If there’s one consolation prize for an alarm that wakes you up before 2 AM, it’s the promise of a cold beer or a glass of bubbly in the airport lounge. As Matt and I trudged through the early morning motions of packing our belongings and tidying up our apartment, we bemoaned our earlier penny-pinching selves who booked this flight in the wee hours. Minutes later, we were in the backseat of a white Chevy Cobalt, waving goodbye to the city of Tashkent and anticipating our visit to the brand-new airport lounge. The Anjir Business Lounge just recently opened its doors in February 2025, and we were excited to check it out.
Hours and Location
The Anjir Business Lounge is open 24 hours daily. It is located beyond security in the international terminal. The lounge is on the second floor, near gates B5 – B11.
Who Has Access to this Lounge?
The Anjir Business Lounge in the Tashkent airport is accessible to multiple passengers. Those who are flying in business class on Turkish Airlines and Air Astana will be granted access. Additionally, the lounge is available to those with a Priority Pass membership, LoungeKey, Dragon Pass, Every Lounge, and several airline loyalty programs.
Seating Options
There are two levels to the Anjir Business Lounge in Tashkent. The upper level of the lounge seems to be reserved for those with a business class ticket, while the lower level is utilized by those entering the lounge through their Priority Pass and other valid memberships. During our visit, we happened to be flying business on a Turkish Airlines flight, so we were greeted at check-in with a pass allowing us to enter the upper level.
While the lounge itself is on the small side, the available seats are plentiful and comfortable. There’s a mix of small couches and chairs, each with accompanying tables and outlets for charging devices. There are even a couple of modern ball chairs to relax in while you wait.
During our visit, we spent the majority of the time enjoying the upper area of the lounge to ourselves. Eventually, a few other passengers joined us, but there was still more than enough room to accommodate everyone. Assuming this is the usual traffic for an early morning flight, the solitude might be the most enjoyable perk of the airport lounge in Tashkent. On the lower level, the seating began filling up before we left, but it wasn’t overly crowded.
If you’re a smoker with access to the upper level of this lounge, you’re in luck. It features a smoking area with seating behind a glass partition.
The bathrooms and locker storage are located on the lower level only.
Food and Beverages Offered at the Tashkent Airport Lounge
To Eat
Let’s just say it was a good thing we weren’t very hungry. The food options were a bit lacklustre, and if we’d been hoping for one more plate of plov before leaving Uzbekistan, we would have been sorely disappointed. While it technically was available, most of the hot food items looked like they were leftovers from the night before. Despite being the only passengers in the lounge, the food looked picked through and was not very fresh. Except for the fruit bowl, which consisted of one lonely apple and two pieces of citrus.
There was a scattering of mini somsas and crustless chicken sandwiches that failed to entice us. After a bout of food poisoning a few weeks prior, we didn’t dare risk it.
Additionally, there was a case of cold food items, containing a variety of cheese, cured meats, vegetables, and olives.
According to the display signs, there was a selection of cookies and honey cake for dessert. However, I never actually saw a piece of the cake until we were leaving through the lower level. What that level lacks in privacy, it makes up for in sweets. When I saw the cake, it reminded me very much of the medok we swooned over in Tbilisi.
To Drink
So much for the idea of a glass of bubbly. Perhaps it was just the bad timing of the early morning departure, but the only available sparkling beverage had lost its sparkle and shine. I reached for the bottle to pour myself a glass and realized that it had gone completely flat. All the efervescense had left the party with the passengers who had been there the night before. Oh well…
Instead, I took the opportunity to hydrate with water and with one of the several juices available for free pouring. I couldn’t very well leave Tashkent without one more helping of pomegranate, even if it did come from a carton and not a sweet man with pink-tinged hands in the market.
Matt, on the other, was able to snag a can of Tuborg – one of several varieties on offer. Also on the “bar cart” was some sweet local wine and a couple bottles of liquor.
For those in need of a caffeine hit, a coffee machine is available, along with a selection of teas.
Final Thoughts on the Tashkent Airport Anjir Business Lounge
Without much information available on the new lounge, our expectations weren’t necessarily high, but we were hopeful. Unfortunately, this lounge left much to be desired – at least during the time of our visit. When we arrived, almost all of the tables were covered in dirty dishware and half-full glasses of wine, suggesting the night before had been more eventful. But as always, we are thankful for the ability to tuck into somewhere mostly quiet, charge our phones, and not empty our wallets to have a pre-departure drink. In that regard, this lounge ticked all the boxes. However, unlike when we fly out of our home airport in Washington, DC, we would not suggest arriving at Tashkent airport extra early just to enjoy its amenities.
Cheers friends,
Megan & Matt
