages multiple lounges at Delhi Airport, including the Encalm Prive Lounge and the Encalm Xenia Lounge. The former is designated as a business class lounge, while the latter serves as a first class lounge, and neither lounge is part of the Priority Pass network.
Numerous airlines partner with these lounges, so if you’re traveling first class with British Airways, Emirates, Lufthansa, SWISS, etc., you can gain entry to the Encalm Xenia Lounge.
You can also purchase access outright, at a price of 12,000 INR (~125 USD) for a two-hour visit. Conversely, if you have entry to the Encalm Prive Lounge, you can upgrade to the Encalm Xenia Lounge for 7,000 INR (~73 USD) for two hours. Since I was flying Air India, I wasn’t eligible for access to this lounge, so I just paid directly. Naturally, that’s a steep price, but I was eager to give it a try.
Clearly, that’s quite a sum to invest in lounge access, especially in a country like India (where the average purchasing power of the local market is lower than in the United States, making it particularly pricey, relatively speaking). However, in absolute terms, a day pass to an American Admirals Club would set you back $79, thus making this only about 50% more expensive, albeit with more time constraints.
Regardless, I must say, this was a worthwhile investment, and I found the lounge to be absolutely marvelous. A comprehensive review will follow shortly, but let’s begin with some preliminary reflections.
The Encalm Xenia Lounge is a contender among the finest!
I enjoyed two delightful hours at the Encalm Xenia Lounge. I was the sole visitor during my entire stay, and there were at least six staff members dedicated to my service. My goodness, talk about excessively attentive service. I can only imagine the experience would be vastly different and not nearly as enjoyable during late-night or early morning hours, when it’s “rush hour.”
The lounge mainly comprises one extensive rectangular space.
There’s a bar section, several more conventional seating arrangements, and semi-private alcoves, each featuring its own reclining seat, chair with table, etc. I couldn’t help but find it amusing that the staff highlighted how each small area has its own “private” coffee station. If I have six people catering to me, I’m perfectly fine with them making the coffee! 😉
The service here is remarkably exceptional. There’s an extensive array of a la carte dining and drink options. I began with a glass of Moet, and the entire bottle was simply presented, sitting on ice.
I then opted for another cocktail, which was outstanding.
And how delightful is this tea trolley presentation?
The food is also fantastic, featuring a variety of small and large dishes, allowing for a mix-and-match experience (I’ll certainly provide the complete menu and drink selection in the review).
The lounge also provides complimentary massages.
Additionally, there’s even a private bedroom available for guests, which resembles a hotel room more than a place for a nap. However, between all the drinks I enjoyed, the fantastic meal, and the spa service, I couldn’t quite find the opportunity to fit in a nap. 😉
The lounge also offers free golf carts to the gate, though I didn’t require that, as I was merely returning to the Air India Maharaja Lounge. Besides, I wanted to rack up some steps to help offset the food and drinks!
This is a remarkable lounge, and while I recognize I spent a significant amount on access, it stands out as one of the best value lounge experiences I’ve had, in terms of genuinely delivering quality. I also suspect this may be the finest airport lounge I’ve visited that isn’t operated by an airline.
Bottom line
I had heard stellar feedback about the Encalm Xenia Lounge in Delhi, and finally had the opportunity to experience it… it certainly met the expectations! It’s incredibly rare to find a non